Christmas is fast approaching and it’s going to be an unusual one for sure, with COVID-19, lockdowns and social distancing all looking poised to throw a spanner in the festive works. However, the UK now has a new, family-friendly tool for entertaining the family this year that was absent in 2019. Disney+ was released here in old blighty back in March, so this will be the first Christmas here where we can enjoy all our favourite Disney films in one place.
With that in mind, we have compiled a list of 5 things to watch on Disney+ this Christmas. Whether you are a Christmas elf or a bah humbug! Scrooge (like me), there is something on this list for everyone.
Soul (2020)
Bypassing the big screen entirely, Soul is due to be released on Disney+ for the first time on Christmas Day itself! Perfect for that Crimbo afternoon surrounding the telly in the front room, wrapping paper discarded carelessly on the floor and a swanky new pair of socks from your Nan festooning your feet.
Soul isn’t a Christmas film though, it’s Pixar’s latest creation following jazz lover Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx). When the opportunity comes for him to play at a prestigious jazz club, an accident may well get in the way of his dreams. Unlike Mulan, Soul will be free with your current subscription straight away. Pixar knows exactly how to lay on the feels and have rarely made a less than brilliant movie, so Soul is bound to be an unmissable (potentially outer body) experience this Christmas.
Mulan (2020)
Originally a “paid for extra” on Disney+, Mulan will be streaming to all Disney+ customers with their current Disney+ subscription from the 4th of December. Disney’s latest remake of one of there classics, Mulan follows a young woman (Hua Mulan played by Yifei Liu) as she secretly volunteers for China’s Imperial Army in place of her ill father, after a decree from the Emperor that states a man from every family must help defend against the savage Northern invaders.
With the rightful, long-overdue increase in diversity in cinema and TV, Mulan is the perfect film for a family Christmas this year. With an all-Asian cast, a female lead and director, this remake of an underrated Disney classic is a must this Christmas.
Christmas Simpsons Episodes
My all-time favourite TV show, The Simpsons has been one of Disney+’s leading lights for me since its release, alongside The Mandalorian and The Clone Wars. The Simpsons has many wonderful Christmas episodes to choose from. A couple of favourites include Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire (Season 1, Episode 1), where Homer has to take a job as a Mall Santa (this is the episode where the Simpsons adopt Santa’s Little Helper) and Marge Be Not Proud (Season 7, Episode 11), the episode in which Bart steals a videogame that he desperately wanted for Christmas.
Disney+ also has many collections, being “playlists” of various films and episodes around a certain theme, so it is possible that all of the Christmas Simpsons episodes could be collected all in one place, perfect for having on in the background whilst unwrapping the Xmas goodies.
For more Christmas Simpsons episode recommendations from FinalBoss, click here.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Probably one of the best Christmas films of all time, in my mind only bettered by Home Alone (also on Disney+) and Die Hard (yeah that’s right, I called it a Christmas film! What ya gonna do about it? Come at me bro!). The reason I chose this film instead of others for this list is because this is, in my opinion, the best adaptation of THE classic Christmas novel. This story of greed, seeing the error of your ways and redemption transcends time, having been adapted over and over again. None of them even come close to The Muppets Christmas Carol. (Editors note: Woah! Have you seen Mickey’s Christmas Carol? Also on Disney+)
Every joke still lands, every poignant moment still pulls at the heartstrings and the Muppets are still iconic, this Michael Caine led film is truly a benchmark of Christmas cinema. For me, it really isn’t Christmas unless I have watched this hilarious film at least twice.
The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special (2020)
Available to stream from Tuesday 17th November, this LEGO homage to the famous (or infamous) Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) is exclusive to Disney+. The LEGO franchise has done a fantastic job with their feature-length films, with The LEGO Movie and The LEGO Batman Movie being absolutely fantastic films. Hopefully, this latest visual LEGO experience will be filled with the same quirky, self-aware humour that we have come to expect from the LEGO films.
Set after The Rise of Skywalker, Rey travels to a mysterious Jedi temple on Life Day (a Wookiee traditional holiday introduced in the original Star Wars Holiday Special) and encounters a range of Star Wars timeline hopping adventures. The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special will be a perfect film for all the family this Christmas.