Three friends at a table with large popcorn buckets. One friend exchanges a ticket with another. The atmosphere is joyful and lively, likely at a cinema. New Movie Releases for Christmas Eve and Day

New Movie Releases: December 24 & 25, 2025 – Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Lineup

BySarah Kennedy

The holiday box office is stacked this year, serving up everything from globe‑trotting family drama to psychological tension, musical heart‑swell, wartime resilience, and even a meta creature‑feature revival. Whether you’re craving something emotional, unsettling, nostalgic, or delightfully chaotic, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are delivering a lineup that feels tailor‑made for movie lovers who treat the holidays like a personal film festival.

New Movie Releases: “Father Mother Sister Brother” Rated – R

Indya Moore putting her head on Luka Sabbat's shoulder while opening an envelope.
Indya Moore and Luka Sabbat in “Father Mother Sister Brother” (2025) | © Carole Bethuel

“Father Mother Sister Brother” arrives on Christmas Eve with a globe‑hopping comedy‑drama vibe that feels tailor‑made for fans of intimate, character‑driven stories. The film unfolds through three separate tales, each following adult children trying to reconnect with distant parents in their own messy, heartfelt ways. It blends quiet humor, emotional awkwardness and that very human search for belonging. If you love anthology films that play like beautifully shot short stories, this one deserves a spot on your holiday watchlist.

New Movie Releases: “The Plague” – Rated R

Picture from "The Plague" of boys diving and swimming in a pool.
Photo from “The Plague” movie | © 2025 IFC Films. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

“The Plague” hits theaters on Christmas Eve in a limited run, with a wider release on January 2nd, 2026. It is a tense psychological drama set at an all‑boys summer water polo camp, where a socially anxious kid gets pulled into a cruel ritual targeting another boy labeled as “the plague.” What starts as teasing spirals into something darker, turning the camp into a pressure cooker of fear, power and groupthink. If you love slow‑burn tension, unsettling coming‑of‑age stories and thrillers where the real danger comes from the kids themselves, this one belongs on your radar.

New Movie Releases: “Song Sung Blue” – Rated PG-13

Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman singing on stage
Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman in “Song Sung Blue” (2025) | Photo by Courtesy of Focus Features © 2/Courtesy of Focus Features © 2 – © 2025 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

“Song Sung Blue” arrives on Christmas Day with a heartfelt musical‑drama pulse. It follows a Milwaukee couple who build a Neil Diamond tribute act and ride the emotional highs and lows that come with chasing a dream together. It blends music, love, and scrappy ambition into a story about performance, partnership, and the cost of stepping into the spotlight. If you enjoy underdog music stories with real emotional texture, this one is worth adding to your holiday lineup.

New Movie Releases: “The Choral” – Rated R

Ralph Fiennes in "The Choral" standing with a crowd of people behind him.
Ralph Fiennes in “The Choral” (2025) | Photo by Courtesy of Sony Pictures – © Sony Pictures

“The Choral” arrives on Christmas Day with a heartfelt period‑drama vibe. Set in 1916 Yorkshire, it follows a village choir trying to rebuild after the men leave for war, guided by a strict new chorus master who pushes a group of teens to rise to the moment. It blends music, community and wartime tension into a story about finding hope when everything feels uncertain.

New Movie Releases: “Anaconda” – Rated PG-13

Jack Black in the movie "Anaconda" carrying Boris on his shoulders.
Jack Black and Taniel in “Anaconda” (2025) | Photo by Courtesy of Columbia Pictures – © Columbia Pictures

“Anaconda” slithers into theaters on Christmas Day with a wild action‑comedy vibe that leans hard into meta chaos. This reboot follows two lifelong friends who set out to remake their favorite creature feature, only to discover that the jungle has zero interest in staying fictional. Their DIY passion project turns into a full‑blown survival scramble when a very real giant snake crashes the shoot. Expect big creature mayhem, midlife‑crisis energy, and the kind of self‑aware humor that makes cult‑classic fans feel right at home.

Final Thoughts: New Movie Releases for Christmas

This year’s Christmas slate gives movie lovers plenty of reasons to slip into a theater between family gatherings and cookie‑fueled naps. From emotional anthologies to unsettling thrillers, from musical underdog stories to wartime resilience and meta monster mayhem, there’s a release ready to match whatever mood the holidays put you in. Pick what intrigues your movie-going energy, grab your popcorn and let the holiday movie marathon begin.

Sarah is a freelance writer for Total Apex Entertainment who covers entertainment, lifestyle, and all the little joys in between. She’s passionate about travel, obsessed with languages, and always chasing new adventures—especially the ones she shares with her three kids. Whether she’s writing about pop culture or exploring hidden gems around the world, Sarah brings heart, curiosity, and a love for storytelling to everything she does.

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