Brand New For 2018

The Grinch

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones, Pharrell Williams
In cinemas now, this reincarnation of the iconic Dr Seuss Christmas character stars Benedict Cumberbatch. Once again, The Grinch hatches a plan to ruin the festivities, while Cindy Lou Who (Jones) plots to seek out Santa Claus to thank him for helping her single mother every Christmas, which happens to interfere with the Grinch’s nasty plans.
Where to watch:  In cinemas across the UAE now

The Nutcracker And The Four Realms 

Starring:  Mackenzie Foy, Keira Knightley, Jack Whitehall
A 2018 retelling of the festive classic, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Set in London on Christmas Eve, a gift sees young girl Clara Stahlbaum (Foy) transported into a magical parallel land, which is made of gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice, where she meets The Sugar Plum Fairy (Knightley).
Where to watch:  In cinemas across the UAE now

The Christmas Chronicles

Starring:  Kurt Russell, Oliver Hudson, Darby Camp, Judah Lewis
This Netflix newbie tells the story of sister and brother, Kate (Camp) and Teddy Pierce (Lewis), whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus (Russell) on camera turns into an unexpected magical journey that most kids could only dream about.
Where to watch:  Available at netflix.com/christmaschronicles now

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law, Zoë Kravitz, Johnny Depp
Okay, so it’s not technically a Christmas film, but there is something festive about the Harry Potter franchise, so it counts in our books! The second instalment in the Fantastic Beasts spin-off – in an effort to thwart dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald’s (Depp) plans, Albus Dumbledore (Law) enlists his former student Newt (Redmayne).
Where to watch:  In cinemas across the UAE now

The Christmas Classics

Elf

Starring: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel
Everyone loves Elf! The 2003 classic movie, which sees a Buddy (Ferrell), a human who accidentally grows up as an elf in Santa’s workshop at the North Pole, make his way back the real world to try and seek out his real family.
Where to watch:  Available to stream on netflix.com (available in MENA)

Four Christmases

Starring:  Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Mary Steenburgen
Keeping everyone happy at Christmas time is famously tricky, and when Kate (Witherspoon) and Brad’s (Vaughn) festive travel plans are cancelled, they find themselves juggling four very different Christmas days at their divorced parents’ houses.
Where to watch:  Available to stream on netflix.com (available in MENA)

Home Alone 2: Lost In New York

Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
The original doesn’t seem to be easy to stream in the UAE, but you can find Home Alone 2 on Starzplay – and if you ask us, it’s the best of the franchise!  The movie that gave us the line, “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal,” sees the mischievous Kevin McCallister (Culkin) alone in New York, where he runs into the same pair of into bumbling burglars (Pesci and Stern) that he defeated at home (alone!) the year before. Oh, also there is a Donald Trump cameo, which doesn’t date particularly well! 
Where to watch:  Available to stream on arabia.starzplay.com (available in MENA)

The Family Stone

Starring:  Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams
This celeb-packed festive flick sees uptight Meredith Morton (Parker) head home for Christmas with her boyfriend (Mulroney) to meet his family. But she soon finds that the free-spirited Stone family Christmas is very different the festivities she’s used to. Naturally, chaos ensues.
Where to watch:  Available to stream on arabia.starzplay.com (available in MENA)

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Starring:  Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire
The 1992 classic. The Muppet characters tell their version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale of an old and bitter miser’s redemption on Christmas Eve.
Where to watch:  6pm, 25 December, OSN Movies Disney HD

Deck The Halls

Starring:   Matthew Broderick, Danny DeVito, Kristin Chenoweth 
Battle of the Christmas decorations! Two neighbours have it out after one of them decorates his house for the holidays so brightly that it can be seen from space.
Where to watch:  7pm, 25 December, OSN Movies Comedy HD

Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs at Christmas

Starring: Paul O’Grady, lots of very cute dogs
A dog’s for life, not just for Christmas! Catch the loved British presenter’s now-annual documentary about the dogs living in shelters, in need of homes.
Where to watch:  10.55pm, 25 December, ITV Choice

Unmissable Christmas TV Specials

Murdoch Mysteries: Home For The Holidays
Where to watch:  9pm, 24 December, ITV Choice

What Would Your Kid Do
Where to watch:  9pm, 25 December, ITV Choice

Eastenders Christmas Special
Where to watch:  7pm, 27 December, BBC First  (two days after the UK)

Friends: The One With The Holiday Armadillo (Season 7, Episode 10)
Where to watch:  Available to stream on netflix.com (available in MENA)

Doctor Who: Christmas Special Episode
Where to watch:  11.10pm, 1 January 2019, BBC First  (Simulcast with the UK)

Call The Midwife: Christmas Special Episode
Where to watch:  9pm, 26 December, BBC First (one day after the UK)