Ali Plumb's 10 best 'non-Christmas movies' that'll make you feel Christmassy

Yes, there's some skiing in the sequel - snowy, sure, and yet not quite Christmassy enough - but the original has a rom-com "run for love" in some pleasingly fake movie snow as poor Bridget, in just her pants and cardigan, pegs it down some freezing London streets to give Colin Firth a kiss. More importantly I suppose, there's the "Ding dong!" Christmas jumper moment with ol' Colin earlier on in proceedings - I am still looking out for a Rudolph sweater quite like Colin's, so let me know if you spot one. What I am clumsily, Brigetly perhaps, trying to say is that you'll be surprised at just how closetly Christmassy this beloved early '00s rom-com actually is.

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I've banged on and on about the magic of the Paddington movies – so much so in fact that I should probably just point you in the direction of my favourite '21st Century Feel Good Movies' article, where you can read me harping on about their general all-round loveliness even further - but I should also point out their hidden Christmassiness. The family-friendly messaging is all about inclusivity and opening up our hearts and all that festive feelery, sure, but it also ends with a snowball fight and there's a poster where he's standing in the snow by Thames and frankly it's just adorable.

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I'm really running - ahem - with the whole 'If there's snow in the movie then it's kind of Christmassy, right?' thing I know, but have you rewatched Cool Runnings lately? It's just so heart-warming and genuinely funny I sometimes forget it's not actually in any way a real Christmas film. So many memorable lines - "Sanka you dead?", "You want to kiss my egg? " and of course "Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, its bobsled time!" - that you can't wait to hear and a bittersweet ending that actually has something to say. See also on the winter Olympics sports film front, Eddie The Eagle starring Hugh Jackman and Taron Egerton, which is also a proper treat.

There are quite a few festive moments in the Potter franchise, what with Christmas at the Weasleys and yes, tender graveside scenes and big wooly jumpers, plus books from Hagrid, sneaky snowball fights and owls floating through the drifting snow, not forgetting Yule Balls and tender Ginny moments interrupted by Ron and his pies. So while I can't say "Just watch all the Harry Potter movies", maybe I can say "Just start with Philosopher's Stone and see how you go." Also, as a side note, the John Williams music for 'Christmas At Hogwarts' is a genuine delight and I heartily recommend you seek it out for a quick burst of jolliness - though there is a creepyish whispery bit in the middle, so forewarned is forearmed.

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Some would argue that Batman Returns is actually a proper Christmas film and I completely understand that, but for those who've not seen it in a while, just a reminder of the high tinsel and bauble and giant present levels in Tim Burton's Batman follow-up. I maintain that there are parts of this film that are just too weird and dark for the little ones, but hey, if you don't mind a massive blast of Christmas chaos after Max Shreck's speech and can handle The Penguin's sewery funtimes then fill your Christmas batboots. And there's a lot of snow 'n' arctic stuff going on in this movie, so if you like it cold and/or Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne, this is the one for you.

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It had to be said. It had to come up. No-one needs to be told about the existence of two of the biggest animated movies of all time, but I couldn't put together this list and not at least briefly refer to the snowiest films of all time. Clue's in the title, I guess. So, in short, have you heard about Frozen!? Your kids will love it! And it's snowy! My work here is done, thank you, thank you, I expect my Pulitzer to be hand delivered by Santa himself this Christmas, please and thank you. Ahem. Oh, and if mentioning these movies means that 'Let It Go' is back in your head, I can only apologise.

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I've put together a triple bill bundle here of movies that have become part of the British Christmas tradition because they're so regularly included on TV over December and the New Year. You could also add to this clutch of tried-and-true golden oldies pretty much any Bond film - The Spy Who Loved Me always seems to hit the spot - as well as any Aardman, short or long (particularly Wallace And Gromit), not forgetting the Back To The Futures or The Indiana Jones trilogy (and it is a trilogy, let's be clear). Then there are The Sister Acts, Hook, Willy Wonka, The Shreks, Jurassic Park, the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy... the list goes on and on, and needless to say by this point, you definitely get the idea. So if you haven't seen, say, Ratatouille recently, well... you know what to do.

And if you're wondering why Die Hard isn't on this list? Well, that's because it's a Christmas movie. There. I said it. Ho-ho-ho and so forth.

Photos © Universal International Pictures, StudioCanal UK, Buena Vista Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, The Mirisch Company, Oakhurst Productions, Silver Pictures