Tag: Christmas films

Festive favourites back on the big screen at Vue venues in Edinburgh

 To mark the countdown to Christmas, some of the most loved holiday classics are being brought back to the big screen at Vue venues in Edinburgh this festive season.  

Providing a yuletide treat for film fans and families alike, this year marks milestone anniversaries for a variety of iconic Christmas films – all returning home to the big screen this November and December.  

A festive animated adventure that everyone can get on board with, The Polar Express returns to Vue on 29 November after its initial release 20 years ago. Following the enchanting tale of a young boy who goes on a magical adventure to the North Pole, The Polar Express is a charming tale about believing in the magic of Christmas which has become a family favourite over the past two decades.  

Christmas critter caper Gremlins is also celebrating an anniversary at Vue this year, marking 40 years since Gizmo and the gang made their debut on the big screen. 

In the small town of Kingston Falls, teenager Billy Peltzer gets an unusual present that comes with a lot more responsibility than he ever expected – the fuzzy Mogwai, a creature he needs to follow a specific set of instructions for or else. This beloved holiday creature comedy returns to Vue on 6 December.  

At Vue Edinburgh Omni, a true cinematic Christmas classic returns as this year also marks the 70-year anniversary of Bing Crosby’s White Christmas. This legendary festive favourite follows a group of singers who hope to plan a yuletide miracle to help a local country inn owner in a fun-filled musical extravaganza that is sure to put you in a jolly mood when it returns to Vue on 20 December.   

Some more festive favourites heading to Vue include the heartfelt romantic comedy Love Actually, screening from 13 December, and the iconic It’s A Wonderful Life, screening on 20 December. 

There’s also a handful of comedy crackers coming to Vue include Will Ferrell’s Elf, screening from 22 November, andJim Carrey’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas, screening from 6 December. 

Family favourites such as Home Alone (from 22 November), The Muppet Christmas Carol (from 13 December) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (from 20 December)wrap up the schedule of winter classics, all of which can be enjoyed at Vue with the ultimate seat, screen and sound experience. 

There’s also the opportunity to give the gift of big screen entertainment this year with a Vue Gift Card – the ultimate present for film lovers and for families looking to spend quality time together. 

A Vue Gift Card can be redeemed towards film tickets, as well as all ticket upgrades, refreshments and snacks to share whilst enjoying the best that the big screen has to offer. 

Robert Smith, General Manager of Vue Edinburgh Omni, said: ‘Christmas is all about spending quality time with friends and family, creating treasured moments to last a lifetime.

“We’re glad to be marking the merry occasion with a line-up of some of the most iconic Christmas classics, specially curated to for our customers to enjoy and help them get in the festive spirit ahead of the big day. There’s no better place to watch the likes of Home Alone and The Polar Express than the big screen.’ 

Tickets available from just £6.99 when booked online. To find out more visit: 

myvue.com 

Christmas Season Line-up at Vue 

Home Alone – From now  
Elf  – From now 
The Polar Express (20th Anniversary) – From 29 November 
How The Grinch Stole Christmas – From 6 December 
Gremlins (40th Anniversary) – From 6 December 
The Muppets Christmas Carol – From 13 December 
Love Actually – From 13 December 
Home Alone 2: Lost In New York – From 20 December 
White Christmas (70th Anniversary) – From 20 December 
It’s a Wonderful Life – From 20 December  

Which Christmas movie-inspired jumpers are the UK’s favourite?

  • The Dr. Seuss classic Grinch is the UK’s most popular Christmas jumper inspired by a Christmas movie 
  • Die Hard is the second most popular Christmas jumper  
  • Home Alone and Gremlins are 3rd and 4th most popular Christmas movie jumpers.    

A new study reveals the most popular Christmas jumpers inspired by Christmas movies, with jumpers themed from Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch being the most popular.    

The research conducted by Boohoo analysed the monthly UK search volume for the Christmas movie-themed clothing to establish which Christmas jumper is the most sought-after this festive season.    

(1) The Grinch 

 The most popular Christmas jumper is none other than Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch. Searches for the term ‘Grinch Christmas jumper’ average 4,700 times per month in the United Kingdom, proving how much fans are willing to be seen wearing a Grinch-themed jumper.  

