Best Christmas movies of all time ranked for festive celebrations

The holiday season is synonymous with cozy nights, crackling fires, and timeless Christmas movies. To help you navigate the endless options, Entertainment Weekly has curated the 23 best Christmas movies of all time. This list, featuring classics, comedies, and modern gems, ensures there’s something for everyone to enjoy this festive season.

The List

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)A heartwarming classic starring James Stewart as George Bailey, this Frank Capra masterpiece is a reminder of the season’s true meaning.Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

A Christmas Story (1983)A humorous take on holiday traditions, featuring Ralphie and his infamous Red Ryder BB gun dream.Where to watch: Max

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)A nostalgic favorite featuring the Peanuts gang, showcasing the true spirit of Christmas with heartfelt simplicity.Where to watch: Apple TV+

Elf (2003)Will Ferrell charms as Buddy the Elf in this modern classic filled with humor and holiday cheer.Where to watch: Max

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)Chuck Jones’ animated adaptation of the Dr. Seuss tale remains the definitive version of this holiday classic.Where to watch: Peacock

Love Actually (2003)An ensemble cast navigates intertwining romantic tales set during the festive season.Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Bad Santa (2003)Billy Bob Thornton delivers a darkly comedic twist on the Santa archetype.Where to watch: Paramount+

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)A charming adaptation of Dickens’ classic tale with Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Michael Caine as Scrooge.Where to watch: Disney+

The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)A Rankin/Bass animated classic featuring memorable characters like Heat Miser and Snow Miser.Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)The timeless story of an outcast reindeer who becomes a Christmas hero.Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (to buy)

Home Alone (1990)Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, outwitting burglars during a lonely holiday season.Where to watch: Disney+

Trading Places (1983)Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd star in this holiday-adjacent comedy about identity swaps and redemption.Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)Tim Burton’s stop-motion masterpiece blends Halloween and Christmas for a visual treat.Where to watch: Disney+

White Christmas (1954)Bing Crosby leads this syrupy yet beloved classic featuring timeless songs.Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)A Macy’s Santa claims to be the real Kris Kringle in this sweet holiday favorite.Where to watch: Disney+

Die Hard (1988)Bruce Willis stars in this action-packed holiday tale set during an office Christmas party.Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Scrooged (1988)Bill Murray plays a modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge in this darkly comedic retelling of Dickens’ story.Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)Chevy Chase’s Griswold family faces holiday chaos in this classic comedy.Where to watch: Max

The Holdovers (2023)A heartfelt dramedy about unlikely connections during Christmas, starring Paul Giamatti.Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Gremlins (1984)A mischievous creature wreaks havoc in this holiday horror-comedy classic.Where to watch: Max

Christmas in Connecticut (1945)A hilarious Christmas romp about a writer caught in her own lies.Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Klaus (2019)A beautifully animated Netflix film exploring the origins of Santa Claus.Where to watch: Netflix

The Santa Clause (1994)Tim Allen becomes Santa in this lighthearted holiday comedy.Where to watch: Disney+

Whether you’re looking for heartwarming tales, laugh-out-loud comedies, or unconventional holiday films, this list offers a wide range of choices to brighten your holiday season. From timeless classics to modern masterpieces, these movies capture the magic of Christmas and provide the perfect backdrop for festive celebrations.

Transforming Modern Business with Satellite Insights

Transforming Modern Business with Satellite InsightsIn a world bathed in innovation, where information has taken over as the new form of currency, silently orbiting satellites way above our heads reshape our perceptions of the world and how we do business. What was once strictly limited to space exploration and military operations has become an essential cog in modern enterprise, placing in perspective opportunities and challenges once obscured from view.

From tracking trends on the ground to uncovering patterns that drive strategy, satellite insights are fueling a quiet revolution across industries. They empower businesses to move beyond guesswork, transforming raw data into actionable intelligence that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible. In this rapidly evolving landscape, satellite data isn’t just a tool but a game changer, guiding modern companies toward smarter, more sustainable decisions.
Satellite Data in Business
Satellite data has quietly revolutionized the way businesses operate, offering insights that are both precise and far-reaching. By turning streams of information from space into actionable strategies, companies are reshaping industries and discovering opportunities that were once hidden. The benefits go beyond just access to data and lie in the ability to understand and respond to a constantly changing world with unprecedented accuracy and speed. Businesses can even download hi-res satellite images to gain a detailed view of specific areas, enabling sharper decision-making across various sectors.

One of the standout advantages of satellite data is its ability to provide a global perspective. For industries like agriculture, this means farmers can monitor crop health, optimize irrigation, and predict yields with remarkable precision, all from thousands of miles above the Earth. With access to high-quality satellite images, agribusinesses can take a proactive approach to resource management, reducing waste while boosting profitability.

