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Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig and more in Bridesmaids. TG4/Suzanne Hanover
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Christmas TV: From Bridesmaids to The Karate Kid, rate TG4's unmissable December movies

See the festive schedule and choose your favourites.

YES, CHRISTMAS IS a time of goodwill, gifts and togetherness, but it’s also a time of boxset bingeing and movie-watching. That long stretch of days from late December right into the New Year is the ideal time to catch up on old classics and discover new ones.

If you’re already planning out your Christmas viewing, you’ll be glad to know that TG4 has just released its Christmas film line-up, with a mix of beloved blockbusters, new releases, documentaries and family favourites.

There’s something for everyone in there: Notting Hill, Into The West, Pulp Fiction, Dr Seuss’ The Lorax, plus incredible feature documentaries about Mic Christopher, Bryan Adams and more. Take a look here…

Journal Media Studio / YouTube

 Below, we’ve profiled some of our top picks from the Christmas schedule. While you read, you’ll also have the chance to try out TG4′s new rating tool, Prátaí Lofa. Meaning Rotten Spuds, Prátaí Lofa is TG4′s all-Irish tribute to the classic film rating site, Rotten Tomatoes.

Here’s how it works: we give our rating for the programme or movie, you share your rating, and we compare both to the Rotten Tomatoes score. Let’s get going…

Pulp Fiction (1994)

release-date-october-14-1994 TG4 / Linda Chen TG4 / Linda Chen / Linda Chen

The benchmark by which so many other black comedies are judged, this Quentin Tarantino classic is a wild ride of shoot-outs, cursing, narcotics and so many quotable lines. Starring Samuel L Jackson, John Travolta and Uma Thurman. Catch it on TG4 on Monday December 20 at 9.30pm.

Rotten Tomatoes gives it 92%, we give it 9.5/10. Share your own rating out of ten below.

PULP FICTION

9.5Our Rating

Give this movie your rating out of 10! What's your take on Pulp Fiction?

6

Bridesmaids (2011)

bridesmaids Suzanne Hanover Suzanne Hanover

Starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Melissa McCarthy in top form, Bridesmaids is a hilarious look at the many – and often ridiculous – rituals that go along with a wedding. Prepare for diarrhea explosions, cringey engagement party speeches and some bad dancing. Bridesmaids airs Monday December 27 at 8.15pm on TG4.

Rotten Tomatoes gives it 90%, we give it 8/10. Share your own rating out of ten below.

BRIDESMAIDS

8Our Rating

Give this movie your score out of 10! What are your feelings on Bridesmaids?

6

La Bamba (1987)

La Bamba1 TG4 TG4

Teenager Richie Valens was less than a year into his rapid rise to stardom when he was killed in a plane crash along with singer Buddy Holly. La Bamba is the story of the early stages of his life and career. This one airs on Tuesday December 28 at 10.40pm on TG4.

Rotten Tomatoes gives it 82%, we give it 7/10. Share your own rating out of ten below.

LA BAMBA

7Our Rating

Give this movie your rating out of 10! How would you score La Bamba?

6

The Karate Kid (1984, rated 15A)

KARATEKIDTHE1984_8078566 (1) TG4 TG4

Wax on, wax off… This 1980s film is a retro classic. Ralph Macchio plays Daniel, who becomes the protegé of martial arts master Mr Miyagi. Watch it Thursday December 30 at 4.40pm on TG4. 

Rotten Tomatoes gives it 89%, we give it 9/10. Share your own rating out of ten below.

THE KARATE KID

9Our Rating

Give this movie your rating out of 10! What's your take on The Karate Kid?

6

And for families…

Sing Street (2016, rated 12A)

Sing Street TG4 TG4

Get ready to drive it like you stole it with Sing Street, a musical film with a lot of heart. It’s 1985, and Dublin teen Cosmo forms a rock band to impress a girl he adores. Think The Commitments for the 2010s, and you’re on track. Settle down to Sing Street on Christmas Day at 11.20pm on TG4.

Rotten Tomatoes gives it 95%, we give it 8/10. Share your own rating out of ten below.

SING STREET

8Our Rating

Give this movie your grade out of 10! How would you rate Sing Street?

6

Dr Seuss’ The Lorax (2012, rated G)

Dr. Suess the Lorax (1) TG4 TG4

This 3D animated retelling of the Dr Seuss classic sees 12-year-old Ted head off on a journey to find the extinct Truffula tree. It’s full of zany fun for kids, and parents will enjoy picking out the voices of stars like Danny DeVito and Taylor Swift. The Lorax airs as Gaeilge on Christmas Eve at 5.20pm, and in English on New Year’s Eve at 5.20pm, both on TG4.

Rotten Tomatoes gives it 54%, we give it 7/10. Share your own rating out of ten below.

DR SEUSS' THE LORAX

7Our Rating

Give this family movie your score out of 10! What's your take on Dr Seuss' The Lorax?

6

Sherlock Gnomes (2018, rated G)

sherlock-gnomes TG4 / Paramount Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures TG4 / Paramount Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures / Paramount Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures

Just as lovebirds Gnomeo and Juliet are settling into their new London home, all of their fellow garden gnomes mysteriously disappear. This colourful caper won’t be winning any Academy Awards, but it’ll be a total winner with young kids. Catch it on Christmas Day at 2.50pm as Gaeilge, and in English on St Stephen’s Day at 1pm, both on TG4.

Rotten Tomatoes gives it 27%, we give it a healthier 6/10. Share your own rating out of ten below. 

SHERLOCK GNOMES

6Our Rating

Give this family film your rating out of 10! How would you score Sherlock Gnomes?

6

Tune into TG4 for an unmissable line-up of movies over Christmas. Stream them live on the night of the broadcast, or catch up on TG4 Player +1 or +2.

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