This is one to add to your holiday season bucket list, for sure.
Last weekend, as I had promised my kids a family movie night, we were flicking through Netflix trying to decide on a movie we all wanted to watch, when we stumbled upon the newly released Christmas Chronicles.
It took a bit of convincing at first, as they both really wanted to watch Arthur Christmas (again). But having seen that particular movie what feels like 7 million times at this stage, I managed to sway (read: bribe) them into the Christmas Chronicles.
And guys – if you haven’t seen it yet, let me just tell you this: It’s one to watch – for the whole family.
For starters, Kurt Russell (yes, really) is so good as Santa in it – and on top of that, well, it’s just one of those rare movies that kids and adults alike will love in equal measure, and a film I am sure we will all be re-watching for many a Christmas to come too.
Haven’t seen the trailer yet? Take a look:
The Christmas Chronicles was released on November 22, and according to Netflix, the movie was streamed 20 million times during its first week.
“Even in his successful career, [Kurt Russell] has never had that many people see one of his movies in the first week ever,” Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos told Business Insider. If you compared the movie’s release to a more traditional theatrical rollout, then the Netflix viewing numbers would translate into a first week gross of $200 million. “Even movies that go on to $1 billion don’t typically do that in the first week,” Sarandos said.
To be clear, it isn’t stated how many of those 20 million were repeat viewings – and chances are some were, because it is just that good.
To give you a taste of the plot line, the move is centered on a brother and sister who lost their father. And setting out to catch Santa on film, they somehow end up sneaking onto Santa’s sleigh, resulting in it crashing in downtown Chicago – after which the characters spend the rest of the movie, more or less, trying to get out of Chicago – and save Christmas.
Why is it so good, you ask? Well, it just has that certain something that all great Christmas movies have in common. It’ll give you those proper festive season feels, it’s super funny, and it has charm. Real, good aul’ charm.
Just promise me this: Sit down and watch it this weekend.
