The BBC has unveiled an impressive lineup of nine blockbuster film premieres set to screen over the Christmas period, offering viewers a cinematic feast during the festive season.
Boxing Day Family Treat
Leading the festive schedule is Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which makes its BBC debut on Boxing Day. The film sees the return of Antonio Banderas voicing the fearless feline character who first gained popularity in the Shrek movies. This sequel arrives more than a decade after the character's first solo adventure in 2011 and continues the story following the events of Shrek Forever After.
BBC executives are banking on the animated comedy adventure to draw substantial audiences during the prime festive viewing period when families gather to enjoy television together.
Major Film Premieres Across Genres
Among the other significant premieres is Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, the 2022 biopic featuring Austin Butler in the title role as the legendary singer, with Tom Hanks portraying his controversial manager Colonel Tom Parker. The film receives its first mainstream television screening as part of the BBC's Christmas offering.
For superhero enthusiasts, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will swing onto screens. This animated sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse continues the story of Miles Morales as he teams up with Gwen Stacey and a diverse team of Spider-People. The film represents the second instalment in a planned trilogy.
Additional Festive Offerings
The lineup also includes Robin Robin, a heartwarming tale from Aardman Animations, the creators of Wallace & Gromit. The story follows a young robin adopted by mice who attempts to prove her worth by stealing a shiny star from a human household. The voice cast features Bronte Carmichael, Richard E. Grant, Gillian Anderson, and Adeel Akhtar.
Viewers can also enjoy Bump: A Christmas Film, a standalone comedy movie spin-off from a popular Australian television series. The film follows a family whose Christmas reunion descends into chaos during a South American cruise.
Award-Winning Dramas and Biopics
In a major coup for the broadcaster, Oppenheimer will receive its television premiere on BBC2. Christopher Nolan's multiple Oscar-winning film features Cillian Murphy in his Academy Award-winning performance as theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. The film chronicles the development of the atomic bomb and won seven Academy Awards in 2024, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.
Also appearing on BBC2 is Operation Mincemeat, the 2021 World War II drama based on true events. The film stars Colin Firth, Matthew MacFadyen, and Kelly Macdonald and depicts the Allied operation that deceived German forces about the planned invasion of Sicily.
For those seeking more contemporary drama, Challengers will air on BBC2. The tennis-themed film starring Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, and Mike Faist offers what insiders describe as a "sexy drama" from director Luca Guadagnino.
Completing the lineup is Back to Black, the Amy Winehouse biopic starring Marisa Abela as the late singer. The film, which also features Jack O'Connell and Lesley Manville under Sam Taylor-Johnson's direction, traces Winehouse's rise to fame and her tragic death at age 27.
A television insider commented: "Film premieres are hugely popular over the Christmas season when people have time to put their feet up and this selection of movies getting their first run on mainstream TV should have something for everybody."
