Christmas Movies Actually

Collin Souter
  • 3.3 (25)
  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

You don't have to love Christmas to love this podcast. Film critic Collin Souter and renowned sheep expert Kerry Finegan delve into every type of Christmas movie they can find. Classics, non-classics, horror, Hallmark, obscurities, foreign, shorts, TV specials, unnecessary sequels and remakes. Even films that you might not think of as traditional Christmas movies. The great, the awful and the unusual, all year round.

  1. 3D AGO

    155: The Preacher's Wife (1996)

    Kerry and Collin take a look at the remake of The Bishop's Wife (1949, episode #109), the Penny Marshall-directed The Preacher's Wife, starring Denzel Washington, Whitney Huston, Courtney B. Vance and Gregory Hines. While the film sticks with the original's principal characters, it adds a lot of plot to the storyline that does not always benefit the overall outcome. Was there as great a need for movies about spiritual awakenings and celestial encounters in he 1990s as there was in the post-WWII era?  Can Denzel Washington really do anything? What was Penny Marshall's last film project before she passed away in 2018? Can we get a replica anywhere of the Dudley tree-topper at the end of the film? All these questions get answered, plus three more films from 1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. Visit collinsouter.com RogerEbert.com Follow Collin and Kerry on Letterboxd. Book movies covered: Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959) An Actor's Revenge (1963) Consequences of Love (2004)

    1h 22m

  2. FEB 5

    154: Valentine's Day Movies Actually: My Bloody Valentine (1981) - feat. Patrick Ripoll

    The second Valentine's Day Movies Actually episode takes a strong left turn from the warm and fuzzy feels of the Garry Marshall  ensemble rom-com they covered a couple years ago. This time, Kerry and Collin are joined by their resident slasher movie expert, Patrick Ripoll, to discuss the 1981 cult classic, "My Bloody Valentine" (later remade in 2009). What makes this particular masked killer so distinct from the likes of Jason, Freddy, Michael, Ricky, Chucky, et al? Why was there never a sequel to this film when there was clearly a lot that could be done with it? How does the remake hold up against the original? They get into all of these issues after Patrick and Collin talk about the coincidental movie project they both happen to be working on separately. Also, the latest and greatest in physical media with the Blu-ray Gift Exchange.  Listen to Patrick Ripoll on 96 Greers and follow his Hitchcock project throughout the year on Director's Club.  Visit collinsouter.com RogerEbert.com Follow Collin and Kerry on Letterboxd. Blu-rays covered: Sony: "Blue Moon" (2025) Warner: "One Battle After Another" (2025) "Twilight Zone: The Movie" (1983) "Shameless" - The Complete Series Universal: Woody Woodpecker: The Golden Age Collection Warner Archive: The James Stewart Collection "By The LIght Of the Silvery Moon" (1953) "The Verdict" (1946) Criterion: "Caught By the Tides" (2024) Vinegar Syndrome: "At Close Range" (1986)

    1h 42m

  3. JAN 20

    153: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie (2025)

    The Jonas Brothers surprised Kerry and Collin with their charming holiday offering this past season that they decided to devote an entire episode to "A Very Jonas Christmas Movie." Please know that the hosts have little to no knowledge of the Brothers Jonas and their back-catalog, so be patient with the little that they do know. What exactly is figgy pudding (Andrea Martin wanted to know, so the question is being asked on her behalf)? Is Jesse Tyler Ferguson's Santa beard real or fake? Finally, if the Jonas Brothers returned for a version of A Christmas Carol, who would they play? And how would Miley Cyrus fit in? All this, plus a cheerfully jaunty Book segment. Book movies covered: Underground (1995) Head-On (2004) The Sorrow and the Pity (1969)   Visit collinsouter.com RogerEbert.com Follow Collin and Kerry on Letterboxd.

    1h 23m

  4. JAN 5

    152: Nutcracker: The Motion Picture (1986)

    As always, Kerry and Collin begin the year taking a look at a Nutcracker movie. This one celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, so the festivities for it starts now! "Nutcracker: The Motion Picture" was a theatrically-released performance film with an added touch of storybook-like innovation and imagination from the one and only Maurice Sendak (author of Where the Wild Things Are). Does it successfully work as a piece of storytelling and staged performance? How does it compare to the similar 1993 version Starring Macauley Culkin? What exactly is PDIP? All these questions, plus a look at the latest and greatest in physical media from the month of December with the Blu-ray Gift Exchange. Collin's favorite blu-rays from 2025.  Movie Madness episode, featuring Collin Souter, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy, all running down their 15 favorite films of the year.  Blu-rays covered: Warner: Ted Lasso - The Richmond Years (4K) "Boogie Nights" (1997) (4K) LionsGate: "Hearts Of Darkness - A Filmmaker's Apocalypse" (1991) (4K) FilmMasters: "The House On Haunted Hill" (1959) Warner Archive: Lippy The Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series Wally Gator - The Complete Series "I Love Melvin" (1953) Criterion: "I Know Where I'm Going" (1945) (4K) Universal: "Skylark" (1941)

