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How New Movies, Shows, And Digital Trends Are Reshaping The Festive Season
As Christmas approaches in 2025, the season feels more shaped by pop culture than ever before. Streaming platforms, social media trends, and modern holiday releases are not just part of how Australians celebrate; they are becoming the centerpiece of the festive experience.
The Streaming-Christmas Connection
A recent Samsung study found that 64% of Australians say it doesn’t feel like Christmas without watching a “Christmas movie.”. According to the same report, over two-thirds (67%) plan to watch at least one festive movie in the lead-up to December 25. For many, it’s a tradition renewed every year: 44% of Australians said they watch the same Christmas film annually, and on average, they’ve watched their favorite festive flick 8.8 times.
But what are people watching, and why is it more than just a seasonal pastime? The classic holiday titles remain popular. Home Alone leads as Australia’s favorite (15%), followed by Elf (9%) and The Grinch (8%). These films, streamed on platforms like Netflix, Stan, Binge, or Amazon Prime, now act as a nostalgic bridge between generations.
Shifting Viewership Habits
Recent data from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) reveals that streaming is firmly entrenched in Australian viewing habits. In 2023–24, 69% of Australians used a paid online subscription service in a typical week, up significantly from a few years ago.
Meanwhile, fewer people are watching free-to-air TV, and newer formats, like short-form content on TikTok and Instagram, continue to grow in popularity. This trend underscores a major shift: Christmas viewing is no longer confined to traditional TV specials or family movie nights in the living room. Instead, streaming lets audiences choose their own holiday experience, whether that’s a romantic Christmas rom-com, an animated musical, or a nostalgic throwback.
The Cost-of-Living Filter
The rising cost of living has added another layer to how Australians consume Christmas media. According to research from Compare the Market, nearly 80% of Australians have cut back on spending this year, including on entertainment, streaming services, and family activities. Simultaneously, savvy viewers are opting for cheaper, ad-supported options. Recent data shows that Australian households are increasingly switching to ad-based streaming tiers instead of canceling services altogether. This makes pop culture even more central to holiday rituals. With tighter budgets, people are staying home, streaming their favorite shows, and turning to digital comfort during Christmas, creating a new kind of festive tradition rooted in accessibility.
Pop Culture’s Holiday Influence
Pop culture isn’t just influencing what Australians watch; it is shaping how they celebrate. Holiday content on kids’ shows plays a big role, with beloved Australian series like Bluey continuing to release Christmas-themed episodes such as “Verandah Santa” and “Christmas Swim,” which remain popular on streaming platforms and resonate with both children and adults. Social media adds another layer to the festive experience, as TikTok and Instagram fill with Christmas aesthetics, DIY digital advent calendars, tree-decor hacks, trending playlists, and micro-video challenges that quickly become part of people’s seasonal rituals. Even holiday decor has taken on a pop-culture edge, with viral trends like an Australian influencer decorating their tree with dozens of Labubu figurines, quirky designer toys turned ornaments, blending online performance with real-life celebration. This merging of media, creativity, and digital culture has transformed Christmas into a visually driven, highly shareable experience.
What This Means for Christmas in 2025
In 2025, Christmas traditions have become highly personalised, with streaming empowering Australians to curate their own festive “program,” whether that means a Hallmark marathon, animated specials, or bingeing cultural hits with friends. Pop culture now creates its own sense of togetherness, offering communal moments even when celebrations are quieter or more digitally focused, watching, sharing, and discussing holiday content has become a ritual in itself. With rising economic pressures, streaming also provides an accessible way to embrace the season, allowing people to experience the magic of Christmas without overspending. At the same time, nostalgia remains strong; Australians continue revisiting classic festive films while discovering new, more inclusive stories, blending tradition and modernity in a way that makes holiday viewing feel both comforting and fresh.
In 2025, Christmas isn’t just a holiday; it’s a pop culture event. The season is being reimagined through the shows we stream, the content we share, and the rituals we build online. For many Australians, the magic of Christmas isn’t just under the tree, it’s on the screen.
References
(n.d.).
Parent, T. (2025, October 31). Influencer Goes Viral for Over-the-Top Labubu Christmas Tree Costing Over $1K (Exclusive). People.com. Retrieved November 17, 2025, from
https://people.com/influencer-goes-viral-for-over-the-top-labubu-christmas-tree-exclusive-118 29030?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Portman, P. (2023, September 29). Travel, entertainment and streaming take a hit as Aussies tighten belt ahead of festive season.
https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/news/how-australians-are-saving-money-2023/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Samsung research reveals Australia’s love for festive films and summer sports viewing. (2023, November 30). samsung news room.
https://news.samsung.com/au/samsung-research-reveals-australias-love-for-festive-films-and summer-sports-viewing#:~:text=Three%20in%20five%20%2864%25%29%20Australians%2 0say%20it%20doesn%E2%80%99t,movie%20in%20the%20lead%20up%20to%2025%20December.
7 in 10 Aussies watching their spending more this Christmas, 56% will spend less on food, new Salvos research finds. (2024, November 20).
https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/about-us/news-and-stories/media-newsroom/seven-in-ten-aussies-watching-spending-this-christmas/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Trends and developments in viewing and listening 2023–24 Communications and media in Australia – December 2024. (n.d.). ACMA.
Retrieved November 17, 2025, from https://www.acma.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-12/Trends%20and%20developments%20in%20viewing%20and%20listening%202023%E2%80%9324.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
This was written by our contributing writer, Alisha Blanch.
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