In logistics and supply chain management, satellite insights transform how goods are moved and tracked. Companies can monitor transportation routes in real time, identify disruptions before they happen, and ensure timely deliveries. This level of visibility improves efficiency and reduces costs, creating smoother operations for businesses and better experiences for customers. The use of high-resolution Earth images allows for enhanced route planning and the ability to adjust swiftly to changing conditions.

Equally, energy and natural resource sectors tap into satellite technology. From pipeline observation to identifying optimal places for renewable energies, it offers a certain safety and efficiency that was difficult to get before. Further, sustainability-oriented businesses incorporate satellite insights for monitoring environmental variations, observing deforestation activity, and measuring carbon output-helping them achieve objectives within the ESG standard and keep their companies responsible in accordance with rising demands for green sensitivity.

Even urban planning and retail sectors are finding value in the skies above. Cities are being designed smarter, with satellite data guiding traffic management and infrastructure development. Retailers, on the other hand, use this technology to understand customer behaviors and choose optimal locations for new stores.

The beauty of satellite data is in its adaptability: it seamlessly integrates into a variety of industries, tailoring insights to fit unique business needs. No longer do companies need to rely on guesswork or outdated methods; satellite data provides the clarity needed to make informed, impactful decisions.

By giving businesses a clearer view of the world, satellite insights empower them to operate more efficiently, grow sustainably, and unlock the full potential of what’s possible. From fields to factories, and from cities to supply chains, the view from above is changing how business is done on the ground.
How AI Helps Satellite Data in Business
Artificial intelligence has become the driving force behind making satellite data not just accessible but incredibly valuable for businesses. While satellites capture vast amounts of raw data (images, measurements, and signals ) it’s AI that transforms this information into actionable insights. For businesses, this means more than just observing the world; it’s about understanding it at a deeper level, predicting trends, and automating complex decisions.

AI algorithms excel at analyzing satellite images, detecting patterns, and extracting key information with incredible speed and accuracy. For example, in agriculture, AI can quickly identify crop stress, predict yields, or monitor soil health, enabling farmers to act before problems escalate. In logistics, AI-powered analysis of high-res satellite images can optimize routes, track shipments, and foresee disruptions, saving both time and costs.

But perhaps the most dazzling of AI’s capabilities is its predictive power. By sifting through patterns in historical satellite data, AI can predict everything from shifts in market demand to changes in the natural environment. This ability to anticipate rather than just react gives businesses a critical edge, whether they’re planning supply chains, expanding into new markets, or aligning with sustainability goals.

AI not only processes data but democratizes it. Such complex satellite insights, made intelligible and actionable by AI for businesses of all sizes, will ensure this isn’t a technology reserved for large corporations with dedicated analyst teams. With AI-powered tools, even small and medium-sized enterprises can unlock satellite data to innovate, grow, and compete in today’s data-driven world.

Ultimately, AI transforms satellite data from a static resource to a dynamic engine of progress, giving businesses the ability to see the unseen, predict the unpredictable, and take action with confidence in an increasingly complex landscape.
Satellite Data Market and the Future for Business
The satellite data market keeps growing at an incredible 15% annual growth rate and is transforming industries across the globe. The use of very high-resolution satellite imagery by businesses has increased exponentially, from optimizing supply chains to managing agricultural practices. High-precision tools will, therefore, be key in strategic planning and decision-making.

Advancements to come, such as AI-powered analytics and real-time imagery, will increase value even more. Newer technologies, like high-quality satellite imagery, are creating new opportunities that range from tracking activity in urban areas to reinforcing security in remote territories. As access becomes cheaper, satellite data will enable all-sized businesses to thrive within the global data-driven economy.

