This will take the pain out of channel-hopping on the day.
As much as we love TV over Christmas, the absolute overwhelming amount of options on offer can be a little overwhelming, as you get paralysed that you may have made the wrong movie choice, and nobody is going to say anything, because it is still Christmas after all, but they’re all sitting there, silently judging you…
Thankfully, Film 4 have announced their movie line-up for the big day, and while there will still be opportunities to channel surf during the one (or two) duds on the day, the majority of what they’re showing will make it really easy to turn that channel on first thing in the morning, and then leave it on for the rest of the day.
Arthur Christmas – 11.00
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
One of the great projects to come out of Aardman Studios, it follows the story of Arthur (James McAvoy), who is forced into a position of saving Christmas after he inadvertently causes the actual Santa (Jim Broadbent) to pull a sickie on the day. The all-star voice-cast also includes Hugh Laurie, Imelda Staunton and Bill Nighy.
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader – 13.00
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 50%
While it doesn’t quite hold up to The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, it is a damn sight better than Prince Caspian, as the the young English kiddies are dragged back into the world of Narnia, once again to help save it from certain destruction.
Cheaper By The Dozen 2 – 15.10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 6%
This would be a good time to turn the TV off and have your dinner.
Romancing The Stone – 17.00
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
A real old-school action-adventure, with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas on prime form, running through jungles and getting into all kinds of sexy hi-jinks, combined with the kind of on-screen chemistry that you just don’t see much of anymore.
Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb – 19.05
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 49%
Admittedly, it might be the best of the three in the series, but it still isn’t all that great. Besides, this is usually the time everyone switches over to the soaps, right?
Kingsman: The Secret Service – 21.00
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 74%
A fantastic piss-take on the super-spy genre, with a career-making turn by Taron Egerton, a kick-ass career-revival for Colin Firth, and that scene in the church when everyone goes violently crazy is still one of the best fight scenes we’ve seen in years.
Big Game – 23.35
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78%
Following on from Kingsman, we get Sam Jackson in another great role, but this time he’s playing the President Of The United States, who survives Air Force One being shot down and crashing Finland. With mercenaries hunting him in the wilderness, President Jackson may only survive thanks to the survival instincts of a local 13-year-old.
The Warriors – 01.20
Rotten Tomatoes Score: N/A
Released in 1979, it kind of pre-dates Rotten Tomatoes, but to be fair, the movie wasn’t well received upon release. Only in the years afterwards did it get a cult status, so if you’re still awake after consuming your body weight in turkey, chocolate and Baileys, then you need to watch this story of a group of men who must survive a journey across the rougher parts of New York after they’re accused of murdering a local gang boss.
