The Best Kids Christmas Movies to Watch Every Year
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The Best Kids Christmas Movies to Watch Every Year
Whenever Christmas rolls around, there are a host of activities and traditions that come to mind to commemorate the season: baking holiday treats, singing Christmas carols, buying gifts for every loved one, creating the perfect Christmas menu, planning get-togethers, and, most importantly, watching Christmas movies!
If you're looking for some of the best kids' Christmas movies to stream with the whole family, you've got to the right place. In addition to some of the holiday films of all time, our list includes fan-favorites from Disney and hilarious Christmas flicks, as well as those that will teach kids the true meaning of the holiday.
Luckily, you can stream so many of them on any of your services, so gone are the days when you'd have to scroll through your cable guide to find the right movie during the right time. Now what are you waiting for? Grab your hot cocoa, put on your matching Christmas pajamas, and watch these animated favorites and holiday classics.
Hearst Owned - 2/67
66) 'Spirited'
This modernized retelling of Charles Dickens's 1843 novella A Christmas Carol, "Spirited" stars Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, and Octavia Spencer. Since it's a musical, you'll see all your favorites belting out some great tunes. Just an FYI: The rating here is PG-13!
Apple Original Films - Apple - 3/67
65) 'The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf's Story'
In case the book that came with your elf isn't enough to give a sense of wonder to your little ones, this movie (featuring the same elf) will do the trick. In it, kids will witness just how the elf on the shelf works his magic (and what happens when kids don't believe).
Amazon - Netflix - 4/67
64) 'Home Sweet Home Alone'
Sure, it doesn't live up to the original Home Alone, but it's still fun to watch a new reimagining of the classic — plus there's a surprise cameo from a grown-up Buzz McCallister!
20th Century Studios - Disney+ - 5/67
63) 'A Boy Called Christmas'
Parents and kids alike will be dazzled by this heartwarming story of a boy who discovers a magical land populated by elves.
StudioCanal - Netflix - 6/67
62) 'Trolls Holiday'
Watch these lovable trolls celebrate the holidays the only way they know how: by singing, dancing, and spreading cheer. Characters voiced by Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake will get your kids off the couch and dancing in no time.
DreamWorks - Netflix - 7/67
61) '8 Bit Christmas'
Think of this as A Christmas Story for Millennials: Set in the 1980s, 10-year-old Jake Doyle's parents refused to get him a Nintendo Entertainment System for Christmas, so he and his friends embark on an epic journey to score one.
HBO - 8/67
60) 'The Polar Express'
So the animation in The Polar Express is a little iffy. But you know who loves this adventurous movie about a train ride to the North Pole? Every child ever!
Castle Rock Entertainment - 9/67
59) 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'
If you're between the ages of zero and 100, and don't watch A Charlie Brown Christmas every year, you aren't doing the holiday right. Plus, it comes with one of the most iconic holiday movie soundtracks ever.
Lee Mendelson Film Productions - 10/67
58) 'Holiday Rush'
In this holiday movie, a family who had a life of luxury suddenly finds themselves having to change their lifestyle. The movie centers around a widowed radio DJ and his four kids who learn the true meaning of Christmas.
Netflix - 11/67
57) 'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey'
A cranky old toymaker finds joy once again when his granddaughter comes into his life and brings with her the jolly spirit of Christmas.
Netflix - 12/67
56) 'Arthur Christmas'
Santa sure has a lot of gifts to deliver each year. So it only makes sense that he gets some help from family, including his youngest son, Arthur, who is determined to save Christmas.
Columbia Pictures - 13/67
55) 'Santa Hunters'
A young boy named Alex sets out to prove that Santa exists. To do so, he works with his sister and cousins to set up cameras to capture some footage of Santa. They're successful, but when they find out that Santa loses some magic every time he's seen, they have to figure out how to destroy all the evidence.
Paramount - 14/67
54) 'A Flintstones Christmas Carol'
Fred Flintstone plays Ebenezer Scrooge in a play, but finds that he's also acting rather scrooge-like when it comes to his family and friends in real life.