    1h 23m

  5. 12/20/2025

    151: Santa Claus: The Movie - 40th Anniversary (feat. Peter Sobczynski)

    Though beloved in England, the 1985 Salkind Production "Santa Claus: The Movie" never met its high expectations, either critically or at the box office. Film critic Peter Sobczynski returns to the show to break down why the movie doesn't really work, even though it's well cast and the production design is (mostly) quiet good. What went wrong? Just how much strategic product placement went into this? Is this a more or less dignified role for Dudley Moore than "Six Weeks"? How has Peter been traumatized by this particular movie? We get into all of that, as well as Peter's Christmas episode pick, the SCTV Staff Christmas Party (see YouTube links below). Finally, we end the show with an actual gift exchange and a big thankyou to all our guests from 2025. And thank YOU, dear listeners!  SCTV - Staff Christmas Party SCTV Christmas "Chu-Chu and the Philly Flash"

    1h 39m

  6. 12/12/2025

    150: BONUS - New Christmas Movies Now Streaming

    Kerry and Collin have been keeping track of several new Christmas films and TV episodes that have been dropping over the last several weeks and give brief thoughts on each of them. This includes "A Very Jonas Christmas," "Jingle Bell Heist," "A Paw Patrol Christmas," "The Merchants of Joy," "Oh. What. Fun." and "Christmas Karma." They also have quick thoughts on the new "Silent Night, Deadly Night" remake, which will be talked about more in-depth in October of next year, per SNDN tradition. Kerry also talks about her new "cozy murder show" obsession, CBS's "Elsbeth," which aired a Christmas episode and Collin talks about the discovery he made on Shudder, "A Christmas Ghost Story." All this, plus a Blu-ray Gift Exchange, featuring some big news for one release which directly involves one of our hosts.  Blu-rays covered: Warner: "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" (1975) - 4K  Apple: "CODA" (2021) - 4K  Criterion: "Hell's Angels" (1930) - 4K Sony: "Awakenings" (1990) - 4K Universal: The Alfted Hitchcock Presents Legacy Collection Warner Archive: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology - 1940 - 1958 The Gene Kelly 4-Film Collection "At The Circus" (1939) "I Love You Again" (1940) "Manhattan Melodrama" (1934) Vinegar Syndrome: "The Movie Orgy" (1968)

    1h 38m

  7. 12/05/2025

    149: Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (1964) / The Christmas Martian (1971) (feat. Dave Canfield)

    "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians" is often considered the Granddaddy of all bad Christmas films. A cheaply made kiddie flick from 1964, it is perhaps most well known for being the screen debut of a young Pia Zadora. Film critic Dave Canfield returns to the show to dissect the film's notoriety, the filmmakers' misguided intentions and what makes this public domain favorite so special. They also discuss a lesser-known yuletide oddity for kids along the same lines, "The Christmas Martian." A Canadian production made for television, it is made up of so many odd elements that don't quite go together, but that's what makes it such a fascinating watch. Finally, Dave's TV Special pick is Berke Breathed's Bloom County/Outland one-off Christmas special "Opus n' Bill's A Wish For Wings That Work," perhaps Collin's favorite Christmas special of all time.  Watch "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians" Watch "The Christmas Martian" (sorry, only the French version is available on YouTube) Watch "Opus n' Bill's A Wish For Wings That Work."

    1h 30m

  8. 11/30/2025

    148: The Ice Harvest - 20th Anniversary (feat. Nick Digilio)

    Last year, film critic Nick Digilio came onto the show to talk about the crime comedy "The Ref." This year, he returns to talk about a film that feels like a close cousin to that film, Harold Ramis' "The Ice Harvest," starring John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen and Oliver Platt. Like "The Ref," it is an underseen gem about criminals trying to get out of town on Christmas Eve, with too many obstacles--including family, cops and other criminals--getting in the way. What was it like to hang out with John Cusack when he lived in Chicago? Is this his best performance? How does this film fit into the rest of Harold Ramis work? All this, plus a look at Nick's book, "40 Years, 40 Films" where we dive into what makes a good film critic and what your Top 10 says about you. Finally, Nick's TV Christmas pick is "The Honeymooners" - Season 1, Episode 13 - "'Twas The Night Before Christmas," one of the coveted 39 episodes of the show that remains timeless and classic.  Buy Nick's book "40 years, 40 Films" here.

    1h 45m
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3.3
out of 5
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About

You don't have to love Christmas to love this podcast. Film critic Collin Souter and renowned sheep expert Kerry Finegan delve into every type of Christmas movie they can find. Classics, non-classics, horror, Hallmark, obscurities, foreign, shorts, TV specials, unnecessary sequels and remakes. Even films that you might not think of as traditional Christmas movies. The great, the awful and the unusual, all year round.

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