If I cannot experience Christmas in a picturesque snow-covered village in England or Scandinavia, the next best thing is to curl up with a cup of tea, a cozy comforter, and a Christmas movie over the holidays. I have some classic favorites like the" Bishop's Wife" with Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and the ever-charming Monty Wooly, or " Christmas in Connecticut", the 1940s version, and of course "Christmas Story" and "Love Actually", but I want to share some newer offerings that I recommend, and I think you will enjoy, from the US, the UK, Scandinavia, and Italy.
*Dickensian England BBC Prime Video
Step back in time in this unique mystery series based on several Dickens novels intertwined. Experience Victorian-era London in this enthralling adaptation of his iconic characters and stories, woven into one timeline that converges in a series of events during the holiday season. Heading up the cast of characters is the incomparable Stephen Rea. Click here
* Something From Tiffany's US Prime Video
Inspired by a mix-up of an engagement ring in a little blue box, that was destined for someone else. This feel-good romantic comedy follows two strangers in New York at Christmas time who unexpectedly connect through a series of twists and connect in this holiday romance. Click here
*How About You England Prime Video
A young woman struggling to find herself agrees to watch over the residents of a retirement home while
her sister (Orla Brady) is away. This feel-good drama explores how an unlikely friendship among the residents brings
newfound purpose and joy during the festive season, and her life, featuring an all-star cast with Vanessa Redgrave, and
Hayley Atwell is at the helm of this feel-good holiday offering. Click here
*Love At First Sight US/UK Netflix
Hadley and Oliver meet on a transatlantic flight to London and fall for each other. This is a bittersweet tale of love and loss and then found again in many guises. She is a very stoic girl not prone to be swept away. She is reluctantly traveling to her father's wedding and the lovely Oliver is traveling home for his mother’s memorial when he touches her heart. They lose contact with each other so she begins a ramble through scenic London at Christmas time to find him. If you loved “Bridget Jones” and “Love Actually”, this will be your cup of tea! It stars Haley Lu Richardson, Ben Hardy, and Sally Phillips. Click here
*Home for Christmas Norway Netflix
For fans of Bridget Jones, this Swedish series features Joanne who is perpetually single at 30 and dreading the comments from her family at yet another Christmas gathering, so she sets off to find a boyfriend within 24 hours. A heartwarming tale of a family coming together to rediscover the true meaning of the holidays. Starring the wonderfully quirky, Ida Elise Broch. Click here
*Odo il Natale (I Hate Christmas) Italy Netflix
This is the Italian version of Home for Christmas against the beautiful backdrop of Venice. A quirky comedy where a Christmas-hating protagonist finds love and joy in the least expected way during the holiday season. Click here
*Castle for Christmas US/Scotland Netflix
When an American author escapes NY, she finds more than she bargained for in the charming Scottish village her father came from, when romance and holiday celebrations ensue. Brook Shields and Cary Elwes star in this delicious Christmas treat. Click here
*Last Christmas England Netflix
Experience the story of a jaded young woman who works in a London toy store, in this offbeat Yuletide romance. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets an enigmatic man who helps her rediscover love lost and found during the wonder of Christmastime. Story by Emma Thompson and Greg Wise and starring the lovely Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) and Henry Golding, and yes, the soundtrack features George Michael’s “Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart”! Click here
*The Man Who Invented Christmas England Prime Video
This award-winning film is part biopic and part fantasy about the musings of Charles Dickens that led to his creating the timeless classic "A Christmas Carol". Victorian England's influence on Christmas and many quintessential holiday traditions were spawned from his writings and in particular this story. Starring Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) as Dickens. Click here
*Little Women US Prime Video
In the latest version of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel, the film chronicles the life of the March sisters over several years while their father was away during the Civil War. Through hardship and heartbreak, it is their never-ending bond that carries them through the years. The stellar cast of Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Eliza Scanlen, and Timothy Chalamet bring to life the complex characters in this Christmas classic set against the snowy landscapes of New England. Click here
*The Boy Called Christmas England Netflix
In this enchanting fantasy, an imaginative young boy sets out on a magical journey to
the snowy north to find Father Christmas and discover the origins of holiday traditions.
Starring the wonderful Maggie Smith. Click here
*This is Christmas England Prime Video
This character driven British Christmas film with a big heart features an ensemble cast with numerous cameos by British favorites.
It follows a group of London commuters who commute daily in silence, until one person is inspired to get to know each passenger which results in their coming together to celebrate Christmas.
*The Holiday England Prime Video
Have you ever wanted to escape to a picturesque English village at Christmas time? That is exactly what the character Amanda, (Cameron Diaz) did by swapping houses with Iris, ( Kate Winslet) sight unseen, to forget their mutual love woes. A wonderful holiday romantic comedy set in great scenery and topped off with heartfelt performances by Jude Law and Jack Black. Click here
*Bridget Jones' Diary England Netflix
This beloved classic romantic comedy follows Bridget Jones as she navigates love, work, and family during the holidays while trying to stick to her New Year's resolutions. Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant star. Click here
*Last Train to Christmas English HBO
In this quirky Brit offering starring Michael Sheen, a nightclub manager is on a ride home on a Christmas Eve train
and is thrown forward and then backward in time reigniting his fledgling career. Click here
*Love Actually England Netflix
This ensemble romantic comedy delves into the complexities of love with nine interconnected stories that converge on Christmas eve. This beloved film set the standard for many holiday films to follow with its cast, heartfelt depictions of the many forms of love, and its humor. Headed up by Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, and Bill Nighy, it has become a Christmas classic. Click here
*A Storm for Christmas Norway Netflix
In the spirit of “Love Actually” a group of travelers awaiting arrivals and departures is bound together in their intertwined stories during Christmas as they await a passing storm. It resounds with heartwarming and poignant storytelling all tied up with a bow and a reminder of our common humanity. Click here
*The Noel Diary US Netflix
Justin Hartley stars as an author returning home to clear out his mother's house and reconcile with his past when he meets a young woman who is searching for her birth mother. This slowly crafted story is a heartfelt Christmas romantic drama, based on Richard Paul Evans's bestselling book. Click here
My personal preference for streaming is Roku.
BOOKS & VIDEOS
The Noel Diary by Richard Paul Evans click here
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
