‘Tis the season to snuggle up under a cozy blanket, read a few good books, and tune into some of your favorite, classic holiday films. There are hundreds of wonderful holiday or Christmas-themed movies just begging to be watched, so it can be tough to know where to start. But, if you’re a lover of Jane Austen’s works, then there are some options out there which might tickle your fancy.
If you like Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, then you’ll probably enjoy watching the Hallmark movie, Christmas in Notting Hill. It features a pair of sisters, Georgia and Lizzie. Lizzie has been living in London for a while and she and her big sister, Georgia, reunite in honor of celebrating Christmas. The youngest, Miss Lizzie, is already in a thriving relationship and her boyfriend, Henry, is on the verge of proposing. Georgia finds herself becoming quickly enchanted by her Henry’s brother, Graham, an injured footballer who is trying to figure out his next move.
This movie will appeal to Austen lovers who like seeing the sisterly bond played out on screen and watching movies in which all parties have a happily ever after moment.
For those who revel in Catherine Moreland’s story that is told in Austen’s book, Northanger Abbey, you may also delight in watching Christmas at the Holly Day Inn. It is currently available on Amazon Prime. In this movie, a businesswoman named Emma feels disheartened because she is passed over for a promotion. She quits her job and goes home for the holidays to the Holly Day Inn, which is run by her father. While there, Emma meets a man named Oliver, and they begin spending time together. What she doesn’t know is that he’s been sent to the Holly Day Inn by his boss, hoping to close the place for good.
This movie might be a hit for Austen lovers who enjoy watching one character teach another how to do even the simplest tasks, like decorating cookies, trimming a tree, or going ice skating. While I was watching, I was reminded of the way Henry coaches and encourages Catherine, educating her and forming her mind. This movie also has a unique setting. The Holly Day Inn is nowhere near as imposing as Northanger Abbey, but there are some moments when the viewer will feel the magic that surrounds the place.
If Jane Austen’s Persuasion is simply your cup of tea, consider watching Christmas in Mississippi. Of the new-to-me movies I viewed while researching for this article, this one was my favorite. It stars Jana Kramer and Wes Brown, two actors who feature in quite a few other holiday romance stories. This one revolves around Holly and Mike’s reunion. They were high school sweethearts who broke up years ago. But when Holly returns to her hometown of Gulfport and finds that Mike is there, running the local Christmas Light Show and raising his nephew, Jack, she feels herself falling for him all over again.
The second chance romance vibes that permeate Austen’s Persuasion are just as strong here in this film. And, if that’s not enough inducement for Austen lovers to give this movie a try, consider that there are other similarities including: a bevy of secondary characters who are all highly invested in the relationships of the main couple as well as the fact that Gulfport, like Bath (the setting of Persuasion) is also near water.
Speaking of water…Jane Austen’s incomplete novel, Sanditon, is the next on my list. For those avid readers (or viewers) out there who enjoy Austen’s unfinished work, you’ll likely want to watch holiday movies that are ruled by characters who sometimes feel like they are a fish out of water and must adjust to their surroundings. But you’ll also be interested in jumping into a world in which quirky, spirited townspeople dominate.
If those two tropes are right up your alley, then check out Christmas Island or Haul out the Holly. In both films, the heroines find themselves drawn into a town full of loving, and sometimes eccentric, people. They must, over the course of the film, learn to adapt and even come to love the passion these folks display for their town and its traditions.
Mansfield Park, for those who like reading Fanny and Edmund’s story, is best embodied in the movie entitled A Heidelberg Holiday. At first glance, these two tales have very little in common, but when analyzed, they aren’t too far apart. In A Heidelberg Holiday, Holly Heidelberg has wanted to journey to Germany her whole life and take part in the Heidelberg Christmas Fair. She is a glass blower who specializes in creating handmade ornaments. When her wish is granted and she gets invited to be a vendor at the fair, she embarks on a journey that is unlike any she could’ve imagined.
These stories align because Holly, like Fanny, is the main female character who goes to live with another family for a slightly extended period. While staying with this family, she falls in love with one of her housemates. The pair work together closely and gradually gain respect and love for one another.
There are arguably many adaptations of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that could make this list. Perhaps because the enemies to lovers trope is so widely appreciated, there’s a plethora of holiday films that represent this book remarkably well. But I’ve elected to narrow the options here to two.
The relatively new holiday movie, Christmas with a Kiss, features Mona, who goes home for the holidays only to find herself presented with the attentions and affections of two very different suitors: Dez and Fletcher. She is instantly drawn to Fletcher and slightly put off by Dez, but the chemistry between them is undeniable. This love triangle is not quite what readers or viewers will see if they dive into Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, but it does keep the audience guessing which beaux she’ll pick right up until the end.
As for the second film choice here, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give the nod to Bridget Jones’s Diary. Not only is this one of my favorite movies, but it was crafted intentionally to mirror Austen’s work. Bridget Jones’s Diary spans the course of a year, which is documented when singleton Jones writes daily (and truthfully) in her diary, but it is in and around the holidays when most of the highlights take place. Just as one might expect from a proper adaptation, this film hits all the same plot points as Austen’s original work: a surprising confession of feelings, a misleading rogue, and the growth that happens only after each of the main characters make many mistakes in the way they deal with each other and their feelings. And, of course, we cannot forget that Mr. Darcy is one of the named characters in this story.
Finally, that brings us to Jane Austen’s Emma. Of all the works I watched in preparation for finding one that would compare, this proved to be the most elusive. I was surprised by this notion, given that films like Clueless exist, which is such a testament to modern adaptations of Austen’s novels. Even though the going got tough and I was on the verge of giving up, I persevered and found one holiday film that has some of the same attributes as Emma.
For those who like the way Knightley and Emma interact, challenging and pushing each other always to be the best versions of themselves, you might enjoy watching Best Christmas Party Ever. (Sometimes, on a few channels, this film is referred to as The Greatest Christmas Party Ever.) In this movie, Holly and Nick meet because Holly’s mentor and boss, Petra, is stepping back from running her party planning business. Holly is certain she’ll be promoted until Nick walks into the room. He’s Petra’s nephew and even though he has zero experience party planning, he is full of innovative ideas. At first, the two bicker quite a bit, but it is evident, even early on, that they make each other better, just like Emma and Knightley.
All the holiday movies mentioned in this blog can be viewed on Netflix, Amazon Prime, the Hallmark Channel, Pluto TV, or Tubi. But act fast, dear Janeites, because some of these films won’t stick around into the new year.
Did I miss any of your Austenesque favorites? Let me know in the comment section below so I can add it to my own To-Be-Watched List.
Here’s wishing you all the best this holiday season. Happy reading and viewing!
*All Movie Poster Images are Provided by IMDb.
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