4. Love Actually (2003)
Love Actually, billed as 'the ultimate romantic comedy' is set in London and starts 5 weeks before Christmas and counts down in weekly intervals until the event, after which there is a final scene 1 month after Christmas to tie up the stories. The predominately British all-star cast work magnificently as you follow the lives and loves of 8 different groups of people and how their stories intertwine, with significant nods to Bill Nighy as aging rock star Billy Mack with his dry wit and the love story between English writer Jamie (Colin Firth) and Portuguese housemaid Aurelia (Lucia Moniz). Written and directed by Richard Curtis, the Christmas spirit throughout the film serves to drive the narrative and adds a joyous feeling to the romance in each story.