Looking for somewhere to take the kids this December? There’s a stocking’s worth of Christmas screenings, pop-ups and festive film treats to choose from this season.
The Prince Charles crew invite you to let it go – the shopping, the worries about the in-laws – and singalong with Elsa, Olaf and co. It’s basically catnip for kids.
Prince Charles Cinema. Dec 17, 12.30pm. £16, £9.50 child.
Songs, joy and a bit where a young Judy Garland basically fights a snowman: Vincente Minnelli’s classic musical remains a Technicolor treat for all the family.
BFI Southbank. Dec 17, 20, 22, 28. £8.
For Christmas with a Gallic flavour, Kensington’s temple to all things French is putting on a day of film fun and storytelling for babies and kids. They’re promising a visit from Santa, too. Magnifique!
Institut Français. Dec 16, from 11am. £3, £7 child.
Robert Zemeckis’s animated adventure is a Christmas staple and Tom Hanks is basically Santa in human form, so rug up and head down to Crouch End’s boutique cinema for post-Christmas fun.
Arthouse Crouch End. Dec 27, 7.20pm. £10, £7 child.
The Extraordinary Travelling Film Show invites you to spend Christmas in a cosy space with animals from Vauxhall City Farm. There’ll be archive films showing Christmas in London past.
The Workshop. Dec 17, from 2pm. £7, £4 child.
Until the Muppets tackle ‘Bleak House’, Jim Henson’s festive caper will be the greatest Dickens adaptation in existence. Catch it at this Saturday morning Kids’ Kino Club. It’s just £1.75 for under-16s.
Regent Street Cinema. Dec 16, 11.30am. £12, £1.75 child.
The most bruising Christmas movie this side of ‘Die Hard’, John Hughes’s comedy is one of the greatest, and funniest, festive flicks. There’s also a ‘Home Alone’-themed party aferwards with goody bags.
Electric Cinema Portobello. Dec 15-17, 19, 22, 23. £9.50.
This 1994 remake of the classic about a kindly old man (Richard Attenborough) and a cynical young girl (Mara Wilson) learning the meaning of Christmas will keep the nippers entertained.
Hackney Showroom. Dec 23, 1pm. £20, £10 child.
MGM’s evergreen musical still looks absolutely incredible on the big screen, so follow the Yellow Brick Road (or Northern line) all the way to the BFI Southbank, sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
BFI Southbank. Dec 14, 21, 27. £8.
No Christmas is complete without a viewing of Frank Capra’s mighty morality tale. It’s heartbreakingly sad, wondrously life-affirming and will leave everyone glowing. Plus, you get a free mince pie.
Phoenix Cinema. Dec 17, 11.30am. £10, £6 child.
The much-loved Genesis is hosting a day of Christmas movies, followed by a day of Christmas TV treats – all for free! Films include ‘A Christmas Story’, ‘Gremlins’, and ‘Die Hard’.
Genesis Cinema. Dec 16-17. Free.
The Barbican’s family shindig promises a visitor from the North Pole. Any guesses? There’ll also be ‘secret screenings’, one of which may rhyme with ‘The Bruffalo’.
Barbican. Dec 16, 11am. £5.
’Tis the season to be jolly – unless you’re being dragged to some awful, syrupy, schmaltzy festive flick. Luckily, we’ve got the antidote: every film on this list of Christmas movies is guaranteed to charm, entertain and in the odd case terrify.
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