Ho Ho Ho-ODEON! Here are some of the classic Christmas movies you can watch in cinemas this festive season

When it comes to Christmas films, even a movie you’ve watched a dozen times before is one million times better in the cinema. It’s like seeing it for the first time all over again, making sure you get to experience every ounce of that Christmas nostalgia we all feel when watching our favourite classics.

ODEON cinemas all over Ireland are screening some of the greatest Christmas movies of all time this year. From Die Hard and Home Alone to Elf and The Muppet Christmas Carol, you’ll have more options to choose from here than you would if you stayed at home to fight for control of the remote!

On top of that, you could also win yourself some free goodies while you’re there thanks to the Virgin Mobile CineGame app. Virgin Mobile have teamed up with ODEON to give away tonnes of free stuff to cinemagoers, and all they have to do is take out their phones and have a go at their brand-new gaming experience.

There’s nothing like a bit of friendly (or not-so friendly) competition to add a bit of spark to things. The CineGame app lets you compete with all of the other movie fans in the audience in a racing game displayed on screen, with great prizes like free tickets and cinema snacks being your reward.

The Muppet Christmas Carol

As far as classics go, it doesn’t get much better than this. Not only is the Dickens tale itself arguably the most iconic Christmas story of all time, but this masterpiece managed to blend it in with the legendary world of Kermit the Frog and co.

Everything about this movie has just gotten better with age. Its timelessness is proven by despite the fact it is this year celebrating its 30^th anniversary, many of us still think of Michael Caine as the ultimate portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge.

Home Alone

What can even be said about Home Alone? Nearly every line of it could be stitched onto the front of a Christmas jumper and people would get the reference, not to mention the fact it’s an unwritten rule that it needs to be watched in every household before Christmas can officially begin.

At least now we can say that rule is written down. Watching Home Alone is non-negotiable.

Home Alone 2

There were likely plenty of sceptics back when it was announced that Macaulay Culkin was reprising his role for a sequel, given how perfect the original was. Not only is Home Alone 2 every bit as well written as its predecessor, it was in many people’s opinion (including this writer’s) a better movie than the first.

Donald Trump cameo aside, it’s an absolute masterpiece. Any movie is elevated to another level once Dubliner Brenda Fricker is involved, and the setting of New York was an inspired choice for Kevin’s escapades.

Elf

As you work your way down this list, it’s understandable if you can’t decide which one you want to watch first. The fact that this movie is nigh on 20 years old is pretty mind-blowing, especially seeing as how often it’s referenced and quoted by just about everyone.

It doesn’t get much better than Will Ferrell’s performance as Buddy the Elf. The late James Caan was another jewel in this movie’s crown, and it absolutely deserves to be enjoyed on the big screen.

The Snowman

If the iconic song from this movie doesn’t immediately start playing in your mind when you think about this movie, you need to go see it asap. Having topped the charts in the 1980s after the movie’s release and made famous by Welsh singer Aled Jones, Walking in The Air is up there with one of the most timeless pieces of Christmas music ever written.

The movie itself, which turned 40 years old this year, is simply unforgettable. A really sweet story that can sometimes feel equal parts heart breaking and heart-warming, it’s no wonder why people of all ages come back to this story every year.

The Snowman and the Snowdog

While the 2012 short that acts as a sequel to The Snowman might not be as well known as the original, it ticks a lot of the same boxes. The animation style is gorgeous, and it perfectly captures the same kind of emotions as the first movie.

Think of this movie as an homage to the original, as it’s certainly aimed at people who have a soft spot for The Snowman. At only 24 minutes long, it’s a lovely way to bring back some of those old memories.

Die Hard

I mean, there was no way this movie was not going to be included somewhere on this list. Just as quotable as the likes of Home Alone and Elf, it’s hard to think of any other skyscraper hijacking movies that people associate more with Christmas than this Bruce Willis gem.

To say it never gets old would be an understatement, as in truth it only gets better with age. Seeing John McClane tearing things up in the Nakatomi Plaza is always special, but it reaches a whole new level when you’re watching it on a big screen in the cinema.

Download the Virgin Mobile CineGame app to be in with a chance to win prizes while at the cinema. Simply by downloading the app, you can compete with other cinemagoers in an interactive game that’s displayed on the big screen with instant prizes up for grabs.

Topics: TV and Film