The holidays are upon us and like every year Italian TV brings out the Christmas classics. Here’s what Rai, Mediaset and Sky have prepared for this week. If you have Netflix, however, the offer is wider.
Rai: Disney and tradition
This year Rai is focusing heavily on Disney films. We start on Sunday 21st with “The Nutcracker and the Four Kingdoms” on Rai 2.
On 24 December, Rai 1 broadcasts the Zecchino d’Oro in the afternoon with Topo Gigio and Cristina D’Avena. Rai 2 instead offers “Mickey Mouse’s Christmas Carol” and “Zootropolis”.
On Christmas Day “Mary Poppins Returns” arrives, again on Rai 2. On the 26th it’s the turn of “Beauty and the Beast”.
Mediaset: music and great classics
Canale 5 dedicates the main evenings to music: on December 24th there is the Christmas Concert with Il Volo, on the 25th the Christmas Concert in the Vatican with Federica Panicucci.
Italia 1 is the channel to follow for films. “Miracle on 34th Street” airs on the 23rd. On the 24th, as per tradition, there is “An armchair for two” in prime time. On December 25th “Polar Express” in the afternoon and “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” in the evening.
Rete 4 broadcasts “Notting Hill” at Christmas and “Christmas at all costs” on the 26th. Italia 1 closes on the 27th with “Shrek 2”.
Sky: the richest catalogue
Sky has prepared the most extensive programming. There are romantic comedies like “Serendipity” and “Love Doesn’t Go on Holiday”, Italian films like “A Christmas for Two” and “A Christmas with Bows”.
For families: “Wicked”, “The Grinch”, “Who Framed Santa Claus?”, the live action of “Snow White” and others.
The real news is Sky Cinema Harry Potter: from 20 to 31 December a dedicated channel with all eight films of the saga available.
Netflix: Christmas streaming for all tastes
Netflix, on the other hand, offers the largest catalog for the 2025 holidays. Among the new features are “Merry Christmas-Ex!” with Alicia Silverstone, “Jingle Bell Heist” set in London, “The Merry Gentlemen” with Chad Michael Murray in a Magic Mike-style rom-com, and “My Secret Santa” with a single mom dressed up as Santa Claus.
For those who love Italian comedies, “Christmas at all costs” returns with Angela Finocchiaro and Christian De Sica, as well as “10 days with Santa Claus” by Alessandro Genovesi with Fabio De Luigi. Among the romantic classics, “Love Doesn’t Take a Holiday” stands out with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet.
Families can choose from “Klaus Christmas” (the first animated Netflix film), “Jingle Jangle” with Forest Whitaker, “A Little Boy Called Christmas” and “Someone Save Christmas” with Kurt Russell as Santa Claus. There is also “Scrooge – A Christmas Carol” in the animated version and “The Chocolate Factory” by Tim Burton with Johnny Depp.
For the younger ones there are “Let It Snow” (a Love Actually for teenagers), the “As a Princess” trilogy with Vanessa Hudgens, and “Falling For Christmas” with Lindsay Lohan.
What to watch
It depends on tastes. If you want the all-time classics, “An armchair for two” remains a permanent fixture. Families with children will find a lot on Rai 2 and Sky. Those who love Harry Potter have a guaranteed two-week marathon.
The choice is wide, just take a look at the schedule and mark what interests you.
