Two decades after Love Actually became a fixture of winter movie nights, Richard Curtis is returning to the Christmas spirit. Based on Curtis’ own trilogy of children’s books, That Christmas tells a series of animated holiday stories that are sure to ease you into the season of giving. Curtis co-wrote the script with Peter Souter, and the voice cast is positively delectable. 

“This movie tells the story of a troubled Christmas, forcing a group of kids and parents to accept that you can’t always plan life,” director Simon Otto told Netflix. “ Life is chaotic, relationships are messy, and traditions sometimes must be re-evaluated. And regardless of whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I hope that audiences will laugh at the family dynamics and identify with the universal truth behind most traditions: It’s ultimately not about the rules and the expectations we put on these events — we tend to forget that what really matters is that we can be together with our loved ones.”

Read on for more information about That Christmas, and keep an ear out for the sound of sleigh bells in the air.

What is That Christmas about?

Based on the charming trilogy of children’s books by beloved award-winning writer-director Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, Yesterday), That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, Santa Claus making a big mistake — and it also features an enormous number of turkeys! This heartwarming comedy from Locksmith Animation marks Curtis’ first foray into animation, serving as the film’s writer and executive producer, and it’s also the feature directorial debut of renowned animation veteran Otto (Love, Death & Robots, How to Train Your Dragon films). Nicole P. Hearon (Moana, Frozen films) and Adam Tandy (The Thick of It, Detectorists) are producers.

“I hope it’s going to be a film that makes people happy — perhaps more than once,” Curtis said. “I hope it’ll remind people of the joy and complexity of Christmas, and some of the joys and comedy and heartbreak of childhood. And then there’s a very special thing for me, that the film takes place in a town very much like my own in Suffolk. I hope they’ll love the sense of the place — and go away with a new, delightful, simple English world in their heads.”

Who’s in the cast of That Christmas?

That Christmas features an impressive list of celebrated thespians and voice actors, including: 

• Brian Cox
• Fiona Shaw
• Jodie Whittaker
• Lolly Adefope
• Alex Macqueen
• Katherine Parkinson
• Sindhu Vee
• India Brown
• Zazie Hayhurst
• Sienna Sayer
• Jack Wisniewski
• Rosie Cavaliero
• Paul Kaye
• Guz Khan
• Andy Nyman
• Kuhu Agarwal
• Bronte Smith
• Freddie Spry
• Ava Talbot
• Bill Nighy
• Rhys Darby

Will That Christmas feature an original song by Ed Sheeran?

Yes! Sheeran has written and recorded an original song for the animated feature, titled “Under the Tree.” The singer was moved to collaborate with longtime friend Richard Curtis after the latter approached him with a rough version of That Christmas. 

“It was just sketches and voices, but it blew me away,” Sheeran told Netflix. “So emotional, yet so heartwarmingly funny, like all Richard Curtis movies. I find since having kids, there’s a real lack of great animated children’s Christmas movies, so I thought this was such an amazing thing to make and put into the world. The scene that we wrote this song for is so heartbreaking, but so real for many people at Christmas — spending it without the ones they love, for so many reasons. I got to work with my older brother on this, which is such a rarity and a gift to work so closely with my only sibling. It felt so good to create something my children would watch, with their uncle, based in the country they live in. This is going to become a holiday staple, at least in our household. Hope everyone loves it and enjoys the song — we had such a great time creating it.”

When will That Christmas be on Netflix?

That Christmas skates onto Netflix on Dec. 6, 2024.