Business Utility Services for Organisations Operating in Britain

How to keep bills low without compromising on consumptionIn Britain, there is an open market for most utilities.
While regulated, this means that business owners who operate in – or have sites in – the UK are free to find the best deal available to them.
It’s a business owner’s responsibility to find trustworthy and transparent billing suppliers, which can be tricky with many utility suppliers having underhanded billing tactics.
From hidden wholesale charges to broker fees to having poor records in producing bills, there are many ways in which owners can find themselves breaking the bank on bills.
And if this leads to a change in consumption patterns, it could significantly impact business operations for energy reliant sectors like construction.
This guide covers the fundamentals of finding and agreeing business utility contracts that ensure there aren’t nasty surprises
Read industry reports on performance
From meter readings to switches in and out, industry regulators often produce reports so that business can clearly see who has a good track-record.
Look out for reports from Ofgem and similar regulators that are specific to business owners to keep on top of industry trends, and what suppliers may be worth avoiding.
Do the anecdotes match?
Most utility suppliers have TrustPilot pages, see what verified customers have to say about a prospective supplier’s performance.
In some cases a supplier may have excellent customer service, but a poor meter reading track record or vice versa – reading reviews will show the good and bad of each supplier, allowing for a better informed decision.
Avoid brokers and tied-in ‘comparison’ sites
Some brokers, full-package energy companies and comparison sites have deals with specific network wholesalers rather than working across the entire network.
These types of businesses are best avoided, as they may miss good deals that are available to you in favour of deals where they can get commission.
To put this into context, Castle Water – which is an independent water supplier that isn’t tied in with any wholesaler – allows you to get a quote that takes into account the industry that you operate in and the location in which you are based.
This allows them to shop around wholesalers and network supply services to find rates that factor in regulatory requirements that may be specific to your sector.
Meanwhile, a business with a supplier or wholesaler partnership is incentivised to get the best deal available through their partnership, not the best deal available to you.
Work with specialists
Getting a reasonable bill is a good start, however, it’s always worth checking out suppliers who offer specialised services alongside billing that may benefit your business.
For example, if you are in an industry that requires reputation management, there are suppliers such as EDF Energy that offer net zero energy solutions like EV salary sacrifice.
Stay away from annual bills
If metering is wrong, it’s best to catch it as soon as possible. With that in mind make sure a prospective supplier provides monthly billing, not annual bills that could see you in a lengthy reclaim process.
It’s also worth opting for automatic meter readings wherever it is available; with many suppliers offering free installation.
Know your worth and keep bills at bay
Don’t neglect negotiation; haggle a better deal. Look at different options available to you, ask questions, know industry-specific regulation and make sure their billing can factor in things such as temporary supply on sites.
Bills rightfully should be an afterthought, but for that to be the case, it is very-much worth putting in thought during the setup process.

Season’s readings: Book recommendations from sci-tech leaders

Want to lose yourself in a good book this Christmas? Check out our list of recommendations from those in the business of tech.
It’s close to Christmas now, and whether you’re searching for a very (and I mean very) last-minute present or something to occupy your winter break, we may have what you’re looking for.
This past year, SiliconRepublic.com has been asking entrepreneurs and business leaders from our Start-up of the Week and Leaders’ Insights series about what books they would recommend and why.
From the struggles of founding a business to adventures in the Egyptian pyramids, we have a varied list of literary options for you to consider this Christmas.
Straight to business
When asking for book recommendations from entrepreneurs and business leaders, one should expect a few business books to pop up every now and then. For those of you thinking of throwing your hat in the start-up ring next year, we have a few reading materials for you to peruse.
One book that captured the admiration of both Dara & Co’s Naomh McElhatton and Brighterly’s Eugene Kashuk is The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Andreessen Horowitz co-founder, Ben Horowitz. Described by Kashuk as a “no-BS founder’s code”, this New York Times bestseller offers advice on building and running a start-up along with the difficulties that can arise.
“It’s such a practical and sometimes emotional piece that I always find new ways to relate to it,” says Kashuk. “I’ve gotten back to this book multiple times, and it always helps me cope with the challenges of being an entrepreneur.”
Another book that details the struggles of entrepreneurship is Lost and Founder by the founder and former CEO of Moz, Rand Fishkin, whose humourous and transparent retelling of his start-up journey struck a chord with Platforum9’s Patricia Gannon.
“The book explores themes such as the pressures of venture capital, the importance of company culture, and the impact of personal sacrifices on the entrepreneurial path,” she explains. “Fishkin also reflects on his struggles with depression and the toll that the start-up grind took on his mental health.”
One of the most popular recommendations we received this year was The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, a book described by Vertigenius’ Dr Dara Meldrum as “full of invaluable advice for start-ups”. This book details Ries’ ‘lean start-up’ strategy, an approach that aims to ensure that new companies are more capital efficient and leverage human creativity more effectively.
“It’s a must-read for any entrepreneur,” says Storyby’s Artem Kutukov.
Topping off this year’s business category is Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek, which is a personal favourite of Spectrum.Life’s Dr Emelina Ellis. “Leaders Eat Last stands out for its profound insights into the importance of trust, empathy and service-oriented leadership,” she says.
“Sinek’s exploration of the neuroscience behind effective leadership resonates deeply with my belief in the significance of serving compassionately and vulnerably as a leader.”

