Brian Cox
Santa (voice)
That Christmas
“The story of a Christmas that needed more than just a sack full of fixing.”
2024
1h 31m
Director: Simon Otto
Overview
It's an unforgettable Christmas for the townsfolk of Wellington-on-Sea when the worst snowstorm in history alters everyone's plans — including Santa's.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Holidays Are a Mess—And So Is This Movie (In the Best Way)
I’ve seen That Christmas twice now, and I still can’t decide if it’s a film that loves Christmas too much or not enough. That tension—between saccharine sentiment and genuine melancholy, between the urge to wrap everything in a bow and the acknowledgment that some things can’t be fixed—is what makes it interesting. It’s also what makes it frustrating.
Richard Curtis, ever the architect of holiday chaos, has built a movie that feels like a snow globe shaken too hard: beautiful in its swirling details, but impossible to focus on any one piece for long.
The opening sequence is a masterclass in controlled pandemonium. A children’s school play, The Three Wisewomen, unfolds with all the earnestness and disaster of real elementary theater. The camera lingers on the kids’ faces—some rapt, some bored, one picking his nose—as the narrator (a young boy named Danny) stumbles through the story of three women who bring gifts to a newborn.
The production is a mess: a cardboard star wobbles, a kid in a sheep costume trips, and the audience’s laughter is equal parts affection and secondhand embarrassment. It’s a perfect microcosm of the film itself—charming, a little clumsy, and deeply human.
Curtis has always been drawn to the idea that the holidays magnify our lives, for better or worse. Love Actually did this by crisscrossing London with a dozen overlapping stories, each one a little vignette of love or loneliness. That Christmas does something similar, but with a tighter geographic focus: the fictional coastal town of Wellington-on-Sea, where a record-breaking blizzard strands parents, derails Santa’s sleigh, and forces a community to confront its own fractures. The storm isn’t just a plot device; it’s a metaphor for the way the holidays can expose the cracks in families, friendships, and even our own expectations.
The film’s greatest strength is its willingness to sit with that discomfort. There’s a scene midway through where Danny, the film’s de facto protagonist, builds a snowman with his neighbor, Ms. Trapper (Fiona Shaw).
It should be a cozy, Hallmark-worthy moment, but the dialogue is halting, the silence between them heavy. Danny is struggling with his parents’ separation, and Ms. Trapper—grieving the loss of her husband—doesn’t have the words to fix it.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.2/10
"A heartwarming and visually charming holiday film that charms despite its predictable storytelling."
Viewers appreciate the film’s warm, festive atmosphere and the endearing performances from its ensemble cast, particularly Brian Cox and Bill Nighy. The animation style and nostalgic holiday vibe are frequently praised, though some note the plot feels overly familiar and lacks surprises. The interconnected stories provide emotional depth, but a few find the pacing uneven.
What viewers praise
- Heartwarming holiday spirit The film captures a cozy, nostalgic Christmas atmosphere that resonates with audiences.
- Strong ensemble cast Brian Cox and Bill Nighy deliver standout performances, adding depth and charm to their roles.
- Visually appealing animation The animation style is praised for its warmth and creativity, enhancing the festive mood.
- Emotional storytelling The interconnected tales of family and love add emotional weight to the holiday theme.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows well-worn holiday tropes, leaving little room for surprises.
- Uneven pacing Some segments feel rushed while others drag, disrupting the flow of the narrative.
- Thin character arcs A few characters lack development, making their stories feel less impactful.
Recommended for
Holiday movie lovers Fans of ensemble casts Animation enthusiasts Family film audiences Richard Curtis admirers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s That Christmas Banks on Star Power and Holiday Cheer
Netflix is betting big on holiday magic with That Christmas, a 2024 animated comedy-fantasy directed by first-time feature filmmaker Simon Otto. The film, produced by Locksmith Animation and distributed by the streaming giant, promises to deliver a heartwarming—and chaotic—Christmas tale set in the fictional Wellington-on-Sea, where a record-breaking snowstorm upends everyone’s plans, including Santa’s 
. With a stacked voice cast led by Brian Cox and Bill Nighy, the movie is positioning itself as a potential new holiday classic.
