Some classic films just belong to Christmas. Where is what’s going on in 2021 and who is offering streams.
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without television entertainment for the whole family. From classics like “Kevin – Alone at Home” and “Die Feuerzangenbowle” to blockbusters like “The Lord of the Rings” and “Avengers: Endgame”: What will be on TV at Christmas 2021 and where it can be streamed.
“Three hazelnuts for Cinderella”
The classic fairy tale from 1973 is cult in Germany and for many an integral part of Christmas television. Until Epiphany on January 6th, there are plenty of opportunities to watch the classic on TV (December 24th, 4:05 pm, NDR / December 24th, 6:50 pm, ONE / December 24th, 8:15 pm, WDR / December 25th, 9:55 am, Das Erste / December 25th, 4:10 pm, MDR / December 26th, 4:40 pm, SWR / January 2nd, 12:00 pm, KiKa / January 6th, 8:05 am, BR ). The associated stream is available in the ARD media library until January 13th. Anyone who has a subscription to Netflix, RTL + or Amazon Prime Video can stream the fairy tale on demand. “Drei Hazelnuts für Cschenbrödel” has to be borrowed from Apple TV.
“Kevin – Home Alone” & “Kevin – Alone In New York”
What would Christmas be without Kevin (Macaulay Culkin, 41), forgotten at home alone? While his family is on vacation in Paris, eight-year-old Kevin has to defend the family home against the “wet bandits” Harry (Joe Pesci, 78) and Marv (Daniel Stern, 64). The classic from 1990 will air on December 24th at 8:15 pm on Sat.1, one day later the station will show the sequel: “Kevin – Alone in New York” will be on Sat on December 25th at 8:15 pm .1. Film fans can stream live via “Joyn”. If you prefer to stream the two “Kevin” films on demand, you need a subscription to Disney +. The films can be bought or rented digitally on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video or Sky.
“Die Feuerzangenbowle”
The German classic starring Heinz Rühmann (1902-1994) is still one of the greatest icons in German film history 77 years after it was published. What many do not know: When it was first broadcast on TV on December 26, 1969 on ZDF, the film achieved a fabulous rate of 53 percent – around 20 million Germans were sitting in front of the screens at the time. There shouldn’t be quite that many this year, but “Die Feuerzangenbowle” remains a fixture in the Christmas TV calendar for many: The film will be shown on December 24th from 9:55 pm and on December 25th from 1:40 am in the first. However, “Die Feuerzangenbowle” is not in the ARD media library. Fans of the classic must either watch it on the ARD livestream or buy it via Apple TV.
“The Grinch”
Grimace king Jim Carrey (59) created a Christmas classic 20 years ago with “The Grinch”. As a hairy-green grouch, the Grinch tries to steal presents from people dressed as Santa Claus. The fact that they celebrate the festival of love anyway gives him pause. VOX shows “The Grinch” on free TV, on Christmas Eve at 4 p.m. and on Christmas Day from 7:30 a.m. “The Grinch” can be found as a stream on demand on Netflix and via Sky Ticket, and users can buy or rent it on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube Video.
The animated new edition from 2018 runs on Christmas Day at 8:15 p.m. on RTL or as a live stream on RTL +. The new version, in which Otto Waalkes (73) lends the Grinch his voice, can be found as an on-demand stream on Amazon Prime Video and Sky.
The “Sissi” trilogy
Romy Schneider (1938-1982) made herself immortal as Empress Elisabeth, the “Sissi” trilogy has been an integral part of the Christmas season for many years. The story of the Austrian Empress runs on TV in the first: Part one, “Sissi” comes on Christmas Eve at prime time at 8:15 pm and on Christmas Day at 3:25 pm. The second part “Sissi, the young empress” runs immediately afterwards. The last part of the trilogy, “Sissi, Fateful Years of an Empress” follows on Boxing Day at 4:45 pm. Sissi and her Franz (played by Karlheinz Böhm, 1928-2014) have the honor of being streamed in the ARD livestream or on demand on Netflix and RTL +, the films must be bought on Apple TV.
“Indeed … love”
The love comedy from 2003 with Hugh Grant (61) and Keira Knightley (36) tells nine love stories in the run-up to Christmas. The German film and media rating awarded “Actually … Love” the rating “valuable”, the ZDF shows it on Christmas Eve at 11:35 pm. If that’s too late, “Actually … Love” can be streamed on demand on Amazon Prime Video or Sky.
“Lord of the Rings”
The epic film trilogy about Hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood, 40), his companions and the one ring has brought young and old together in front of big screens for 20 years – including at Christmas. On Christmas Eve, ProSieben therefore runs “The Lord of the Rings – The Companions” from 4:40 pm, followed immediately by “The Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers” at 8:15 pm. On Boxing Day, ProSieben will repeat both films one after the other from 10:45 a.m. “The Lord of the Rings – The Return of the King” runs on December 29th from 8:15 pm on ProSieben or in the livestream on Joyn. Those who prefer to run all three films in one go can stream the trilogy indefinitely via Amazon Prime Video.
“Avengers: Endgame”
The box office hit of 2019 runs on Christmas Day from 4:40 p.m. on ProSieben or in the ProSieben livestream on Joyn. With Robert Downey Jr. (56), Chris Evans (40), Scarlett Johansson (37), Mark Ruffalo (54) and Co., “Avengers: Endgame” has a top-class cast – to match the Christmas presents. For on-demand streams, fans must subscribe to Disney +.
“Sleepless in Seattle”
For many people, “Sleepless in Seattle” is one of the Christmas classics. The Christmas love story of Sam (Tom Hanks, 65) and Annie (Meg Ryan, 60) will not be shown by any TV station between December 24th and 26th at Christmas 2021 – lucky that there are streaming offers: fans can watch the film on Sky Stream unlimited, you can buy or rent it on Amazon Prime Video.
“The life is wonderful, is not it?”
One of the most touching international Christmas films of all time will be shown on Christmas Day from 8:10 pm on 3Sat on TV or in the 3Sat livestream: “Isn’t life beautiful?” with James Stewart (1908-1997) and Donna Reed (1921-1986) was nominated for five Oscars in 1947 and is still a timeless classic, despite the black and white look. It can only be found as an on-demand stream on Sky; it can be bought or rented on Amazon Prime Video.