Bad Tidings

Between the constant churn of new releases, Bad Tidings in the US on Hulu, and in the UK on Now TV is the comedy actually worth stopping for. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 21 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Lee Mack is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it on Hulu whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Bad Tidings is worth clearing space for. The jokes in Bad Tidings land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Grumpy home-security expert Neil feuds with his neighbour Scott, who insists on keeping his Christmas lights illuminated all year round. Their tit-for-tat argument culminates in Neil triggering a power cut across the entire street on Christmas Eve. But when the local crime family decide to rob every house on the street that night, the pair must set aside their differences to defeat them. The chemistry Lee Mack and Chris McCausland bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. It was released in 2024. Bad Tidings earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Bad Tidings is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Lee Mack sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.

Bad Tidings was released in 2024, directed by Tim Kirkby. The full 80-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.