Heartwarming, Romantic, and Moving Films to Watch This December

Make the holiday season even more merry with heartwarming stories—from a touching love story to a high fashion fairy tale to a charming farewell to beloved friends—all on Peacock this December. 

In the mood for a beautiful love story? | Spoiler Alert

Based on Michael Ausiello’s memoir, Michael Showalter’s Spoiler Alert mixes comedy and misfortune to chronicle the reality of a relationship. Jim Parsons plays Ausiello, a TV journalist whose 14-year relationship with Kit Cowan (Ben Aldridge) gets turned upside down when his boyfriend is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. Co-starring Sally Field and Bill Irwin, the film finds joy and gratitude even in the toughest of times. The film “is a testament to the beautiful grays in love that may sting in the moment, but when a bigger picture is forced upon us, are appreciated for the balance they provide,” writes The Globe and Mail.

Stream Spoiler Alert on Peacock!

In the mood for a feel-good fairy tale? | Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

In Anthony Fabian’s Academy Award®-nominated Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, Lesley Manville plays the title character, a London charwoman whose decision to buy a Dior gown sends her to Paris for the adventure of her life. Co-starring Isabelle Huppert, Lucas Bravo, and Alba Baptista—as well as a runway of haute couture outfits—the film, writes Salon, “is as irresistible as the Dior dress Mrs. Harris covets.” Even more resplendent than the fashion is the heroine’s humanity. Screen Daily writes, “Lit from within by the sunny disposition of its main character, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a lovely, modest ode to kindness, anchored by Lesley Manville’s considered performance as a housekeeper who is tired of feeling invisible.”

Stream Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris on Peacock!

In the mood for a quirky crime caper? | Kajillionaire   

In Kajillionaire, writer-director Miranda July rewrites the con-game genre to tell a poignant tale of a young woman finding her emotional truth in a world of petty deceptions. Born into a family of low-level grifters (Richard Jenkins and Debra Winger), Old Dolio (Evan Rachel Wood) is taught by a stranger (Gina Rodriguez) how to trust people. As the two fall in love, Old Dolio finds that she is not completely alone. “It’s an emotional heist story,” July told Rolling Stone. For The Washington Post, “Funny, poignant, and ultimately triumphant, Kajillionaire is a precarious balancing act, one that July pulls off with astute writing, careful staging, and trust in her actors to strike precisely the right emotional tones.” 

Stream Kajillionaire on Peacock!

In the mood for timeless romance? | Pride & Prejudice

Joe Wright’s Pride & Prejudice captures the thrill of first love that Jane Austen so perfectly expressed in her classic novel. Despite awkward formal balls and prickly family politics, Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) and Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) eventually realize that what they feel for each other is real. Of course, the path of their true love never runs smoothly, but under Wright’s direction, their endless push and pull brings a bracing realism to their romance. “Pride & Prejudice imbues their rocky relationship with a vitality that’s missing from most paint-by-number love stories these days,” writes the Austin Chronicle. For Collider, Wright’s version with a cast that includes Judi Dench, Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethyn, Carey Mulligan, and Rosamund Pike, is “the Best Jane Austen adaptation.”

Stream Pride & Prejudice on Peacock!

In the mood for a luxurious country retreat? | Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

In Simon Curtis’ Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, the epic story that enchanted the world comes to an end. Rocked by social and economic changes in 1930, the Crawley family and their staff carry on with compassion, good cheer, and impeccable manners. Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) navigates the scandal of an impending divorce, Lord and Lady Grantham (Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern) struggle with economic insecurity, and Daisy (Sophie McShera) emerges as a more-than-capable young woman. The film includes the beloved returning cast as well as sparkling new faces, such as Noël Coward (Arty Froushan). The New York Times writes, “A lighthearted requiem to the remnants of empire, The Grand Finale casts one eye on the future and the other on the past.

Stream Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale on Peacock!