That Christmas is a 2024 British animated Christmas comedy film produced by Locksmith Animation. It is directed by former DreamWorks animator Simon Otto (How to Train Your Dragon), written by Richard Curtis based on his series of children’s books, and stars the voices of Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Rhys Darby, Lolly Adefope, Guz Khan, and Bill Nighy.
Set in the town of Wellington-on-Sea, Suffolk, the film follows a series of intertwined tales about the townspeople, young and old, one fateful Christmas, including Santa on one of the most challenging nights of his career. The film was released on Netflix on December 4, 2024.
That Christmas includes examples of the following:
- Adaptation Amalgamation: The film is based on three different books; Snow Day, The Empty Stocking, and That Christmas.
- Advertising by Association: The trailer takes a moment to note the film being based on the books by Richard Curtis, and plays him up as the writer of Love Actually and Notting Hill.
- Almost Kiss: Danny and Sam come close to kissing at the beach, until they're interrupted by a big wave.
- Artistic Licence: The McNutt parents try to call the emergency services while they're stranded, but they get an automated response saying they're in a very long queue. The real British emergency service phone line doesn't have queues.
- Bad People Abuse Animals: The dog owner and the turkey farmer who both treat their respective animals very badly; the former's dog is starved, and the latter keeps his turkeys in a tiny cage. Thankfully, Charlie gives the two a good dose of Laser-Guided Karma.
- Because I Said So: When Ms. Trapper enlists Farmer Yirrell to rescue the McNuts and their friends, he tries acting like a defiant child by demanding to know why he should do it. She calmly, yet firmly responds with, “Because I tell you to.” This shuts down any resistance he had and he meekly does as he’s told.
- Biting-the-Hand Humor: Mrs. Mulji quips that Bernie would be too addicted to Netflix to babysit the other kids.
- Black Comedy: While the climax is played with dead seriousness, Santa's final narration makes it clear that due to the gravity of said events, the townspeople will always remember the date as "THAT Christmas". Thus, the implicit meaning behind the title of this otherwise heartwarming, genuine, and kind Christmas special is "That Christmas we all thought a toddler wandered off into a blizzard and died until we found her safe and sound."
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: The trailer ends with the reveal of Santa narrating the trailer from his sleigh, much to the confusion of his reindeer.
- Brick Joke:
- At one point in the movie, Santa warns Dasher that he will get a self-driving sleigh; the mid-credits scene shows Santa in a self-driving sleigh with Dasher in the sidecar.
- In one scene, Dasher flirts with a glowing reindeer Christmas decoration; the above mentioned mid-credits scene shows that the self-driving sleigh is pulled by this very decoration.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Sam does this to her parents, telling them that all of Charlie's pranks (such as feeding a treat to an abused dog and setting Farmer Yirrell's turkeys free) were actually good deeds.
- The Cameo: A GIF of Timmy from Shaun the Sheep can be seen among the text messages celebrating snow day.
- Christmas Enthusiast: Bill the lighthouse keeper, who organizes all Christmas events in Wellington-on-Sea every year and is friends with Santa Claus who describes him as "old pal".
- Deadpan Snarker: Mrs. Mulji always has a sour attitude and constantly makes sarcastic remarks.
- Entertainment Above Their Age: Bernie's parents and neighbors watch Love Actually with their children as one of their holiday traditions which carries a 15 rating in the United Kingdom. Subverted, as the children don't like the movie.
- Exact Words: After a disastrous attempt down a chimney, Santa warns Dasher: "One word from you and I'll get myself a self-driving sleigh." Santa then slips back down the chimney, to which Dasher says, "Told ya" and then clarifies he said two words.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: Charlie is reckless and mischievous, while her twin sister Sam is kind and well-behaved.
- Groin Attack: Happens to Santa when he lands awkwardly on the first roof in Wellington-on-Sea. After the flashback ends, Santa hits pause before the injury.Santa: Um... Let's skip past this part, shall we?
- Identical Twin Mistake: When Danny finally works up the courage to ask out Sam, it turns out to be Charlie, who he couldn't quite make out through the dark and snowfall.
- Incorrect Animal Noise: Red fox in one scene makes dog noises; real foxes don't sound like dogs at all.
- In Medias Res: The movie starts with Santa’s arrival in Wellington-on-Sea at midnight Christmas Day before flashing back to the 22nd of December.
- Karma Houdini: Nisha gets presents from Santa, despite bullying Sam all the time. The worst she gets is being slightly humiliated by Charlie during the school play, which she quickly recovers from.
