The best films to stream this Christmas - by Roe McDermott

Poor Things - Disney +

Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things is a wildly eccentric journey that blends the grotesque with the whimsical, marking the director's most audacious work to date. Set in Victorian London, the film follows Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the mad scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Initially behaving like a child, Bella embarks on a path of self-discovery and sexual liberation, encountering eccentric characters and absurd adventures, from passionate affairs to a transformative world tour.

Cinematographer Robbie Ryan shifts the film’s visual tone from grainy black-and-white to vibrant colour, symbolising Bella’s personal growth. Lanthimos’ signature style of contrasting extreme behaviours with pristine settings creates a surreal world of decorum and chaos, and Stone’s performance is a revelation, perfectly capturing Bella’s evolution from innocence to empowerment in this darkly comedic exploration of identity and freedom.

Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo in Poor Things (2023). Photo by Atsushi Nishijima. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures.

All Of Us Strangers – Disney+

Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers creates a haunting, almost otherworldly atmosphere from its opening scenes, as golden light pours through the windows of a desolate, time-untethered apartment building. Only two residents, Adam (Andrew Scott) and Harry (Paul Mescal), inhabit the space, setting the stage for a supernatural yet deeply human tale.

Haigh’s signature exploration of intimacy and relationships takes on a fantastical edge when Adam, a screenwriter dealing with grief, begins revisiting the home of his deceased parents. Strangely, they have returned to the age they were when they died. Loosely based on Taichi Yamada’s 1987 novel Strangers, the film is a sensitive exploration of loss, generational trauma, and the need for connection.

Adam’s emotionally charged interactions with his parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell) involve confronting unspoken truths, including coming out to them for the first time. Meanwhile, his developing relationship with Harry unfolds with tenderness, exploring vulnerability, desire, and emotional intimacy.

Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal in All Of Us Strangers. Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures.

The Holdovers - Apple TV

The Holdovers is a beautifully crafted dramedy from Alexander Payne and features brilliant Paul Giamatti. Set in 1970, it follows a disgruntled teacher, Mr. Hunham, who's forced to spend Christmas at a New England boarding school with a troubled student and the resident cook. Giamatti excels in capturing Hunham’s melancholy and disillusionment, while newcomer Dominic Sessa delivers a standout performance as the angry teen, Angus.

The film skilfully navigates themes of race, class, and the emotional wounds of the Vietnam War, with sharp dialogue and a nostalgic soundtrack.

Scrooged – Prime Video

A hilarious and heartwarming holiday classic that brings a modern twist to the timeless Dickens novella A Christmas Carol. Bill Murray shines as Frank Cross, a cynical TV executive who undergoes a life-changing transformation after being visited by three ghosts. The film balances sharp humour with moments of genuine emotion, offering both laughs and holiday spirit.

Murray’s comedic timing is perfect, while the supporting cast, including Karen Allen and John Forsythe, adds depth to the story. A delightful, fast-paced reimagining of a beloved tale, filled with wit and charm.

Molly’s Game - Prime Video

A gripping and sharply executed drama based on the true story of Molly Bloom, a former competitive skier who ran one of the most exclusive high-stakes poker games in the world. Directed by Aaron Sorkin, the film boasts a fast-paced script filled and intense character dynamics. Jessica Chastain in particular delivers an outstanding performance as Molly, capturing both her resilience and vulnerability.

The movie explores themes of ambition, power, and betrayal, with stellar supporting performances from Idris Elba and Kevin Costner. Molly's Game is a fascinating, engaging look at the world of high-stakes gambling.

2073 – Apple TV (coming soon)

In 2073, Asif Kapadia applies his signature emotional rhythm from Amy to a cautionary tale about a dystopian future. The film blends archival footage, CG enhancement, and speculative fiction to depict a world devastated by climate change, authoritarianism, and societal collapse.

