Brits are not typically known for embracing romance, but new research reveals that almost half (45%) set aside their British reserve at Christmas, with 30% crediting festive films for inspiring their affectionate gestures. 

Leading the way is Love Actually, which dominates the list of top romantic Christmas movie moments. Jamie’s heartfelt proposal in broken Portuguese (22%), Mark’s cue card confession of love (20%) and Natalie and David’s mistletoe kiss (16%) are the top three most cherished scenes, all from the beloved Richard Curtis film. 

Other standout moments include Amanda’s tearful return to Graham in The Holiday (15%), Buddy and Jovie’s whimsical first date in Elf (14%), and George and Mary’s phone call kiss in It’s a Wonderful Life (13%).  

Unsurprisingly, Love Actually reigns supreme as the UK’s favourite romantic Christmas films (36%), followed by The Holiday (22%) and Bridget Jones’s Diary (14%). Classics such as It’s a Wonderful Life (12%) and White Christmas (9%) also remain timeless staples for cosy evenings. 

According to the research from Sky Cinema, romantic Christmas movies are just as famous for their unforgettable lines. “To me, you are perfect” from Love Actually (23%) tops the list, alongside “Love actually is all around” from the same film. Other iconic phrases include “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings” from It’s a Wonderful Life (20%) and Buddy’s cheerful confession, “I’m in love, I’m in love, and I don’t care who knows it” from Elf (10%). 

To celebrate the season, Sky Cinema has collaborated with celebrated poets Donna Ashworth, Chloe Carterr and Georgie Jones to create original poems inspired by the nation’s most beloved romantic festive movie moments and quotes. Each poet brings their own style to capture the love found in Christmas classics, encouraging others to embrace the joy of romance. 

This Christmas, Sky Cinema is offering an exclusive Black Friday deal. From now until December 3, Sky customers can upgrade to Sky Cinema for just £9. Tune in to Sky Cinema and discover why "Movies Make Christmas” at www.sky.com/tv/cinema.  

The findings follow the launch of Sky Cinema’s new 2024 Christmas advert, which tells the story of a young girl who finds inspiration – and a little courage – in the romance of Christmas movies to ask a boy to the cinema, including It’s A Wonderful Life, The Holiday, Elf and more. Reflecting this, the poems celebrate the nation’s love for these timeless movies and their power to spark joy and connection. 

Carli Kerr, MD of Marketing at Sky and Now, said: “Movies have a wonderful way of inspiring heartfelt gestures, whether it’s the young girl in our Christmas TV ad who takes inspiration from our film lineup to ask her friend to the pictures, or the new poems we’ve commissioned that celebrate some of those iconic romantic moments. This Christmas, we hope to spread a little love and joy.”

With 40% of Brits admitting they’re more likely to watch romantic films in December, there’s no better time to indulge in festive classics.

Alongside two free Vue cinema tickets a month, Sky Cinema customers get access to over 1,000 movies on demand, including a variety of festive favourites such as Elf, The Holiday, Love Actually and The Polar Express, as well as more of the latest blockbuster films than anywhere else, including Wonka, Dune 2 and Kung Fu Panda 4.

Access to a mountain of entertainment on Paramount+, including new TV series and movies, is also included at no extra cost.