The festive season is on its way, and Light House Cinema is once again decking the halls for its much-loved Naughty or Nice programme. Running from December 5th to 31st, this year’s line-up blends timeless classics, cult favourites and a few fresh surprises to keep your Christmas viewing merry and bright.
It just wouldn’t be Christmas at Light House without cheering on John McClane in Die Hard, counting the polo necks in Love Actually, or singing along with Kermit and friends in The Muppet Christmas Carol. And, in a year when the world said farewell to Diane Keaton, there won’t be a dry eye in the house during The Family Stone.
Old favourites return alongside some new additions. Expect Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life, The Shop Around the Corner (paired with Nora Ephron’s You’ve Got Mail), and Ingmar Bergman’s Fanny and Alexander. Modern picks like Tangerine, Carol, and The Holdovers are also on the bill.
There’s more beyond the big screen too: Ali Plumb’s Christmas film quiz, a seasonal Solve-Along-A Murder She Wrote, a live-streamed Royal Ballet performance of The Nutcracker, and the ever-popular Twilight Marathon on December 20th. And if you’re looking for a New Year’s Eve plan, Light House will ring in 2026 with a double bill of Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (in a new 4K restoration) and Kathryn Bigelow’s Strange Days.
Cinema programmer David Kelly says this year’s line-up finds the right balance between nostalgia and discovery:
“Certain Christmas films are set in stone each year, but this time we’ve added first-time screenings of the 70s slasher Black Christmas, Bill Forsythe’s Comfort and Joy, and Kathryn Bigelow’s Strange Days. It’s a joy to curate the season, especially with so many new titles joining the old favourites — Tangerine, Tokyo Godfathers, Die Hard and, of course, The Muppet Christmas Carol.”
Light House will also support Focus Ireland’s No Child Without a Home campaign throughout the season, screening a short film directed by Zoe Gibney and produced by Jo Halpin of Charmer Pictures before every Christmas feature.
What’s Showing
The Classics: It’s a Wonderful Life, The Shop Around the Corner / You’ve Got Mail, Fanny and Alexander
Modern Favourites: Carol, Tangerine, The Holdovers, The Family Stone, Tokyo Godfathers, The Green Knight
Seasonal Icons: Die Hard, Love Actually, Elf, Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, The Muppet Christmas Carol
Events & Specials: Ali Plumb’s Untitled Christmas Film Quiz Project, Solve-Along-A Murder She Wrote, Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker, Black Christmas, Comfort and Joy, Twilight Marathon, Light House Staff Craft Market
New Year’s Eve Double Bill: Sunset Boulevard (75th Anniversary 4K Restoration), Strange Days
The café and bar will be serving all the winter comforts — mulled wine, hot chocolate, mince pies and the trusty Christmas sandwich — while the Light House Staff Craft Market returns on December 13th for anyone seeking a handmade gift with a personal touch.
Tickets are on sale now at lighthousecinema.ie, and film lovers can pick up cards, vouchers and other gifts at lighthousecinemashop.ie.