Warner Bros. - 15/67
53) 'Olaf's Frozen Adventure'
Is it as good as Frozen? No. But even so, Olaf's Frozen Adventure is a fun holiday mini-movie for the little kid in your life, so you might as well just get on board.
Disney - 16/67
52) 'Dragons: Rescue Riders Huttsgalor Holiday'
Experience the feast of the Vikings in this DreamWorks animated film. The first snowfall marks the start of this feast, called Odinyule. Thee Rescue Riders step in to help this community maintain their tradition.
Netflix - Netflix - 17/67
51) 'Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas'
Toddlers and older kids alike will enjoy this 'Shaun the Sheep' holiday film. This claymation-style movie has no dialogue, but the sheep's holiday adventure is enough to excite the audience.
Netflix - Netflix - 18/67
50) 'The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol'
This animated short is basically the Smurfs version of 'A Christmas Carol.' Everyone is excited for Christmas — except for a Smurf named Grouchy. Luckily, he gets a visit from someone who just might change his mind.
Sony Pictures - 19/67
49) 'Saving Santa'
This adorable family-friendly movie tells the story of an elf who finds out that he is the only one who can stop a North Pole invasion. To stop the invasion and save Santa, he'll have to travel back in time.
Anchor Bay Entertainment - 20/67
48) 'The Christmas Chronicles'
When a brother and sister accidentally crash Santa's sleigh, it's up to them to save Christmas. (And with Kurt Russell as Santa, parents will definitely want to watch this one, too.)
Netflix - 21/67
47) 'The Christmas Chronicles 2'
Teenager Kate runs away to the North Pole where a bad elf is trying to run Christmas. If you liked the first Christmas Chronicles, you'll enjoy this sequel, too.
Netflix - 22/67
46) 'Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse'
You don't have to choose between your favorite Disney characters, because they're all here! Mickey's Magical Christmas brings together characters like Mickey, Minnie, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and so many others for a super-special Christmas story.
Disney - 23/67
45) 'Christmas With The Kranks'
Spread the spirit of laughter this season by watching this Christmas comedy starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. With an empty nest, a couple decides to skip out on Christmas traditions and decoration to the dismay of their neighbors who obsess over the holiday.
IMDb - 24/67
44) 'Angela's Christmas'
Based on a popular story by Frank McCourt, this movie short tells the story of Angela who gets into some fun trouble after a Christmas Eve trip to church with her family.
Netflix - 25/67
43) 'Beauty And The Beast: The Enchanted Christmas'
Beauty and The Beast fans will love this sequel about Forte who tries to destroy Belle and Beast's relationship and ruin Christmas.
Walt Disney Video Premiere - Disney+ - 26/67
42) 'Dr. Seuss' The Grinch'
A Christmas classic went through an animated upgrade in 2018 when this movie came out. With the same storyline, but a different look, your entire family will look forward to watching Mr. Grinch after opening presents.
Amazon Prime - 27/67
41) 'Golden Winter'
Who doesn't enjoy watching a movie about a litter Golden Retrievers? In this canine-decorated movie, a boy befriends a group of puppies and stops a bank robbery right before Christmas.
Amazon Prime - 28/67
40) 'Mickey's Christmas Carol'
The Disney characters come together to tell Charles Dickens' classic story.
Amazon - 29/67
39) 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'
Classic doesn't even begin to describe this movie, which will remind your kids what the holidays are really about.
Universal Pictures - 30/67
38) 'The Muppet Christmas Carol'
This isn't just one of the best Christmas movies of all time. This is one of the best movies, straight up, of all time. Which is pretty impressive considering it's quite literally Michael Caine acting alongside a fleet of muppets.
Disney - 31/67
37) 'Jack Frost'
A year after passing away on Christmas Day, Jack Frost comes back to life as a snowman and gets a second chance at connecting with his family.
Hearst Owned - 32/67
36) 'Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas'
As someone who still owns multiple Micky Mouse Christmas specials on VHS, I'm here to tell you that Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas is magical. This one's better for younger kids, as well as adults who want to re-live their youth (a.k.a. me).
Disney - 33/67
35) 'Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas'
Christmas has arrived for George and The Man in The Yellow Hat, but they are having difficulty figuring out what gifts to give each other.
