Matinee’s Top 10 Greatest Festive Shows for 2025

Matinee’s Top 10 Greatest Festive Shows

Updated 23-12-25

it’s that time of year again – and Matinee listeners have cast their votes to decide which are the greatest shows across the holiday season. There’s something old, and something very new, and plenty of timeless classics in between.

10. Spirited

The Ryan Reynolds & Will Ferrell movie is one of the most popular Apple Original Films title on the streaming service ever.

9. Meet Me In St. Louis

Whilst it’s not strictly a Christmas film it did give us one of the most iconic festive songs “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – written specifically for Judy Garland!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKG5X0QMSWA

8. Frozen 2

None mover this year – We go Into The Unknown and Do The Next Right Thing with a true Matinee favourite all year round. Idina Menzel is note perfect as Elsa and we also love Patti Murin and Panic! At The Disco’s versions of these tracks too.

7. Polar Express

Glenn Ballard’s Grammy Award winning song was always in safe hands with Josh Groban. A timeless classic.

6. The Snowman

Up two places at no.6 is Howard Blake’s masterpiece – hear more from him on Matinee here.

5. Elf

Currently wowing crowds in London with Carrie Hope Fletcher, this has been one of the hottest tickets in the West End this Christmas.

4. The Nightmare before Christmas

What Danny Elfman did with Tim Burton on The Nightmare Before Christmas is pure magic.

3. Frozen

It’s no surprise to see Frozen in the Top 3 – there hasn’t been a single day in 2025 that we haven’t played a song from this landmark musical.

2. White Christmas

For many people Irving Berlin’s White Christmas IS the definitive Christmas song.

1. The Muppet Christmas Carol

For a fourth year we’re placing this Matinee favourite at the top of our chart – a runaway winner for 2025!