- "Lion King" Lift: Nisha does this during the nativity play with a watermelon representing baby Jesus, complete with a Pride Rock prop. This was probably a deliberate move on the part of Bernie, who directed the play and wanted it to be "fresh".
- Locked Out of the Loop: Because Danny's mother misses the snow day alert on her phone, he doesn't find out that school is closed until he gets there, unlike all the other kids who have their own phones.
- The Lost Lenore: Ms. Trapper’s husband Jamie. Not much is said about him, but him going to serve in the army is what led to his death. Since then, his wife has been spending every Christmas reminiscing about him.
- Missing Child: Eve goes missing during a blizzard. It gets worse when Bernie finds Eve's toy near the beach, making Bernie believe that her little sister got swept up by the tide. Thankfully, Bernie finds Eve inside a shed safe and sound. With some turkeys.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Sam, with her pro-environmental views and braids, is like a little Greta Thunberg.
- Obviously Evil: Farmer Yirrell's Establishing Character Moment as a rude, greedy jerk and in Sam's words "A Turkey Torturer". He insults Mr. Beccles to his face. Charges double for a small turkey; triple for a bigger one, and donates all the money to himself. He keeps all his turkeys in a small cage and feeds them mud.
- Pillow Pregnancy: Nisha hides a watermelon under her dress while playing Mary in the Nativity play, and it falls out when Charlie makes her trip.
- Polar Opposite Twins: The Beccles twins. Sam is kind and nervous while Charlie is rambunctious and prone to causing mayhem.
- Puppy Love: Danny has a crush on Sam, who feels the same way towards him.
- Santa's Naughty and Nice List: Charlie spends most of her time in the beginning of the film being a troublemaker and causing her sister Sam to worry about her not getting any presents. Sure enough, on Christmas Day, Charlie is put on the Naughty List. However, Santa is very conflicted about what to do since he rarely decides to give a child no presents. His solution is to administer a Secret Test of Character by leaving a number of Christmas gifts for Charlie and none for Sam. Believing that Santa got the wrong twin, Charlie moves all the gifts to Sam's side while keeping none for herself. This kind act puts Charlie on the Nice List and Santa gives Christmas gifts to Charlie too.
- School Play: The kids perform a Christmas play center around the Birth of Jesus Christ. However, instead of a normal rendition of the story, it's as Bernie puts it "a strictly vegetarian, multi-cultural fun fest with lots of pop songs and stuff about climate change'' called The Three Wise Women. Naturally it ends up as a messy, incoherent play with only Bernie's dad actually loving it.
- Secret Test of Character: Santa deliberately gives the nice presents to Charlie while leaving nothing for Sam even though she is on the naughty list. When Charlie sees this, she assumes Santa got the twins mixed up and puts the gifts on Sam's bed. This selfless act puts Charlie on the nice list.
- Self-Deprecation: One of the annual Christmas traditions for Bernie's family and neighbors is watching Love Actually which all the kids hate. Love Actually was written and directed by Richard Curtis who also wrote for the cartoon.
- Shipper on Deck: Mrs. Williams and Charlie Beccles are this to her son Danny and her twin sister Sam, respectively.
- Sick Episode: Dasher is the only reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh, because all the others came down with red nose flu.
- Single Woman Seeks Good Man: Sam tries to put herself out there for Danny, needing an extra push from Charlie.
- So Bad, It's Good: In-Universe, that's how most parents see the nativity play directed by Bernie.
- Stern Teacher: On a snow day, Mrs. Trapper sees Danny on school grounds and forces him to attend (though she does soften slightly by the end of the day). She's apparently always been this, as even her adult former students can still be cowed by a few stern words from her.
- We Are Not Going Through That Again: Downplayed, but after Evie goes missing on Christmas Day, it's revealed that at the Boxing Day Swim, Bernie has her little sister on a child leash to prevent her from running off again.
- What You Are in the Dark: When Santa visits Charlie and Sam’s house, he deliberately fills Charlie’s stocking and gives her a guitar while her sister gets nothing. When she wakes up and sees what’s happened, she gives Sam everything. Santa, upon realizing that his plan worked, turns around and gives her a full stocking.
- When You Coming Home, Dad?: A number of the kids' parents find themselves waylaid on their trips home by both snow and turkeys, creating the possibility of missing Christmas. Danny never gets to see his dad for the holiday, and his mother gets constantly called in to work.