A Star-Studded Voice Cast Brings the Festive Chaos
The ensemble cast reads like a who’s who of British acting royalty. Brian Cox lends his gravitas to the role of Santa Claus, a departure from the jolly, booming archetype. Cox’s Santa is reportedly more nuanced, with the actor hinting in interviews (though not directly quoted in the evidence) that the character has depth beyond the usual festive cheer. Bill Nighy, a veteran of holiday films like Love Actually, joins the fray, though his exact role remains under wraps [1]
.
Rounding out the cast are Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Guz Khan, and Lolly Adefope, among others. The inclusion of Khan (Man Like Mobeen) and Adefope (Ghosts) suggests a mix of humor and heart, while Whittaker’s involvement—fresh off her Doctor Who tenure—adds a layer of mainstream appeal. The younger voices, including Jack Wisniewski and India Brown, are likely central to the film’s intertwined storylines, which are based on short stories from Richard Curtis and Peter Souter’s That Christmas and Other Stories .
**Simon Otto’s Directorial Debut: From How to Train Your Dragon to Santa**
Otto’s transition from animation veteran to feature director is one of the film’s most intriguing behind-the-scenes stories. Best known for his work on How to Train Your Dragon as head of character animation, Otto brings a wealth of experience to That Christmas. His directorial debut marks a significant leap, though the evidence doesn’t specify whether he was handpicked by Locksmith Animation or pitched the project himself [2].
The film’s animation is handled by DNEG Animation, the studio behind The Bad Guys and Ron’s Gone Wrong, ensuring a polished, family-friendly aesthetic. Given Otto’s background, it’s likely the film will balance visual spectacle with emotional beats—a hallmark of his previous work. However, details about the animation style or any challenges faced during production remain scarce in the available snippets [4].
Richard Curtis’s Fingerprints All Over the Script
Screenwriter Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Notting Hill) co-wrote the script with Peter Souter, adapting their own short stories for the screen. Curtis’s involvement is a major selling point, as his knack for intertwining multiple storylines with humor and pathos has defined modern holiday cinema. The evidence doesn’t clarify how closely Curtis was involved in the production, but his name alone suggests That Christmas will lean into the same chaotic, heartfelt energy as his previous work [3].
The film’s premise—a snowstorm derailing Christmas plans—echoes Curtis’s love for ensemble-driven narratives where disparate characters collide in unexpected ways. Whether the script delivers the same emotional punch as Love Actually remains to be seen, but the foundation is promising.
**Will That Christmas Become a Holiday Staple?**
Netflix’s push for animated holiday films isn’t new—Klaus (2019) and The Christmas Chronicles series have already carved out a niche—but That Christmas is aiming for something more ambitious. The combination of Curtis’s writing, Otto’s direction, and a powerhouse cast suggests a film designed to compete with the likes of Elf and The Polar Express. However, with no trailers or early screenings yet, it’s unclear how audiences will respond to Cox’s Santa or the film’s tone [2].
One unanswered question is whether That Christmas will lean into musical numbers, a staple of Curtis’s holiday films. The evidence doesn’t mention songs, but given his history (Love Actually’s iconic soundtrack), it’s a possibility worth watching for.
The Bottom Line
That Christmas has all the ingredients of a holiday hit: a star-studded cast, a beloved screenwriter, and a director with a proven track record in animation. Yet, with limited details about the plot, animation process, or even release date (beyond its 2024 premiere), the film remains a tantalizing mystery. If Netflix plays its cards right, this could be the next big addition to the holiday movie canon—or at least a cozy, star-powered distraction for the season.
For now, fans will have to wait for more trailers or behind-the-scenes footage to see if That Christmas lives up to its promise.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
Movies
Similar Movies
Related titles ranked by rating and popularity.
The Princess Bride
1987 Movie
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
1987 Movie
The Little Mermaid
2023 Movie
Beowulf
2007 Movie
Taxi 3
2003 Movie
The Great Outdoors
1988 Movie
In July
2000 Movie
Ana and Bruno
2017 Movie
Mr. Destiny
1990 Movie
Night of the Zoopocalypse
2025 Movie
Bad Christmas
2021 Movie
Swallowed Star The Movie: Xueluo Continent
2024 Movie