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Apart from poultry, presents and prosecco one of the best thing about the Christmas period is the wide array of movies on over the festive season.
Here we make lists of films that will keep viewers of all age groups satisfied.
A Muppets Christmas Carol – Christmas Eve, 6.30pm, Channel 4
Looking for something to keep your little ones occupied when you stuff the turkey?
Well the Christmas time capers of Kermit, Miss Piggy and co is guaranteed to keep them quiet, for a while at least. Michael Caine stars as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge who is forced to change his ways as he is visited by the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future.
Finding Nemo – Christmas Day 2.20pm, RTÉ One
After his son is captured in the Great Barrier Reef and taken to Sydney, a timid clownfish sets out on a journey to bring him home.
A modern animated classic, it’s sure to be a firm favourite with kids and adults alike.
Harry Potter – Christmas Week, RTÉ Two
RTÉ are celebrating the 20th anniversary (feel old yet?) of the publication of the first Harry Potter book by treating fans with a run of Harry Potter films airing across RTÉ2 during Christmas week starting on Christmas Day. It also includes a special hour-long Harry Potter: a History of Magic on New Year’s Day.
102 Dalmatians – 30 December, 1.15pm, BBC One
Freed from prison for good behaviour Cruela De Vil returns to her old ways and pursues her parole officer’s dogs in this Disney family friendly, live action sequel starring Glen Close and Gerard Depardieu.
Frozen – 23 December, 2.50pm, BBC One
Sorry in advance for the endless chorus of “Let it Go” that this flick will inspire, but Frozen is probably Disney’s best film of the past decade, evidenced by its two Oscar wins (best animation and best song).
When the newly crowned Queen Elsa accidentally uses her power to turn things into ice to curse her home in infinite winter, her sister, Anna, teams up with a mountain man, his playful reindeer, and a snowman to change the weather conditions.
Casablanca – Christmas Eve, 3.45pm, RTÉ Two
Widely considered to be one of the best films of all time, the legendary Humphrey Bogart plays the role of Rick Blaine, a night club owner in Casablanca, who discovers his old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) is in town with her husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid).
Laszlo is a famed rebel, and with Nazi’s on his tail, Ilsa knows Rick is there only hope of getting out of the country.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – 22 December 12.25 pm Channel 4
A charismatic teenager skips school for the day and drags his friends along on a tour of the city, on which they encounter a host of hilarious situations.
Starring Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara and with a cameo appearance by Charlie Sheen.
Barry Lyndon – St Stephens Day, 12.15 am, RTE One
Winner of four Oscars and nominated for three more, Barry Lyndon is one of the most under-appreciated Irish films of all time.
Directed by Stanley Kubrick (The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange), it describes the life and times of a sensitive, intelligent, and ambitious man trapped in a society which has no use for him.
Despite the obstacle of his Irish birth, Raymond Barry manages to become the wealthy but ill-respected Barry Lyndon. The shooting of the film is also remembered for an alleged IRA bomb threat, which caused director Stanley Kubrick to flee the country.
Shane – 29 December, 9.30pm, TG4
When mysterious gunslinger Shane (Alan Ladd) rides into a small Wyoming town he has hopes of quietly settling down as a farmhand. Taking a job on Joe Starrett’s (Van Heflin) farm, Shane is drawn into a battle between the townsfolk and ruthless cattle baron Rufus Ryker (Emile Meyer).
Shane’s growing attraction to Starrett’s wife, Marian (Jean Arthur), and his fondness for their son Joey (Brandon de Wilde), who idolises Shane, force Shane to realise that he must thwart Ryker’s plan.
Robin Hood – St Stephens Day, 7.30am, RTÉ Two
An animated family classic, it is narrated by a rooster called Alan-a-Dale (Roger Miller) who tells the story of the heroic Robin Hood (Brian Bedford) and his trusty sidekick, Little John (Phil Harris) in this animal-themed adaptation of the legendary story.
When evil Prince John (Peter Ustinov) deputizes the Sheriff of Nottingham (Pat Buttram) to collect unreasonable taxes from the animals of Sherwood Forest, Robin, Little John and the other merry men wage a light-hearted battle against their evil foes.
Guardians of the Galaxy – Christmas Day, 10pm, RTÉ Two
Space adventurer Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself being pursued by a group of relentless bounty hunters after he steals an orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain. To evade Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with four disparate misfits.
But when he discovers the orb’s true power and the cosmic threat it poses, Quill must rally his ragtag group to save the universe.
Home Alone – Christmas Eve, 2.10pm, RTÉ One
It wouldn’t be Christmas without getting your annual fix of the adventures of Kevin Mc Callister and the hapless “wet bandits”.
The first instalment of the classic series, after his family mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin, he awakens to an empty house and assumes his wish to have no family has come true.
But his excitement sours when he realises that two con men (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) plan to rob the McCallister residence, and that he alone must protect the family home.
The Field – Christmas Day ,11.20pm, RTÉ One
“Bull” McCabe’s family has farmed a field for generations, sacrificing endlessly for the sake of the land, and when the widow, who owns the field, decides to sell the field in a public auction, McCabe knows that he must own it.
But while no one in the village would dare bid against him, an American with deep pockets decides that he needs the field to build a highway.
The Bull and his son decide to convince the American to give up bidding on the field, but things go horribly wrong. Starring Richard Harris, Sean Bean, Brenda Fricker and John Hurt.
Birdman – December 28th, 9.30pm, RTÉ One
Former cinema superhero Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) attempts an ambitious Broadway production that he hopes will breathe new life into his stagnant career.
It’s risky, but he hopes that his creative gamble will prove that he’s a real artist and not just a washed-up movie star.
As opening night approaches, a cast mate is injured, forcing Riggan to hire an actor (Edward Norton) who is guaranteed to shake things up. Meanwhile, Riggan must deal with his girlfriend, daughter and ex-wife.
The Great Gatsby – Christmas Eve, 9.30pm, BBC Two
Based on the novel by F Scott Fitzgerald, it tells the story of Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, just as the roaring twenties is getting underway .
Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan), and her womanising, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). However he slowly uncovers the dark underside of their lavish lifestyle.
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