When a local bookstore in New York goes up against the big, new bookstore nextdoor, a battle ensues that seems doomed to lose to the former. Kathleen ventsto an online pen pal, unaware that she’s talking to Joe, the annoying owner ofthat new store. The sequel can already be guessed, but the duo Tom Hanks andMeg Ryan make up for it.
Santa’s Wild Home, Canvas, 8 p.m
We find the real winter wonderland in the High North, in Lapland. It is therewhere Santa Claus lives, but even more so it is the wilderness that enchants.Both in the harsh winter and in the summer, when the sun does not set. All ofthis can be seen on Christmas Eve in this documentary.
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We find the real winter wonderland in ‘Santa’s wild home’. — © EPA-EFE
Home alone, VTM, 8.30 pm
There is no need to list Home alone to think, but for the sake ofcompleteness: VTM brings the comic classic on Christmas Eve. Those who aretired of grandma’s chatter or need some inspiration to make life difficult forburglars will find entertainment with eight-year-old Kevin, who is left aloneat home while his family is on vacation. Completely informative: actorMacaulay Culkin is now 42 years old.
Peace on Earth, One, 8:20 p.m
Sven de Leijer looks back on 2022 with a number of special guests. OnChristmas Eve they are Metejoor, Maaike Cafmeyer and Peter Van de Veire. Thenew jury consists of Jan Peumans, Jeroen Meus, Gloria Monserez, Erik Van Looy,Fatma Taspinar, Aster Nzeyimana, Ann Wauters, Jelle De Beule and HanneloreKnuts.
CHRISTMAS DAY ON TV
Your film of the year, VTM, 9.40 pm
Freek Braeckman brings an overview of the most dramatic and moving moments ofthe past year. He also talks to people who made the news: Frank – Zillion -Verstraeten, Camille and Remco Evenepoel.
Thirties Christmas Special, One, 10:30 p.m
The group of friends Thirties come together one last time to celebrateChristmas. They do that in Finnish Lapland. Read: keeping snow, reindeer andrelationships afloat.
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The group of friends from ‘Dertigers’ comes together one last time tocelebrate Christmas — © © VRT
STREAM ON NETFLIX
Falling for Christmas
Lindsay Lohan’s comeback. Unbearably soggy according to our in-house expert,but with the mind at zero and a mulled wine in hand, great relaxation. Thestory can be summarized as follows: an heiress who suffers from amnesia aftera skiing accident falls under the care of the owner of a ski lodge.
The Claus family 3
With more than 20 million streams, the final piece of De Familie Claus is wellon its way to becoming the most watched Flemish film ever, far beyond thenational borders. Even in the Arab world, where they don’t celebrateChristmas, the film starring Jan Decleir as Santa Claus is a hit.
READ ALSO. Nobody wanted it, now ‘The Claus family’ is the most watchedFlemish film ever (+)
The holidays
You can already see it on VTM 3 on December 23, and on Netflix until the endof this year. Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet star as American businesswomanAmanda and British, somewhat dreamy Iris. When they decide to swap homes for awhile, they both run into a man who may be the one. For a while there wasspeculation about a sequel to this wildly popular romcom, but Winslet anddirector Nancy Meyers dashed those hopes.
Julesstorm
It is not the first time that a Norwegian Christmas-themed series has scoredon Netflix. Previously there were the two seasons of Hey til Julnow there isJulesstorm. The miniseries is about travelers who get stuck at Oslo airportjust before Christmas. Cause for panic, but for some this coincidence of fatecomes at just the right time.
Klaus
Has to be inferior to its Flemish brother The Claus family, but still worthwatching for being the first animated movie on Netflix. The animation figuresare very classically drawn and therefore seem almost old-fashioned.Nevertheless, it is a wonderful story for the whole family, the film wasnominated for an Oscar in 2019.
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With more than 20 million streams, ‘The Claus family’ is well on its way tobecoming the most watched Flemish film ever
STREAM ON DISNEY+
That hard
The same discussion has been raging in the film world for years: is That harda Christmas movie or not? The decision has been made here: yes. Bruce Willistakes on a group of German criminals, so an action movie, but one with aChristmas decor. Includes Christmas music. Good for the title of ultimateunderdog in this list. It will continue to look for a warm Christmas messagefor the time being.
A Christmas Carol
No Christmas without a tight-fisted Ebenezer Scrooge. The Christmas Carol hascountless reworks, but one of the favorites we find on Disney +, played by JimCarrey. The actor crawls into no less than eight different characters.Attention for those who plan to watch with young children: the film can bequite scary.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
This Tim Burton classic is popular during two festive seasons: Christmas andHalloween. When pumpkin king Jack Skellington gets tired of Halloween, hewants to get busy with Christmas. Only: his plans endanger Santa Claus andgive children nightmares. A rag doll needs to save the day.
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This Tim Burton classic is popular during two festive seasons: Christmas andHalloween
ALSO TO CONSIDER
Bake off Flanders Christmas specialon GoPlay
In Bake Off Flanders, the Christmas edition, four well-known Flemish peoplecompete against each other in the baking competition: Serine Ayari, ViktorVerhulst, Jonas Geirnaert and Petra De Sutter.
READ ALSO. Petra De Sutter barefoot in Christmas special ‘Bake off’: “Ah, youfilmed that. Damn” (+)
It’s a wonderful lifeon Prime Video, Google Play, AppleTV and Sooner
Old but gold. And described by many cinephiles as “the best Christmas film ofall time”. In this 1946 film by director Frank Capra, we follow George Bailey,who lives in sleepy Bedford Falls and has spent his life doing good to othersat his own expense. On Christmas Eve, despair sets in, but a special angelalso descends.
Carolon AppleTV and Google Play.
Not a Christmas Carol, but normal Carol. This 2015 film is about the buddinglove between two women in 1950s New York and is set during the holiday season.The complex relationship is difficult to maintain, with all its consequences.The film was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Actress (Cate Blanchett)and Best Supporting Actor (Rooney Mara).
Love actuallyPrime Video
Love Actually will be twenty years old. Reason to reunite the star cast of theromantic comedy in a TV special from the American channel ABC. Or to justwatch the movie again.