The Grinch first hit screens as a TV special on CBS in December 1966, which featured the green cartoon storybook character causing mayhem in the world of Whoville. Then, in the year 2000, Jim Carrey took on the role of the Grinch and brought Whoville to the big screens in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The most recent film within the Grinch franchise, The Grinch, was released in 2018 as an animated adaptation of the Christmas classic.   

(2) Die Hard 

 The second most popular Christmas movie jumper is worn by Karl Vreski, portrayed by Alexander Godunov, in Die Hard. Karl is the film’s main antagonist’s right-hand man and the only character not killed by John McClane (Bruce Willis) in the movie. The Christmas jumper in question is a grey knitted number with ‘Now I Have a Machine Gun – HO HO HO’ written on the front, paired with a Santa hat.  

Searches for ‘Die Hard Christmas jumper’ receive 2,400 searches per month, on average. Many speculate whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie due to its action/thriller genre, which caused the writer to note that the film is set at a Christmas party during the holidays and features many Christmas songs, meaning it is a Christmas film.   

(3) Home Alone   

The 1990 classic Home Alone places third in the rankings, which features a young Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) who is accidentally left home alone at Christmas time and faced with scaring off two burglars from breaking into his house.

During the film, Kevin looks cosy in a few different winter knits, but the most iconic is the heathered red knit that surprisingly can hold his entire weight when he is hung on a coat hook. Despite the red knit not being the craziest of prints, it hasn’t stopped film fans from wanting to get their hands on a Home-Alone themed jumper for themselves. 

Searches for ‘Home Alone Christmas Jumper’ average 1,600 searches per month in the UK.   

(4) Gremlins   

Fourth place in the rankings goes to Gremlins, released in 1984 and follows the shenanigans and destruction forced upon the small town of Kingston Falls, by a horde of mischievous monsters. The comedy-horror, written by Home Alone director Chris Columbus, is an unusual tale for a Christmas movie but presents some of the most valued messages common in holiday films, such as the importance of loyalty and kindness. 

Searches for ‘Gremlins Christmas Jumper’ average 1,000 searches per month in the UK, proving just how popular the miniature furry beasts are and how much fans want to rock a green Gremlin-themed jumper.   

(5) Arthur Christmas   

The 2011 animated family-adventure film Arthur Christmas places fifth in the rankings and is undoubtedly a film for all ages. The film’s overall premise is to answer the most important question of them all: how does Santa deliver everyone’s presents in one night? The film’s budget is estimated to have been $100 million (£81 million) and ended up seeing $147 million (£120 million) worldwide gross. 

Searches for ‘Arthur Christmas Jumper’ average around 750 searches per month in the UK; despite the show being an animated film, the main character Arthur (James McAvoy), rocks some festive and colourful jumpers throughout the film.   

A spokesperson from Boohoo commented on the findings: “Christmas movies are the ultimate way to get into the Christmas spirit.

“With office parties, family photos and Christmas jumper competitions taking over this time of year, it is exciting to see just how many of our most iconic and beloved films influence our Christmas wardrobes and how many people want to get their hands on a festive-themed jumper”. 

The most iconic Christmas movie jumpers in the UK   

Rank Movie Search Term Average Monthly Searches 
1 Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Grinch Christmas Jumper 4,700 
2 Die Hard Die Hard Christmas Jumper 2,400 
3 Home Alone Home Alone Christmas Jumper 1,600 
4 Gremlins Gremlins Christmas Jumper 1,000 
5 Arthur Christmas Arthur Christmas Jumper 750 

Charity reveals Christmas traditions Die Hard!

  • School feeding charity Mary’s Meals asked 2,000 people about their favourite Christmas traditions. 
  • Of people in Scotland surveyed, 13% chose watching action film Die Hard. 
  • Mary’s Meals is asking people to start a new tradition by joining its virtual Christmas dinner to feed hungry children in the world’s poorest countries. 

A new survey by global school meals charity Mary’s Meals has reignited a debate which has rumbled on for years: is Die Hard really a Christmas movie?  

