If your holiday routine is cosying up to a good Christmas movie and enjoying a hot drink, and you’re probably wondering which ones you’d like to watch with the family, here are a few suggestions:

How to Ruin Christmas

If like me you’re about heritage and always look for people of colour on your screen, this is a great pick for you. "How to Ruin Christmas” is a South African comedy show currently in its third season, now streaming on Netflix. The plot focuses on Tumi (Busi Lurayi) who upon returning home for the holidays somehow manages to ruin her sister’s wedding and spends the next two episodes making amends. The movie’s satirical depiction of societal flaws is both relatable and hilarious and those are the must-have ingredients of a good movie night.

The Princess Switch (Trilogy)

The scrumptious amounts of free time is one of the side effects of the holiday season, and if you’re thinking of what to do with it, might I suggest a three-part movie? ‘The Princess Switch’ is a romantic comedy that will have you laughing and crying in one sitting. The plot centres on Stacy and Margret (both played by Vanessa Hudgens) switching places and falling in love with one another’s partners. The oblivion of other characters when they interact with either of the ladies is hilarious to watch, and their individual journeys to find love definitely have a pull to them, and the barely explicit nature of the movie makes it suitable for all ages, which is ideal if you’re watching with younger siblings and parents.

Dash and Lily

The one-hit wonder is ideal for a one-sitting movie marathon. The vintage vibe in the plot of ‘Dash and Lily’ is a big selling point. The plot entails two teenagers playing a game of dares and only communicating with a notebook that’s passed back and forth between them, simultaneously paying homage to the Shakespearean era. The rom-com has a memorable storyline and a soundtrack that pairs well with it and the fact that Nick Jonas makes a cameo makes it more appealing.

Home Alone

No matter how many times you’ve watched it, ‘Home Alone’ is one of those movies you can always watch one more time. The movie has a number of spinoffs that are all binge-worthy, but the original plot with Kevin (played by Macaulay Culkin) being left alone while the rest of the family takes off to France is a classic, and definitely ideal for a multi-generational screening.

Holiday Calendar

The festive season breeds two kinds of people, the ones that are overly excited about it and the ones that see it as nothing unusual, and if you’re the type that believes in the magic of Christmas, you’re most likely on the same page as Abby, the protagonist. The plot begins as she’s gifted an advent calendar with the ability to predict a fragment of the future daily. It’s got the romance, it’s got the Christmas, and one look at the cast will tick all the boxes.

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

This one is definitely for non-Christmas enthusiasts and being an animated film makes it very suitable for the little ones as well. Watching any of the Grinch animated films makes for good family time and really defines the true meaning of Christmas for younger audiences, all while keeping everyone entertained.

New Christmas specials to be on the lookout for

The Noel Diary

When it comes to ‘The Noel Diary’, the first thing that makes you stop and stare is Justin Hartley’s face on the poster. The film recently made its Netflix debut and while I haven’t watched it yet, the trailer seems to suggest it won’t be a waste of my time. The hilarious banter between Justin’s character and what I presume to be a love interest is a whirlwind of satire you can’t afford to miss out on.

Christmas with You

Another movie that recently made its Netflix debut. The plot centres on a pop star trying and failing to write a Christmas song, and finding distractions like we all do when writing block strikes. She decides to impulsively make the trip to meet a fan that’s been looking to interact and finds love and inspiration along that ride, clearly something the hopeless romantics would love to watch.