8 Bit Christmas (2021)

8-Bit Christmas (2021) — Comedy / Family / Fantasy Set in 1980s Chicago and framed as a father’s story to his daughter, 8-Bit Christmas follows young Jake Doyle’s single-minded quest to score the ultimate Christmas present of his generation: a brand-new video game console. Narrated by the grown-up Jake (Neil Patrick Harris), the film plays out as a warm, funny coming-of-age adventure full of childhood schemes, rivalries, and heartfelt family moments. Viewers can expect a heavy dose of nostalgia — period-accurate toys, arcades, and pop-culture touchstones — and a tone that balances slapstick kid antics with sincere emotional beats. Jake and his friends go to increasingly elaborate (and often disastrous) lengths to get the coveted system, while adults push back with the familiar “video games are bad for kids” refrain. The result is equal parts laugh-out-loud comedy and sentimental holiday tale. If you watch this film, you’ll get cheerful, family-friendly entertainment rooted in 1980s nostalgia: playful set pieces, likable kid performances, and a warm, feel-good payoff about friendship, family, and what really matters at Christmas. It’s a cozy, lighthearted watch for families and anyone who remembers — or misses — the dawn of the video-game era.

Actors: Winslow Fegley, Neil Patrick Harris, Steve Zahn

Director: Michael Dowse

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

66 /100 6.7 /10 6.7 /10