Cuffing season, gift giving, and all 8 Harry Potter films being shown on ITV are all guaranteed features of the most wonderful time of the year: Christmas! As the nation prepares to sit in-front of the box next to a tub of Heroes and a glass of Echo Falls, the inevitable question of ‘what’s on?’ will be asked.
Who watches satellite T.V. now anyways? It’s all about the online streaming services! Netflix, Amazon Prime and Now Tv are all packed full of Christmas cheer to keep to laughs and fun flowing right through to the New Year. But times are hard and subscribing to multiple services can be difficult to budget for on top of all the other expenses December brings with it.
Fear not my fellow film fanatics as I have researched and found the best place to go for all your needs at Christmas and to get the best deal for your dosh.
Netflix
Ah, the ol’ reliable. Netflix is an overwhelming place if you don’t know what you’re looking for. This Christmas I can confirm that Netflix is hosting a number of Crimbo classics. At the time of writing this (November 17, 2019), they are presenting ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’, ‘Arthur Christmas’, ‘Natvity’ and (my personal favourite) ‘Christmas with the Kranks’. A decent line-up, especially with more titles sure to follow in the coming weeks. Their lowest cost package comes in at a reasonable £5.99.
Amazon Prime Video
Before you even press play, Amazon offer free next day delivery for all you last minute gift getters and givers out there so there’s no need to worry about leaving it late with this subscription. As for festive films, Amazon are falling behind Netflix in terms of quality. They offer ‘Deck the Halls’ and loveable rom-coms ‘The Holiday’ and ‘Love Actually’. No matter how much I adore that cue card scene, Amazon Prime’s variety of films pales in comparisons the luminous red of Netflix
What Amazon Prime can compensate with is the 20 Live Premier League fixtures they’re showing throughout December, including all Boxing Day fixtures. If you’re a football fan like me, then you know there’s no better feeling sat down on Boxing Day with a meal made from the leftovers of Christmas Day dinner and a Premier League fixture live on the tele. The films, delivery and football come in at £7.99 this Wintertime
Now Tv
Sky’s reply to the giants Amazon’s and Netlfix’ platforms. Do they have the films to compete though? Well, Christmas classic ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ makes an appearance on their service as well as ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ and ‘Polar Express’. Now Tv have also had their piece in the ‘is it? Is it not a Christmas film?’ debate by featuring ‘Die Hard’ under the ‘Christmas’ category but hey; nothing feels more Christmasy than John McClane murdering waves of terrorists!
This subscription (or monthly pass as they brand it) comes in at an eye watering £11.99 a month, £4 more than Amazon or £48 more a year!
For pure film entertainment, Netflix is still the ‘go to’ this year. More titles are sure to be added in time for cuffing season and being with Netflix reduces the pain of dealing with Amazon Prime Video’s interface.
However, for value of money, I am firming with Amazon Prime this year. Free next day delivery, Premier League football and ‘Love Actually’, what more do you want for £7.99 a month?!
And that’s if you haven’t already redeemed their free month trial. If you haven’t, you do not need to pay a thing until January if you want to stay subscribed. If not, as long as you remember to cancel the auto-renew, you can get the whole month free!
It’s never too early to be thinking about Christmas!