Set 37 years after "the Event," Ghost (Samantha Morton), a scavenger living in a basement, narrates her grim story while clutching a copy of The Autobiography of Malcolm X. The film’s fragmented narrative, woven from viral clips and news reports, paints a grim picture of a future already shaped by today's global crises, like AI, mass surveillance, and health disasters.

Carol - Netflix

One of the finest films released in the last decade, Carol isn't a Christmas film in the traditional sense, but enough of the plot is set around the festive period for it to make for an excellent viewing experience at this time of year.

Immaculately directed by Todd Haynes and based on Patricia Highsmith's novel The Price of Salt, the movie follows the relationship between young shop clerk and aspiring photographer Therese (Rooney Mara) and glamorous soon-to-be-divorcee Carol (Cate Blanchett), after the pair meet at a department store while the latter is Christmas shopping.

This is an elegant and achingly romantic film that wondrously captures the world of '50s New York, with the performances of Mara and Blanchett especially singled out for praise since its initial release.

Sense & Sensibility - Netflix

This adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel was written by Emma Thompson – who also stars – and is directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee, who would go on to helm classics such as Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Brokeback Mountain

It tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne - brilliantly played by Thompson and Kate Winslet - who display very different temperaments as they embark on romantic entanglements after they are disinherited following the death of their father.

There are also notable supporting turns from a string of beloved British actors including Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant, which, when combined with Thompson's Oscar-winning script and Lee's classy direction, make this one of the finest big screen Austen adaptations.

Tár - Netflix

Without doubt one of the finest films of the 2020s so far, Todd Field's endlessly compelling drama features an exceptional performance from Cate Blanchett as Lydia Tár – a fictional composer, conductor and all-round maestro, who instantly exists as a classic cinematic creation.

The film explores both her genius and her failings, highlighting a monstrous ego and the anguish she causes others, particularly her put-upon assistant (Noémie Merlant) and violinist partner (Nina Hoss). We also watch Tár abuse her position as chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic to pursue the latest in a line of young female musicians, Sophie Kauer's cellist, while a past indiscretion comes back to haunt her. Blanchett blazes brightly, capturing her character's musical authority, vindictiveness and capacity for self-delusion.

Field isn't afraid to go against the grain stylistically either - opening the film with the end credits and some long, uncomfortable scenes. The result is a fascinating, fleshed-out portrait of a tremendously troubling - and troubled - woman.

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Femme - Netflix

This criminally overlooked independent film dropped on Netflix earlier this year, following a limited theatrical run. Femme stars Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Misfits) as Jules, a drag queen who is brutally beaten by a gang of men one night around the corner from the club where he's performing. The hate crime leaves him a shell of himself, before Jules finds purpose once more when he encounters the instigator of the attack, Preston (1917's George MacKay), at a gay sauna and begins plotting revenge. Although the inciting incident is distressing to witness, it's worth enduring for the unpredictable erotic thriller that follows.

Femme revolves around the twisted relationship that unexpectedly blooms between Jules and Preston, as the former attempts to keep his true identity and intentions under wraps. But as he's dragged further and further into his target's world, the waters become muddy and things spiral out of control.

A nail-biting watch from start to finish with electric chemistry between Stewart-Jarrett and MacKay, who took home the prize for Best Joint Lead Performance at last year's British Independent Film Awards.

Arrival - Netflix

Any Dune fans wanting more thought-provoking science fiction from Denis Villeneuve need look no further than this 2016 film, which sees a mysterious extraterrestrial species land on Earth and linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) tasked with finding a way of communicating with them.

Don't expect explosions and action sequences – Arrival is a quieter take on the alien encounters that we've come to expect from Hollywood. Nevertheless, it remains compelling throughout, with knockout performances from Adams, as well as her co-stars Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker.

If you were impressed by the visuals in Dune, you'll be pleased to hear that this offering is also a feast for the eyes, with Villeneuve conjuring up some mesmerising imagery. Brace yourself for a surprisingly moving finale!