That Christmas (soundtrack)
| That Christmas (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Soundtrack album and film score by | ||||
| Released | 4 December 2024 | |||
| Recorded | 2023–2024 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Christmas music | |||
| Length | 57:58 | |||
| Label | Netflix Music | |||
| Producer | John Powell | |||
| John Powell chronology | ||||
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That Christmas (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film) is the soundtrack album to the 2024 film That Christmas directed by Simon Otto in his feature directorial debut. The film score is composed by John Powell and released through Netflix Music on 4 December 2024.
Background
[edit]In November 2023, it was announced that John Powell would compose the film's musical score.[1] It marked his 25th animated film from Powell.[2] The score was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios in London, England during the same week, with Nick Wollage as the recording engineer.[2] Batu Sener, Anthony Willis and Markus Siegel provided additional music, while Cécile Tournesac served as the music editor. The soundtrack was mixed at 5 Cat Studios in Los Angeles, California, with John Michael Caldwell as the recording engineer.[3]
In August 2024, it was reported that Ed Sheeran would write, compose and produce an original song for the film.[4][5] Titled "Under the Tree", it was released as a non-album digital single on 26 November 2024 by Sheeran's label Gingerbread Man Records.[6][7] The music video for the film was directed by Richard Curtis and starred Sheeran as himself and Claudia Jessie as Anna, featuring snippets from the film as well.[8]
The soundtrack was digitally released through Netflix Music on 4 December 2024.[9]
Reception
[edit]Filmtracks wrote "The score's weakness comes in the more wayward applications in the final third and lack of connection with the good Sheeran song. Some listeners may find the whole to be overplayed in its intensity and thus overwhelm haphazardly on the songless album. But That Christmas is a charming genre outing for Powell, and its rousing action sequences for the main theme notch it above Migration. This music represents Powell in his wheelhouse, and it's always a pleasure to hear."[10] James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "This really is a delightful album of music, for my money the composer's strongest since The Call of the Wild – so warm-hearted, blessed with a pair of catchy themes, thoroughly entertaining from start to finish."[11] Peter Debruge of Variety wrote "composer John Powell supplies a swirling orchestral score that gives the whole enterprise a sense of scale."[12]
Track listing
[edit]All music is composed by John Powell.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Meet Our Heroes" | 4:51 |
| 2. | "Wellington-By-The-Sea" | 1:54 |
| 3. | "Sticky Notes" | 0:59 |
| 4. | "Snow Arrives" | 3:24 |
| 5. | "Doggy Prank" | 1:01 |
| 6. | "Snow People" | 1:47 |
| 7. | "Building the Igloo" | 1:42 |
| 8. | "Parents Leaving" | 1:10 |
| 9. | "Turkey Heist" | 2:24 |
| 10. | "Shop Romance" | 2:06 |
| 11. | "Parents in Trouble" | 2:10 |
| 12. | "Santa Arrives" | 3:12 |
| 13. | "This Rarely Happens" | 2:28 |
| 14. | "The Twin's Christmas" | 1:14 |
| 15. | "Officially Nice" | 2:19 |
| 16. | "Bernie's Our Christmas" | 2:51 |
| 17. | "Danny Left Alone" | 1:03 |
| 18. | "Visiting Trapper" | 2:44 |
| 19. | "Calling Miss for Help" | 3:56 |
| 20. | "Hide and Seek" | 3:14 |
| 21. | "Searching and Finding" | 9:30 |
| 22. | "Boxing Day" | 1:59 |
| Total length: | 57:58 | |
Additional music
[edit]That Christmas featured other songs which are also not featured on its soundtrack:[13]
- "Boom Shack-A-Lak" by Apache Indian
- "Underneath the Tree" by Kelly Clarkson
- "Snowflakes" by Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler
- "Christmas Lights" by Coldplay
- "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls
- "Happy Birthday" by Stevie Wonder
- "Levitating" by Dua Lipa
- "Papa Don't Preach" by Madonna
- "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie
- "Silent Night" by Franz Xaver Gruber
- "Nessun dorma" by Giacomo Puccini
Accolades
[edit]| Award | Year | Category | Nominees and recipients | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annie Awards | 8 February 2025 | Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature | John Powell, Ed Sheeran and Johnny McDaid | Nominated | [14] [15] |
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | 20 November 2024 | Best Original Score in an Animated Film | John Powell | Nominated | [16] [17] |
| International Film Music Critics Association | 27 February 2025 | Best Original Score for an Animated Film | Nominated | [18] [19] |
References
[edit]- ^ "John Powell Scoring Locksmith Animation's 'That Christmas'". Film Music Reporter. 30 November 2023. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ a b John Powell [@johnj_powell]; (30 November 2023). "Scoring my 25th animated film and my first Xmas movie at Abbey Road Studios this week 🎶 Coming next winter! ❄️ #JohnPowell #soundtrack..." Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2023 – via Instagram.
- ^ John Powell [@johnj_powell]; (4 December 2024). "That Christmas is now streaming on Netflix 🎶🎵Thanks to everyone who was a part of this score! Soundtrack album link in bio/story". Archived from the original on 1 July 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (7 August 2024). "Animated Feature 'That Christmas' Unwraps Ed Sheeran Original on Dec. 6". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 May 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (7 August 2024). "Ed Sheeran Records Original Song for Netflix's Richard Curtis Film 'That Christmas' – Global Bulletin". Variety. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ Hudak, Joseph (26 November 2024). "Ed Sheehan Is All Melancholy Christmas in New Video 'Under the Tree'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 19 December 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ Fields, Taylor (26 November 2024). "Ed Sheeran Teams Up With 'Bridgerton' Star Claudia Jessie For Melancholy 'Under The Tree' Video". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ Kaplan, Ilana (11 December 2024). "How Ed Sheeran Got 'Love Actually' Director Richard Curtis to Make His Festive 'Under the Tree' Music Video". People. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ "'That Christmas' Soundtrack Album Details | Film Music Reporter". 13 November 2024. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ "Filmtracks: That Christmas (John Powell)". Filmtracks. 19 January 2025. Archived from the original on 6 February 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ Southall, James (20 December 2024). "That Christmas | John Powell". Movie Wave. Archived from the original on 9 February 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (19 October 2024). "'That Christmas' Review: From the Writer of 'Love Actually' Comes a Kid-Friendly Holiday Classic". Variety. Archived from the original on 4 January 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ Novack, Sarah (6 December 2024). "That Christmas Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play In Netflix's Animated Movie". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ Richlin, Harrison (20 December 2024). "Annie Awards 2025: 'The Wild Robot' Leads with 10 Nominations". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (20 December 2024). "Annie Awards Nominations: Wild Robot Leads Field Over Inside Out 2, Wallace & Gromit". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 2 May 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (7 November 2024). "'Emilia Pérez' & 'Blitz' Top Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nominations". Deadline. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Willman, Chris (7 November 2024). "Hollywood Music in Media Awards Noms Led by 'Emilia Pérez' and 'Blitz,' With Elton John, Hans Zimmer and Scores More Among the Nominees". Variety. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ IFMCA (13 February 2025). "IFMCA Award Nominations 2024". IFMCA. Archived from the original on 14 May 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ IFMCA (27 February 2025). "IFMCA Award Winners 2024". IFMCA. Archived from the original on 21 March 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.