Film

Here's how you can watch A Christmas Gift From Bob now

The Big Issue's favourite feline is back on the big screen, so here's everything you need to now about how to watch A Christmas Gift From Bob

Luke Treadaway plays James Bowen alongside Bob in the Christmassy A Gift From Bob. Image credit: Lionsgate UK

The nights may be drawing in but Christmas has come early for fans of The Big Issue favourite Street Cat Bob. A Christmas Gift From Bob has been out in cinemas and online streaming services for a while, and now the film is available to own for the all the eager Bobbites out there.

The film follows the story of Big Issue vendor James Bowen, played by Luke Treadaway, and his trusty sidekick Bob throughout London at Christmas.

Without giving too much away, we know that authorities want to separate the pair after they are concerned about Bob living on the street. But, fear not, we’re pretty sure there’ll be a happy ending.

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A Christmas Gift From Bob was released on November 6 and has already notched up a 75% approval rating of “fresh” on film review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes.

Read on to find out exactly how you can watch the new film, now and in the future, plus everything else we know about the festive family film that’s sure to be a Christmas smash hit.

And find out more about our behind the scenes trip to the set of A Christmas Gift From Bob in this special edition of The Big Issue magazine.

How can I watch A Christmas Gift From Bob at home?

With the majority of cinemas closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, options to see it on the big screen are limited. But that doesn’t mean you can’t watch along from the comfort of your own home.

From December 11, you can watch A Christmas Gift From Bob on Amazon Prime. It is free to watch if you are currently a Prime member. The first film, A Street Cat Named Bob from 2016 is also available on that platform, where it has had thousands of positive viewer reviews.

A Christmas Gift From Bob can also be streamed online from a whole load of services, including the Sky Store, Amazon’s Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Virgin Movies, Talk Talk TV, Chili, Rakuten TV, Microsoft Films & TV, and Showcase at Home.

As of November 27, most online services are currently charging £9.99 to buy the film and will give you 30 days to start watching the film and 48 hours to finish watching it after that.

And if you want to get A Christmas Gift From Bob for that special cat-lover in your life, the movie is out now on DVD, just in time for Christmas.

Go put the popcorn on and settle in for the evening.

When will A Christmas Gift From Bob be in cinemas?

For most of the UK, the earliest they will be able to watch A Christmas Gift From Bob in cinemas will be early December, as coronavirus restrictions mean most screens remain closed.

There are still a handful of cinemas open in Scotland, however, and in Wales screens will re-open from November 10.

The film is one of the only family-friendly features to come to cinemas this year as many movie-makers have held their seasonal smash hits back for a time when more people will be out on the streets.

Rest assured The Big Issue will keep you updated about where and when you’ll be able to watch Bob strut his stuff.

Is A Christmas Gift From Bob on Netflix?

Everyone’s favourite ginger tom is not on Netflix, with A Christmas Gift From Bob currently an Amazon Prime exclusive among the major streaming services.

Big Issue vendors need your help now more than ever. More than 1,000 vendors are out of work because of the second lockdown in England. They can’t sell the magazine and they can’t rely on the income they need.

The Big Issue is helping our vendors with supermarket vouchers and gift payments but we need your help to do that.

Please buy this week’s magazine from the online shop or take out a subscription to make sure we can continue to support our vendors over this difficult period. You can even link your subscription to your local vendor with our new online map.

Thank you all so much for your ongoing support.

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
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