What to watch in ultra HD this December

Ready for a month of great telly like you’ve never seen before? Then read on to discover some of the ultra HD highlights coming up on the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel (CH 175/999) throughout December. And this month’s line-up of family films is perfect for the festive season when clans gather throughout the land to gorge on food, merriment and entertainment! From the delightful anarchy of Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie to the dazzling animation and storytelling of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse to the unparalleled charm of Paddington and Paddington 2, you’ve got top-quality movies all month long – and of course, every one of them is brought to you in glorious, eye-boggling ultra-high definition.

With movies and TV dramas to keep you entertained too, your eyes are in for a real 4K treat this month on our dedicated ultra HD channel. Don’t worry about missing any of these when they’re first on: there are plenty of opportunities to see these films on the Virgin TV Ultra HD Channel, while many are available in On Demand, still in eye-popping ultra HD on compatible TVs.

Monday 1 December, 3.55pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Dav Pilkey’s anarchic comic books come to the screen in this uproarious feature film. Kevin Hart (Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle) and Thomas Middleditch (Godzilla: King Of The Monsters) voice George and Harold, the prank-loving fourth-graders whose mischievous antics transform their principal Mr Krupp (Ed Helms, The Hangover) into the chaotic superhero Captain Underpants. When the nefarious Professor Poopypants threatens to abolish laughter, George and Harold know only Captain Underpants can save the day… With its inventive 3D CGI animation and clever jokes, this is great to look at and bursting with fun. Tra-la-laaaa!

Monday 1 December, 6.45pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Before the Shrek and Kung Fu Panda series there was Antz, the first animated film released by DreamWorks. Neurotic ant Z is unsure of his purpose in the all-consuming ant colony – until he meets free-spirited princess Bala and is instantly smitten. He joins the ant army for a chance to meet her again, but there’s a war brewing with the termites… Will Z avoid the fighting, win the princess and find his way to the paradise of Insectopia? A funny and exciting movie for all ages. 

Wednesday 3 December, 6.30pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

This musical retelling of the story of Moses became the most successful non-Disney animated movie ever on its release in 1998 and it still looks fantastic on screen, especially in ultra HD. Val Kilmer is Moses, an abandoned Hebrew boy adopted by the Egyptian royalty, who discovers his true heritage and leads his people out of Egypt to the promised land. It’s an epic tale packed with great songs, with a starry voice cast that includes Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Patrick Stewart, Helen Mirren and Jeff Goldblum.

Friday 5 December, 3.55pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

What if Peter Pan grew up? That’s the premise of Steven Spielberg’s much-loved family film, starring Robin Williams as the fantasy hero who’s now a workaholic lawyer. But Peter can’t leave his past behind, as he soon discovers when his children are abducted by the scoundrel Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman). Will Peter embrace the world of his childhood and fly to the rescue? This swashbuckling, star-studded yarn also features Julia Roberts (as Tinkerbell), Maggie Smith, Bob Hoskins and a teenage Gwyneth Paltrow as the young Wendy.

Friday 5 December, 6.10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with animation, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is a real visual treat. Young Miles Morales witnesses the death of Spider-Man in an incident caused by a collider machine that opens paths between dimensions. When he discovers he has similar powers to the superhero, he attempts to honour his legacy but gets sucked into an interdimensional conflict involving a motley crew of spider-based heroes, including Spider-Gwen, Spider-Man Noir and Spider-Ham. A dazzling, daring and thrilling film that’s pure entertainment from start to finish.

Monday 8 December, 5.10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Peter Jackson, director of The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, took on one of the movies’ great monsters when he brought King Kong to screens. Jack Black (A Minecraft Movie) stars as an unscrupulous film-maker who convinces his crew to film on a mysterious remote island where they come face to face with a giant gorilla. The plan changes from filming the creature to capturing and transporting it to New York – but Kong has become infatuated with leading lady Ann (Naomi Watts, The Impossible), and a strange kind of love story begins. Spectacular effects and awesome action set pieces make this a hugely enjoyable monster movie with a difference.

Wednesday 17 December, 8.05pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Go on a world tour of the animals and plants most associated with Christmas. There’s a visit to reindeer in the Arctic, as well as the donkey island Lamu off the coast of Kenya, where these animals are the primary mode of transport. Good luck not getting “Little Donkey” stuck in your head… It also traces the origins of the Christmas tree, reveals surprising facts about mistletoe and showcases the charming robin. The Nature Of Christmas is a festive feast for the eyes, with lavish images that will transport you to magical landscapes.

Saturday 20 December, 6.25pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

In this musical animated adventure, Vivo is a talented kinkajou (a cute rainforest creature) voiced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who’s devastated by the death of his partner Andres (Juan de Marcos González). Vivo vows to deliver his final song to the long-lost love of Andres’ life, the famous singer Marta Sandoval (Gloria Estefan), and gets in plenty of scrapes along the way. A touching and lovingly animated movie with original songs by Miranda, the man behind hit musicals Hamilton and In The Heights.

Sunday 21 December, 6.35pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Feeling blue? This fun animation will cheer you up with the adventures of Smurfette (pop star Demi Lovato) and her friends, who are tasked with discovering the lost Smurf village before their archenemy Gargamel (Rainn Wilson, The Office US) can get his evil hands on it. A perilous journey ensues as the Smurfs brave raging rivers, bloodthirsty fish and shocking betrayals to keep Smurfkind safe. Perky and inspiring.

Christmas Eve, 6.30pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

This smash-hit adaptation of Michael Bond’s beloved children’s books tells the story of how Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) came from Peru to London and made a home with the Brown family. But while the young bear is acclimatising to family life in Windsor Gardens – innocently causing numerous insurance-rinsing incidents, to the horror of Mr Brown (Hugh Bonneville) – a ruthless taxidermist (Nicole Kidman) learns of his existence and resolves to get her claws into him… A delightful, colourful heartwarming film that will be a firm family favourite for generations, especially at Christmas.

Christmas Day, 6.20pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

The bear is back! This follow-up adventure was released to universal acclaim, setting a Rotten Tomatoes record for how long it remained on 100% fresh on the reviews site. After a burglary at an antiques shop, Paddington is framed for the crime and finds himself incarcerated alongside some scary crooks. There’s nothing for it but to win them over with the power of marmalade sandwiches, while hatching a scheme to right the injustice perpetrated by the real thief: washed-up actor Phoenix Buchanan (an outrageous performance from Hugh Grant). Impossibly charming, with a sharp script, brilliant effects and wonderful performances all round, Paddington 2 is simply movie perfection.

Go to CH 175 or CH 999 to access Virgin TV Ultra HD. Don’t have a 4K TV? Never fear, because you can also watch the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel through your HD TV.

Please note, if you watch TV on our TiVo^® box, you will not be able to access the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel. But it’s super-simple to upgrade to our latest Virgin TV box by contacting us on 0345 454 1111 (or call 150 from a Virgin Media phone).