Showmax counts down to Christmas

Showmax is counting down to Christmas with new festive season movies coming every day until 25 December 2021. Here’s just a taste of the highlights, from magical stories to share with the family to fabulous festive comedies for the grown-ups to award-winning films to celebrate the spirit of Christmas.

Also keep an eye out for the pop-up Africa Magic Holiday Channel that is streaming live on Showmax until 4 January 2022, packed full of festive gems, including holiday concerts, gospel performances and Nollywood favourites.

Here’s just a taste of the festive movie highlights:

Snowbound for Christmas | From 11 December 

Prepare for stunning scenes and some good ol’ fashioned chemistry in Snowbound for Christmas.

When an executive assistant ends up trapped in a luxury resort with her boss during a work trip a few days to Christmas, the pair spark some holiday magic.

The movie stars Zarrin Darell-Martin (Falling Skies, Room) and Henderson Wade (Riverdale, American Horror Story).

A New Christmas | From 19 December

When a grieving student meets a charming young lady, the magic of Christmas is restored.

A New Christmas tells the story of Kabir, a lonely medical student in New York, estranged from his wife and grieving the loss of his mother. When he meets Kioni, a charming film student from Kenya, she persuades him to show her the city’s Christmas decorations, thereby leading him to rediscover the magic of the holiday season and get his life back on track.

The movie stars Bollywood actress, Preeti Gupta (Kasturi, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii), Indian dancer/writer/director, Swati Bhise and Paula Rossman (The Amazing Spider-Man 2).

Greyson Family Christmas | From 20 December

You know there’s bound to be some drama when an African-American brings home a white partner to their parents.

Activist liberal progressive law student Maya brings her new boyfriend home for the holidays neglecting to tell her family that he’s white. Guess who’s coming to Christmas dinner?

Greyson Family Christmas has an IMDb rating of 7.5 and stars Robinne Lee (Deliver Us From Eva, Hitch), Carol Sutton (Ray, Steel Magnolias) and Kalilah Harris (Being Mary Jane).

Baking Spirits Bright | From 24 December 

..because Christmas is incomplete without some cake, what better way to usher in the day than with a movie on sweet treats?

Baking Spirits Bright tells the story of Mira Varma who works in her family’s fruitcake business and takes pride in it, despite the decline of the confection’s popularity. 

When her parents hire Brady Phillips to boost sales for the holidays, Mira fights to hold on to the heart of the company she loves so much.

The movie stars Rekha Sharma (Ellen Landry on Star Trek), Dion Johnstone (Ties That Bind) and Ryan Williams (Arrow, Supergirl).

A Christmas Family Reunion | From 25 December 

Family drama – check, romance – check, all-around Christmas feel-good vibes – double check!

Event planner Amy Kessler is hired to help rising singer Tiffanie Christmas plan her holiday family reunion. Along the way Amy must navigate some challenging family dynamics, especially amongst Tiffanie’s aunts as well as her own growing feelings for Tiffanie’s cousin, Calvin. Will she be able to pull off an amazing Christmas family reunion? 

A Christmas Family Reunion features African-American OG, Vanessa Estelle Williams (Soul Food), Asia’h Epperson (Greenleaf) and Michelle Argyris (Devil Seed, Shadowhunters).

Also on Showmax over the holiday season

Black reel nominee Amber Stevens West (Run the World) stars as an ambitious reporter who goes after a story but instead discovers the true meaning of Christmas in Christmas Unwrapped, (which also stars Charlie’s Angel Cheryl Ladd). 

A slice of life story that follows a large Italian family on Christmas Eve, A Christmas Feast (aka Feast of the Seven Fishes) has an 88% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Young Artist Award winner Skyler Gisondo (The Starling, The Righteous Gemstones), Madison Iseman (Clouds, Jumanji: The Next Level), and Addison Timlin (Fallen) star alongside the likes of Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix, Memento) and Ray Abruzzo (The Sopranos, The Practice).

2 December

Catch Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston in the comedy Office Christmas Party, and Tyler Perry in A Madea Christmas, and bring the whole family along for a journey through Charles Dickens’ creation of A Christmas Carol, the timeless tale that redefined Christmas, in The Man Who Invented Christmas, starring the late, great Christopher Plummer (The Sound of Music) and Teen Choice winner Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey). 

Soapie addicts will be thrilled to see Emmy winner Eileen Davidson (The Young and the Restless’ Ashley Abbot and Days of Our Lives’ Kristen DiMera) in Middleton Christmas (aka There Will Always Be Christmas), a story of sacrifice, family, love, and what it means to be thankful for one another at Christmas.  

6 December

The dark action comedy Fatman stars Oscar winner Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon, Mad Max, Braveheart) as a rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus who must contend with a hitman sent by a vengeful kid. Also starring Oscar nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Secrets & Lies, Without a Trace, Homecoming), and Emmy nominee Walton Goggins (Ant-Man and the Wasp, The Righteous Gemstones, Justified).

10 December

The feel-good film The Farmer and the Belle: Saving Santaland is based on a true story. Directed by Idyllwild Indie Spirit Award winner Wes Llewellyn, the film’s cast includes award-winning family-film star Jenn Gotzon, and Emmy nominee Corbin Bernsen (L.A. Law, Hap and Leonard, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang). 

18 December 

Romance comes to the English countryside in A Very British Christmas, which stars Oscar winner Rachel Shenton (All Creatures Great and Small, Hollyoaks) as an opera singer whose derailed travel plans could lead her to exactly where she ought to be.

21 December 

Multiple BET and Black Reel Awards nominee Vivica A. Fox (Empire, Independence Day) and Emmy winner and Golden Globe nominee Jackée Harry (227, Days of Our Lives) are among the cast of A Christmas for Mary.

Love that British sense of humour? The award-winning British dramedy The Loss Adjuster stars MTV Movie Award and Teen Choice Award nominee (and the drummer for Bros) Luke Goss, EastEnders star and Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp, Coronation Street star Kym Marsh, Guy Siner (‘Allo ‘Allo, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) and… Golden Globe winner Joan Collins (Dynasty).

22 December

Christmas crime caper Santa Fake stars Glee alums Damian McGinty and Teen Choice nominee Heather Morris, Golden Globe nominee Judd Nelson (Billionaire Boys Club, The Breakfast Club) and Emmy nominee John Rhys-Davies (LOTR, Raiders of the Lost Ark), along with Jeff Fahey (Alita: Battle Angel, Lost) and Tony Amedola (Once Upon a Time, The Mask of Zorro). 

Love, loss and the recipe for Christmas magic take centre stage in the just-released film The Enchanted Christmas Cake, starring Saturn Award and Teen Choice Award nominee Erica Durance (Supergirl, Smallville, Saving Hope) and Christmas movie favourite Robin Dunne (Sanctuary).