Hearst Owned - 34/67
34) 'The Nutcracker'
Released just last year, Disney's take on the story of the Nutcracker will keep you kids eyes glued on the screen as they watch Clara go on a harrowing journey to save the four realms.
TBD - 35/67
33) 'Barbie in the Nutcracker'
Barbie tells her younger sister the story of Clara who teamed up with the Nutcracker to find the Sugarplum Princess.
IMDb - 36/67
32) 'The Search for Santa Paws'
After Santa loses his memory, a group of magical dogs and two children team up to rescue him.
IMDb - 37/67
31) 'The Snowman'
The Snowman will make you cry. Hysterically. Because, despite being super short and having barely any dialogue, it manages to be one of the most pure and moving holiday films out there.
Channel 4 Television - 38/67
30) 'Elf'
Will Ferrell's turn as the lovably clueless Buddy the Elf is pure holiday perfection, and Elf is one of those rare movies that's just as enjoyable for adults as it is for kids. Come for the "SANTA! I KNOW HIM!" scene and stay for everything else.
New Line - 39/67
29) 'Home Alone'
It doesn't get more classic than Home Alone, the Macaulay Culkin movie about a kid who's accidentally left home alone for the holiday and has to stave off two burglars. If you have a child that hasn't seen this movie, go ahead and rectify the situation ASAP.
20th Century Fox - 40/67
28) 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'
For the second installment of 'Home Alone,' this one with a subhead of 'Lost in New York' follows Kevin McCallister in the big apple trying to escape capture by the wet bandits.
20th Century Fox - Disney+ - 41/67
27) 'Klaus'
What happens when a postman and a reclusive toymaker become friends? You'll have to find out in this Netflix-exclusive movie.
IMDb - 42/67
26) 'The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas!'
This Christmas-themed version of the popular Cat in the Hat series is all about the fun holiday adventures the mischievous feline and his friends have just before Christmas.
Portfolio Entertainment - 43/67
25) 'Peppa Pig: Peppa's Christmas'
Everyone's favorite lovable pig has a Christmas adventure. Peppa loves dressing up and jumping in puddles of mud, and of course she loves Christmas!
Hearst Owned - 44/67
24) 'Operation Christmas List'
Pre-teen Barney has a master plan to beat the rush of Christmas shoppers by buying the entire stock of the hottest gift of the season. But when he and his friends sneak into the mall after it's closed, things go a bit awry.
Detention Hall - 45/67
23) 'The 12 Dogs of Christmas'
A young girl who moves to a town that has outlawed dogs finds herself in a sticky situation when she finds a puppy on her way to school. How will she manage to outmaneuver the local dog catcher and plan the best Christmas pageant ever?
Ken Kargen Productions - 46/67
22) 'Captain Underpants Mega Blissmas'
For kids who love comedy and adults at heart, this ‘Captain Underpants’ holiday special follows the festive hijinks of pranksters George and Harold. Unlike any Christmas movie you’ve seen before but very much in the style of other Captain Underpants comics.
STREAM ON NETFLIXNetflix - Netflix - 47/67
21) 'Robin Robin'
In this adorable film, a bird named Robin becomes a part of a family of mice. An adventure takes place when she sneaks into a house to attempt to steal a shiny Christmas star in an attempt to prove she's a mouse after all.
Netflix - Netflix - 48/67
20) 'VeggieTales: Saint Nicholas a Story of Joyful Giving'
In this perfectly VeggieTales story, Bob the Tomato tells the story of old Saint Nick.
Big Ideas Entertainment - 49/67
19) 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'
This classic animated Christmas movie will be loved by kids and adults alike. It's nothing too fancy, just a fun Christmas story and a heart that grows three sizes.
Amazo - Hearst Owned - 50/67
18) 'Frosty's Winter Wonderland'
He's a snowman with a corn-cob pipe and a button nose. What's not to love? The only downside is that the kids will have "Frosty the Snowman" stuck in their head for weeks on end.