The wonderful world of sci-tech
Moving on from the business side of things, we also received a number of science and tech book recommendations this year. The first sci-tech recommendation we have is The Mythical Man-Month by Fred Brooks, a book on software engineering and project management first published in 1975.
This book is a “go-to” for BlackFog’s Dr Darren Williams because “it focuses on a few key areas where I think many technology companies make mistakes”, such as choosing the wrong performance metrics and the inefficiencies of having too many people on a team.
GlitchAds’ Kingsley Kelly chose to highlight This Explains Everything by John Brockman, a compilation of 150 one-page essays from world-leading academics on their favourite, most elegant theorems. “It’s shockingly readable and covers everything from neuroscience, evolution, psychology, physics to fashion, history and sociology,” says Kelly.
“It’s wild and amazingly I’ve used pieces of it when thinking about our product design, our market and how to onboard users.”
Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Donald Goldsmith was the top choice of FMCI’s Russell Vickers, who was encapsulated by the book’s exploration of the formation and evolution of our universe.
“After reading that book, it made me realise, how incredible it is that we exist and that time is precious.”
The human side
Included among the various books on business advice and scientific wonder were some unique recommendations that explore human behaviour, capability and perseverance.
Both Niamh Costello of Crew and John Delves of UCD’s Professional Academy and English Language Academy recommended James Clear’s bestselling self-help book Atomic Habits, which intends to help readers transform their habits using evidence-based strategies.
“I am a big believer in creating positive habits and pushing yourself day by day and week by week,” says Delves, explaining his recommendation. “This book goes beyond just being applicable to business, it serves as a manual for life.”
Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, which chronicles various success stories in the areas of athletics, music, science and more, is championed by Energia Group’s David Macartney and GlitchAds’ Aisling Browne. The book examines factors that have led to the success of numerous people, including household names such as Bill Gates and the Beatles.
“I remember picking it up when I was living in New York and being completely inspired by all the different stories,” explains Browne. “That was the first time I started thinking about setting up my own business.”
Last but certainly not least, DCEV’s Adrian Slattery recommends Man’s Search for Meaning, a memoir written by psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, which details his experiences as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War. The book describes Frankl’s psychotherapeutic method, which involved identifying a purpose to each person’s life, and explores spirituality and meaning in dire circumstances.
“It’s amazing and makes you realise us humans are a lot more resilient than we think if we focus on the right things,” says Slattery.

A fix of fiction
With any list of book recommendations for the holidays, there needs to be a few works of fiction included that readers can get lost in.
Making an appearance this year is Frank Herbert’s much-loved sci-fi classic, Dune. The 1965 novel, which returned to cinema screens this year with the second instalment of a two-part adaption, is a favourite of Precision Sports Technology’s Emma Meehan, who says she falls back to the particularly resonant ‘Litany Against Fear’ quote when things seem insurmountable.
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear – I will permit it to pass over me and through me. When it has gone past, I will turn my inner eye to see its path. Where fear is gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
HumanLoop’s Peter Hayes recommended The Third Policeman, written by Brian O’Nolan under the pseudonym Flann O’Brien. Published in 1967, shortly after O’Nolan’s death, The Third Policeman is a dark comedy about the nature of time, death and existence set in a two-dimensional police station.
“It touches on themes of innovation and the human condition, with a healthy dose of absurdity and nihilism,” explains Hayes.
Featured next, and considered a modern classic by many, is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This 1988 novel follows a shepherd boy called Santiago who sets out on a journey across North Africa to the Egyptian pyramids after dreaming of finding treasure there.
Naviro’s Lola Nolan says she has kept this book by her bedside throughout the hardest months of her start-up journey. “It is in no way a business, strategy or entrepreneurial guide, though it speaks to the fact that we all have something calling to us, when we really listen to ourselves, something that wants to be fulfilled,” she says. “Sometimes that takes a lot of trial and error to figure out, but this book is a beautiful ode to that journey of finding your own treasure.
“It has been a motivator to me to keep going and to be grateful for the process, even when it feels terrifying, that it’s all an adventure really, and it’s up to us to let go of our own limitations as best we can and just go for it.”
Finally, bringing a close to our book list for 2024, is a collection of books familiar and treasured throughout many a childhood. The acclaimed books of Roald Dahl are recommended by Enet’s Jean Toomey, whose daughter is at the age where she is now starting to read through his many classic tales for the first time.
“It has been great to revisit these classics and remember how much I enjoyed them the first time around,” says Toomey. Perhaps revisiting some of these stories – or introducing them to any little ones at home – is just what you need this Christmas.
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IEA: Technology breakthroughs are unlocking geothermal energy’s vast potential in countries across the globe

With global electricity demand set to grow strongly, new technologies are opening up the massive potential of geothermal energy to provide around-the-clock clean power in almost all countries around the world, according to a new IEA report. The report, The Future of Geothermal Energy, finds that geothermal energy could meet 15% of global electricity demand…