Best Films On TV This Christmas – Here's Our Pick Of What The BBC, ITV And Channel 4 & 5 Have To Offer

Whether you're a fan of Harry Styles or Paddington Bear, there's a film for everyone on the main five channels this Christmas.
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If you don’t have access to streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ and the films they have to offer this Christmas, don’t worry – there’s still plenty of good stuff coming to regular telly over the festive period.

We’ve trawled through the TV guide to find the best of what the main five channels are showing, and here’s 20 of our favourites (and what they’re the perfect occasion for)....

Wreck It Ralph

When? Saturday 19 December at 3pm on BBC One

Perfect for? When you’re looking for something to fill the hours with until the Strictly final.

The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies

When? Saturday 19 December at 10.40pm on BBC One

Perfect for? Lord Of The Rings fans, and those who like their films looooong.

Maleficent

When? Sunday 20 December at 2.45pm on BBC One

Perfect for? A lazy Sunday watch before Christmas really kicks in.

The Muppets

When? Monday 21 December at 10am on BBC One

Perfect for? Watching in place of Muppet Christmas Carol, which is criminally absent from the festive TV schedules this year.

Oz: The Great and the Powerful

When? Monday 21 December at 1.45pm on BBC One

Perfect for? A new take on a well-known tale.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

When? Tuesday 22 December at 7.55pm on BBC One

Perfect for? Those who have missed seeing big blockbusters in the cinema this year.

Matilda

When? Tuesday 22 December at 1.35pm on Channel 5

Perfect for? A bit of childhood nostalgia.

Knocked Up

When? Wednesday 23 December at 10.40pm on ITV

Perfect for? Some laughs, even if you have seen it like 50 times already.

Moana

When? Christmas Eve at 12.35pm on BBC One

Perfect for? Belting out How Far I’ll Go.

Cars 3

When? Christmas Eve at 2.15pm on BBC One

Perfect for? Containing the kids’ excitement as they giddy themselves for Santa’s arrival.

Paddington 2

When? Christmas Eve at 4.15pm on BBC One

Perfect for? Everyone. Honestly, one of the most joyful films ever made – and you don’t need to have seen the first to appreciate it.

It’s a Wonderful Life

When? Christmas Eve at 2.35pm on Channel 4

Perfect for? If you’re not already in the festive spirit and need to get in it fast.

Early Man

When? Christmas Day at 1.15pm on BBC One

Perfect for? If you like Aardman Animations but you’ve seen Wallace And Gromit and Chicken Run a million times.

Coco

When? Christmas Day at 3.10pm on BBC One

Perfect for? If you want something to cry into your Christmas pud with.

Jumanji

When? Boxing Day at 4.55pm on Channel 5

Perfect for? Reminding yourself why the original is always better than the reboot.

Grease

When? Boxing Day at 5pm on BBC One

Perfect for? Sorry, but when is Grease never not a perfect film?

Dunkirk

When? Boxing Day at 9.05pm on BBC One

Perfect for? Keeping those sick of watching family films occupied. Oh, did we mention Harry Styles is in it?

The Holiday

When? Boxing Day at 10.45pm on ITV

Perfect for? Clinging to those last few hours of the Christmas festivities.

Hidden Figures

When? Boxing Day at 6.40pm on Channel 4

Perfect for? Learning an important lesson about the ‘hidden figures’ in one of humankind’s greatest achievements.

Jurassic World

When? Sunday 27 December at 4.40pm on ITV

Perfect for? Trying to wake yourself up after falling into a food coma with all you’ve consumed over the last two days.

The Silence of the Lambs

When? Sunday 27 December at 10.40pm on ITV

Perfect for? Scary yourself silly after watching too many cheerful Christmas movies.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

When? Monday 28 December at 11.25am on ITV

Perfect for? If you don’t have a Netflix subscription and haven’t already watched it there.

The Jungle Book

When? Monday 28 December at 3.05pm on BBC One

Perfect for? Those intrigued by a slightly more grown-up take on the classic Disney tale.

Wonder Woman

When? Tuesday 29 December at 7.30pm on ITV

Perfect for? Catching up before the much-hyped (and much delayed) release of the sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, next year.

The Greatest Showman

When? New Year’s Day at 5.30pm on Channel 4

Perfect for? A New Year’s Day sing-a-long.

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