Sick Of Box Sets? Here Are The Best Movies On The Telly Over Christmas

Christmas might be a time of joy and giving, but it’s also a time that has sparked many a brilliant film.

If you’re already tiring of excessive family interaction and need to relax as you battle through that selection box sugar high, pop on a Christmas film and get watching. You don’t even need to root through your DVD collection, because there are HAPES to choose from on d’telly.

Set your DVR for these bad boys…

December 24, Christmas Eve

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

The Lego Movie, 6.15pm, RTÉ One
This 2014 flick controversially missed out on an Oscar nom for Best Animated Film but it’s WELL worth a watch.

Pitch Perfect, 6.20pm, RTÉ Two
Get practicing your version of The Cups Song.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. 10pm, TV3
Mathhew Broderick’s big break is still making us smile thirty years on. Plus, Chicago looks all kinds of gorge. Oh, and prepare to have serious hair envy for Sloane Peterson.

Scrooged, 10pm, 3e
Bill Murray, y’all! A cynical TV exec overseeing a festive extravaganza has his evening rudely interrupted by three ghosts. You know the drill.

The Polar Express, 6.55pm, ITV2
Yes, the animation is freakishly realistic, but this TomHanks-voiced film is still a heartwarmer.

December 25, Christmas Day

Enchanted (2007)

Enchanted, 1.50pm, RTÉ2
Amy Adams plays a misplaced Disney Princess in this brilliant (family-friendly) rom-com.

It’s A Wonderful Life, 2.20pm, Channel 4
The ultimate Christmas classic. Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings and all that.

The Wizard Of Oz, 3.10pm, TV3
Click those heels.

Frozen, 3.10pm, BBC One and 6.35pm, RTÉ One
If you can’t sing along with Princesses Anna and Elsa on Christmas Day, when can you?

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, 7pm, TV3
Celebrate the late great Gene Wilder, who passed away this year, in one of his best roles: the skittish Willy Wonka in this film remake of Roald Dahl’s novel.

The Family Stone, 10pm, TV3
This one’s surprisingly funny, and plus… DIANE KEATON.

December 26, St Stephen’s Day

Big (1988)

Big, 11.55am, E4
Tom Hanks at his very best.

Back To The Future, 1.55pm, RTÉ One
Michael J Fox stars as the world’s sweetest time traveller, Marty McFly.

Brave, 2.40pm, BBC One
Merida’s hair. Those adorable triplets. Emma Thompson’s voice. Need we say more?

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, 6.25pm, RTÉ 2
Set 60 years before the events in LOTR, Martin Freeman’s hobbit Bilbo Baggins joins Gandalf and thirteen dwarves in their mission to rescue their fallen city from Smaug the Dragon.

The Commitments, 9pm, TV3
Roddy Doyle’s Barrytown trilogy spawned three excellent films, one of which is The Commitments. Spot the young Glen Hansard.

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