Videocraft International - 51/67
17) 'The Santa Clause'
This flick still holds up after many years as a supremely fun and heartfelt movie, that's just as much about Santa as it is about a father and son mending their relationship.
Disney - 52/67
16) 'The Christmas Dragon'
The memory of Christmas is disappearing after the holiday hasn't been celebrated in several years. So when a young girl gets a magic crystal from an elf, she embarks on a journey to save Christmas, which only she can do.
Arrowstorm Entertainment - 53/67
15) 'Miracle on 34th Street'
Watch this with your kid and not only will you laugh, cry, and want to move to New York, you just might start believing in Santa again.
20th Century Fox - 54/67
14) 'Jingle All the Way'
Before he was the governor of California (still not over it), Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in Jingle All the Way, a delightful '90s movie about two rival dads who are determined to get their sons the same in-demand toy. Lovable for kids, adults, and aspiring political leaders alike.
20th Century Fox - 55/67
13) 'Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square'
The whole family will be charmed by this tale about a bitter woman who plans to sell her small town, but is swayed by an angel who shows her how to be more kindhearted and considerate of the people in her community.
STREAM ON NETFLIXNetflix - 56/67
12) 'Dear Santa'
This documentary highlights the US Postal Service's "Dear Santa" program, which allows people to adopt letters that kids have written to Santa and make children's dreams come true. Who knows, you might even be inspired to play Santa for someone in your community. (Note: This is probably not one to watch with your little ones who believe in Santa, but would be a great choice for older kids and teens).
IFC Films - 57/67
11) 'A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish'
This Christmas spin on the classic Cinderella story features a determined young woman who won't let her wicked stepmother and stepsisters crush her dreams to become a singer. As she spends the holidays working at a Christmas tree lot, she'll discover a true Christmas miracle.
Warner Bros - 58/67
10) 'Snowglobe'
This fantastical Christmas movie follows a woman named Angela who gets transported into the Christmas-y world inside a snowglobe. Of course, things get complicated.
Shop NowFreeform - 59/67
9) 'Let It Snow'
If you're struggling to find a holiday movie your teens will actually watch with you, this might be the perfect pick. It's a rom-com that follows a group of high school seniors who find themselves in some funny situations when a big snowstorm hits their small town.
Netflix - 60/67
8) 'I'll Be Home for Christmas'
This movie poster of Jonathan Taylor Thomas in the desert wearing a plaid shirt and a Santa hat tells you everything you need to know.
Disney - 61/67
7) 'Fred Claus'
Fred Claus stars Vince Vaughn as Fred, Santa's older brother who is forced to move to the North Pole and help Santa and the elves prepare for Christmas.
Warner Bros. - 62/67
6) 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is just as much about Halloween as it is about Christmas, and it might be a little too scary for your youngest. But despite the spooks and scares, it's managed to work its way into the must-watch lists of families all over the world around the holidays.
Touchstone Pictures - 63/67
5) 'Noelle'
When one of Kris Kringle's children go missing, it's up to Kris' daughter, Noelle to go and find him — along with the family's nanny of course.
IMDb - 64/67
4) 'Mandie and the Forgotten Christmas'
This mysterious Christmas story follows Mandie, who has just arrived at a private girls' school that's very strict and very anti-Christmas cheer. It's up to her to discover the hidden memories of Christmas and share them with all the pupils at the school.
Charley Gap Films - 65/67
3) 'A Christmas Story'
TV stations play A Christmas Story all day long on Christmas for a reason. It's perhaps *the* most classic family film on this list, is dated in all the best ways, and will warm your heart so much you might burst into spontaneous flames. It'll also teach your kids a valuable lesson in not licking the ice!
MGM - 66/67
2) 'Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker'
If your kids (or you) are fans of dance and ballet, you'll love this documentary about Debbie Allen's dance career and and her awe-inspiring "Hot Chocolate Nutcracker" event.
IMDb - 67/67
1) 'LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special'
In this fun holiday special, watch your favorite Star Wars characters (in LEGO form, that is) reunite for a festive feast. Filled with adventure, nostalgia (for those who know the Star Wars universe well), and holiday spirt, viewers will see Chewie, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Yoda, and more.
Disney - Disney+
