The festive season is upon us, and Apple TV+ offers a selection of delightful titles to help you embrace the holiday spirit. Here are three holiday specials that I highly recommend: a feature film, an entertaining short film based on a beloved franchise, and a television classic.
Spirited
Ryan Reynolds is among Hollywood’s biggest stars today. Recently, he was featured in the immensely successful Deadpool and Wolverine, but did you know that he also starred in a holiday musical comedy for Apple TV+?
Spirited is, in my opinion, a contemporary Christmas favorite. It features Reynolds alongside Will Ferrell in a unique reinterpretation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Even if you feel you’ve seen enough Scrooge adaptations, Spirited is definitely worth a watch.
Here’s a summary from Apple:
Every Christmas Eve, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) selects one lost soul for redemption through a visit from three spirits. This season, however, he’s chosen the wrong Scrooge. Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds) flips the script on his ghostly companion, prompting Present to reconsider his own past, present, and future. For the first time, “A Christmas Carol” is narrated from the ghosts’ perspective in this comical musical rendition of the classic Dickens story.
If musicals aren’t your thing, Spirited might not resonate with you. However, the music—crafted by the talented duo behind La La Land, The Greatest Showman, and other hits—is truly exceptional.
Spirited is available now exclusively for Apple TV+ subscribers.
Ted Lasso: The Missing Christmas Mustache
The iconic Apple TV+ series, Ted Lasso, has created a delightful claymation short for the holiday season.
Ted Lasso: The Missing Christmas Mustache runs for under five minutes and is a charming homage to the tradition of classic claymation holiday specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
From the team that brought back kindness, “Ted Lasso: The Missing Christmas Mustache” is a stop-motion short featuring the beloved ensemble cast lending their voices as they assist Ted in recovering a lost item that leads him to discover the true meaning of the holiday season. The holiday short stars Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Phil Dunster, and Nick Mohammed.
Apple has made this short available for free on YouTube, so you don’t need an Apple TV+ subscription to enjoy it.
If you’re a subscriber, I also suggest revisiting some of Lasso’s festive episodes and checking out the charming Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
While most of the Apple TV+ library features original content, Peanuts stands out as one of the few exceptions that isn’t originally produced by Apple.
Apple has created new Peanuts content, but it has also acquired several classic television specials, making them accessible to Apple TV+ subscribers.
A Charlie Brown Christmas is a quintessential holiday favorite for many families, requiring no introduction. However, for those unfamiliar, here’s a brief overview:
In this cherished Peanuts special, Charlie Brown, disheartened by the commercialization of Christmas, is recruited by Lucy to direct the gang’s holiday play. Can he overcome his friends’ desire for dancing over acting, uncover the “perfect” tree, and ultimately find the true meaning of Christmas?
What are some of your favorite Apple TV+ holiday picks? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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