Watching the Bruce Willis classic was named as a top Christmas tradition by 13% of those polled across Scotland – just ahead of attending their work Christmas night out (12%). 

The survey also revealed that it is time-honoured traditions that people really cherish – with 67% of people in Scotland saying they enjoy eating their Christmas meal and just over half saying they love decorating their Christmas tree.  

And, in a nod to it being the season of goodwill, more people preferred to give presents (67%) than to receive them (51%).  

Mary’s Meals serves more than two million children with a nutritious meal every school day in 19 of the world’s poorest countries, including Malawi, South Sudan and Haiti. The promise of a good meal attracts children to the classroom, giving them the energy and opportunity to learn, and the chance of a brighter future. 

Each December the charity holds a virtual Christmas dinner, Big Family Christmas, to raise funds to feed even more hungry children. Last year, nearly 9,000 people around the world took part in the fundraiser. 

Morven Macgillivray, supporter engagement manager, at Mary’s Meals, says: “As our survey shows, Christmas is a time of giving. We are so thankful to everyone who helps us to spread the joy by making a gift to Mary’s Meals; letting the children we serve know there are people thinking of them at this time of year. 

“Every year, I set a place at the Mary’s Meals virtual Christmas dinner for my mum, and she sets one for my brother and myself. It has become a family tradition. This year I’m extending that Christmas tradition to include a place at the table for the star of Die Hard, John McClane! As he famously says in the film, welcome to the party, pal!” 

In return for a donation of £15.90, enough to feed a child with Mary’s Meals for a whole school year, people can take part in the Big Family Christmas. They will receive a certificate to print at home and their name, or the name of a loved one, will appear on the charity’s virtual dinner table alongside names from across the world – and the Die Hard hero! 

Donations made to Mary’s Meals before 31 January 2022 will be matched by a group of generous supporters, up to £1.6 million, thanks to the Double The Love  campaign, meaning that each place set at the online Christmas table will feed two hungry children.  

To find out more, please visit marysmeals.org.uk/Christmas 

Box out: Christmas traditions in South Sudan 

At midnight on Christmas Eve, young people in South Sudan joyfully run around with torches, shouting ‘Merry Christmas’ and drumming on jerry cans.   

Moses Kopurot, who manages the Mary’s Meals programme in South Sudan, explains: “This tradition is known throughout South Sudan and so everybody knows the next day is the 25th of December and is the day that we have to celebrate Christmas.” 

Mary’s Meals serves maize or sorghum (a local grain) and beans to more than 75,000 children in South Sudan every school day. 

This includes children like nine-year-old Daniel who wakes at 6am every day to milk his family’s herd of cows before walking for more than an hour to reach his local school.  

He says: “I like this school because we eat good food. If I wasn’t in school, I would be at home taking care of the cows.” 

Make Christmas TV educational

Do your children want to spend the festive holiday sprawled on the sofa watching Christmas films? Don’t despair: those old familiar favourites can be educational. Yes, really! 

Former primary school teacher Laura Steele of education resources experts PlanBee shows how to turn passive screen time into an active learning experience: 

Father Christmas

Based on the book by Raymond Briggs, this short animated film takes a look at what Father Christmas does on the other 364 days of the year.

  • Ask your child to choose one of the destinations Father Christmas visits on his holidays and put themselves into his shoes (or boots!) and write a postcard home, explaining everything he saw and got up to there.
  • Father Christmas doesn’t enjoy all the visits he makes. Encourage your child to write him a letter, suggesting where he should go next year, and why he might like it better than his holiday this year. 
  • Father Christmas spends time organising presents for us, but what present would like to receive? Ask your youngster to draw a picture of the gift they would get for him, and write a short explanation of their choice.
  • Download FREE Father Christmas activity sheets here

The Snowman

Also based on a Raymond Briggs book, in this film a young boy’s snowman magically comes to life, and takes him on an adventure to meet Father Christmas.

  • The boy and the Snowman never speak to each other, but if they did what would they say? Children could write an imagined conversation between them, or even act it out.
  • We see the boy building the Snowman step-by-step. Encourage your child to draw pictures and write instructions for each of the different stages of construction.
  • Ask them to design their own snowman! Ask them to label what they would use for his eyes, nose, mouth, buttons and so on.
  • If you watch the film carefully, you will see many different animals. Can your child spot them? As an extra challenge, they could choose an animal to research and perhaps make a poster or write a report about it.
    Download FREE Snowman activity sheets here

 Elf

Elf focuses on the character of Buddy, a human who has been raised by elves at the North Pole. On discovering that he is not actually an elf, Buddy travels to New York in search of his father

  • Buddy is given a snow globe of New York City. Children could design and draw their own snow globe, showing where they live.
  • Challenge them to describe and draw the film’s funniest, happiest and saddest moments.
    Download FREE Elf activity sheets here

The Grinch

Based on the 1957 book by Dr Seuss, a creature named the Grinch hates Christmas and everything to do with it. He devises a wicked plan to ruin the festive season for the town of Whoville.

  • Children could write a character description of the Grinch, detailing his appearance, his personality, what he does, and how he changes by the end of the film.
  • Ask children to draw a picture of, or describe, Whoville at Christmas. Would they like to live there? Can they explain why?
  • Ask your child to step into Grinch’s shoes, and describe or act out their thoughts about Christmas both at the beginning of the film, and then at the end, and discuss how they differ. 
    Download FREE Grinch activity sheets here

The Polar Express

A young boy who is beginning to lose his belief in Father Christmas boards a to the North Pole and has amazing adventures, makes some special new friends, and regains his belief in the magic of Christmas.

  • Ask your child to design a ticket for the Polar Express. Who would they give it to, and why? Which two letters do they think The Conductor would cut out on it, and why? Which full word would be created on reboarding the train?
  • In the film, the symbol of Christmas spirit for the Boy is the bell he receives from ‘Mr C’. Ask children to draw and explain what represents the Christmas spirit for them.
  • At one point, the train passes the Northern Lights. Encourage children to research exactly what this phenomenon is. They could also create their own artwork depicting the scene. 
     Download FREE Polar Express activity sheets here

Klaus

A young postman who is not very good at his job is sent to serve an unwelcoming, frozen town in the far North. When he meets an old toy maker, Klaus, and together they begin delivering presents to the children of the town, things begin to change…

  • Ask children to imagine that they are one of the children living in Smeerensburg. Challenge them to write their own letter to Klaus, telling him how they have been good, what gift they would like and why.
  • In the film, Klaus has carved alcoves into a tree trunk for a family of figurines. Ask children to draw or make their own version of this, complete with everyone that is special to them.
  • Klaus says: ‘A true selfless act always sparks another’. Ask children to name the selfless acts in the film. Have they made any selfless acts themselves in the past? Are there any that they could make in the future?
     Download FREE Klaus activity sheets here

Arthur Christmas (2011)

Santa’s rather accident-prone son, Arthur, sets out on a mission to deliver a present that was left at the North Pole on Christmas Eve

  • Encourage children to draw, and write a short description of, each member of Santa’s family: Santa himself, Mrs Santa, GrandSanta, Steve and of course, Arthur. What characteristics do they each have? How are they similar? How are they different?

Arthur is particularly fond of his slippers. Unfortunately, he loses them during his adventure. Can your child design a new pair for him?

  • Challenge your children to design and make their own version of ‘Christmas: the Board Game’. What will the board look like, what’s the aim of the game and how is it played? Will they need any extra items such as counters or question cards?
    Download FREE Arthur Christmas activity sheets here

Fun activities for ANY Film

Set one of these fun challenges to give a new dimension to your youngster’s watching habits, whatever their chosen film:

  • Turn the sound off and challenge your child to describe what is happening in the film. Ask children to imagine that they are helping a blind person experience the film so they need to use as much detail as possible for each scene. You could play a few short scenes using Audio Description to get them started: as a cartoon strip, a digital book, as a written account, as a series of drawings, or as a storyboard.
  • Challenge your child to write a review of the film. How many stars out of five would they give it? What was the best bit? Who was their favourite character? Or what about recording a vlog review giving their opinion to share online with friends and family?