30 Best Family Christmas Movies (Rated by Parents)

Kelly R. said:  We like to watch a different assortment of our favorite family Christmas movies every year, but this is the one that's always a must in our house! Upon discovering that he's not really an elf after all, Buddy journeys from the North Pole to NYC in search of his father, where he endures skepticism about Santa and a harsh (and hilarious) dose of reality.

Kelly R. said:  If your kids enjoy slapstick humor as much as mine do, this holiday movie is going to be a home run. Young Kevin McCallister defends his house against a pair of absurd burglars after his family forgets to bring him along on their Christmas vacation.

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Kelly R. said:  Watch the Grinch's heart grow three sizes as he discovers the true meaning of the holiday in one of the most classic kids Christmas movies of all time.

Erika Roh... said:  As a self-proclaimed non-believer in Santa Claus, Scott has a chance encounter with Santa as he falls off of Scott's roof! Since it's Christmas Eve, he has no choice but to take the reins and finish Santa's job. This funny, heartwarming comedy is the perfect Christmas movie for kids, even at the "questioning" age, as it solidifies the power of the belief.

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Kelly R. said:  Charlie Brown seeks the true meaning of Christmas in a family holiday special that just gets better with age. The music is classic, and it's one of our favorite Christmas albums to listen to every year!

Erin P. said:  If your kids love Mickey, they will enjoy this Disney take on a Christmas classic. The movie includes the retelling of A Christmas Carol, and also has a number of other Disney Christmas cartoon shorts on it as well. Add this one to your kids Christmas movie rotation!

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Kelly R. said:  The movie adaptation of the beloved Christmas book where a boy boards a magical train to visit the North Pole manages to capture much of the book's original wonder.

Kelly R. said:  The Muppets put their spin on the Charles Dickens Christmas classic. Because Muppets (and musicals) make everything better.

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Kelly R. said:  Kurt Russell is the Santa Claus we never knew we needed in this fun Netflix Christmas movie about a brother and sister who team up with the big man to save Christmas after his sleigh crashes in Chicago. Check out the sequel, too.

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Erika Roh... said:  This classic Christmas movie embraces what the season is all about - spirituality, love, family, kindness and reflection. Even though old movies aren't typically kids' favorites, the sentiment and plot is something that can't be matched. An angel is sent to Earth to help a struggling man by creating a reality of what life would be like if he never existed. In doing so, George (James Stewart) sees the benefit of his actions, no matter how big or small. This movie will certainly spark conversations on what's important and teaches a great appreciation of family and life.

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Kelly R. said:  It's hard to miss this family Christmas movie if you turn on the TV during the month of December, but I think it strikes a chord with so many people because it feels like you are watching a real family.

Chrissy OGorman said:  Based loosely on the beloved song, this is one of those classic Christmas movies for kids that's fun to rewatch every year. Since he is different from the other reindeer, Rudolph is bullied and runs away. But once Rudolph realizes people are looking for him, he comes back and becomes the star of Santa's sleigh!

Erin P. said:  This compilation of Christmas cartoons featuring the classic Disney characters is a hit with my kids. There are three stories in total. Our kids' favorite story is Groundhog Day-where Huey, Dewey and Louie wish it was Christmas every day of the year. Check out the sequel, too: Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas.

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Kelly R. said:  An original backstory about how the legend of Santa came to be, this is the beautifully animated and beautifully told story of an unlikely friendship between a reluctant postman and a reclusive toymaker. It focuses on the spirit of giving rather than magic and elves, and is filled with funny and poignant moments. This Netflix film instantly became one of my family's favorite Christmas movies for kids!

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Alexandra F. said:  This classic Christmas tale about a department store Santa who claims to be the real deal - and whose sanity is therefore questioned and brought to trial - has been one of the best family Christmas movies for decades. I was honestly surprised by how much my then 6 and 8-year-olds were captivated by it, even in black and white. I think it’s the only black and white movie/show they’ve ever enjoyed!

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This movie may be old, but it's the true definition of a classic that endures. A singing and dancing duo of friends performs with (and ends up falling in love with) a sister act, and the pairs go on to save a Vermont inn of a former friend in this jolly family Christmas movie.

Kelly R. said:  Santa's clumsy son, Arthur, is on an urgent mission to deliver a misplaced present before Christmas morning. A funny and heartwarming Christmas movie for kids with a great cast!

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Carly Follett said:  A young girl finds an injured reindeer in the forest near her house and is convinced it is one of Santa's magical reindeer, Prancer. She secretly nurses the reindeer back to health on her family farm in hopes to return him to Santa on Christmas Eve in order save Christmas. If you're searching for new family favorite Christmas movies for kids, this is definitely a must!!

Chrissy OGorman said:  A discarded magic top hat brings to life the snowman that a group of children made. The owner of the hat, a magician, wants it back. Outside temperatures start to rise and Frosty will melt or no longer be a jolly soul if the kids cannot get him to colder weather.

Chrissy OGorman said:  This Christmas classic is based on the song "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town." If your children ever ask you questions around Christmas: "Why does Santa wear red?" Why does he use the chimney?" "Why would he live at the North Pole?", this fun film will answer all those questions for your child!

Vanessa M. said:  This hilarious Christmas movie for the family is fun to watch together and celebrate the special tradition of sharing the holidays with family and friends. When Luther and Nora Krank decide to skip Christmas and take an expensive cruise instead, there is an outcry in their tightly-knit neighborhood. Their grown daughter announces she is coming home for Christmas...with a new fiance! Can the neighbors help pull a special Christmas together in time?

Kelly R. said:  Follow the elves who work in Santa's elite Prep and Landing unit. Smart dialogue and great animation make this a hit with my whole family. There are 3 short Christmas specials for kids in this Disney series, and they're perfect for when we don't have time to watch a full-length Christmas movie.

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Kelly R. said:  One of my family's favorite new Christmas movies for kids, Jingle Jangle is filled with the wonder, spirit and excess of Christmas without being explicitly about the holiday. Told with fantastic Broadway-style dancing and musical numbers, the story is about a brilliant toymaker who gives up on his passion when he is betrayed by his assistant, but the magic sparks again years later when his granddaughter comes for a visit. It's also a beautifully diverse movie.

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Kelly R. said:  Santa's son gets cold feet and leaves town when it's his turn to take over the job, and it's up to Santa's daughter to track down her brother and save Christmas. It's totally cheesy at times, filled with Christmas puns and leans in hard to the holiday spirit, but that innocent fun is part of what makes it a perfect family Christmas movie to watch together.

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Erin P. said:  Curious George has a tough time figuring out what to get the man in the Yellow Hat for Christmas. This story shares some good lessons on the importance of getting to spend time together and helping each other at Christmas-time.

Chrissy OGorman said:  Your kids may think Santa is just a big jolly man who gives out toys each year. But what about the meaning behind Santa? St. Nick may be hard to explain to preschoolers, but this VeggieTales story does this effortlessly. The group of veggie friends travel to Greece to learn about St. Nick after one of their friends' dads may have no money for presents this year.

Jasmin Sierra said:  I always loved this movie as a child. It seemed to encourage to not lose belief in something even if it might seem childish to others.

Kelly R. said:  A boy goes on a quest to get himself a wildly popular Nintendo system for Christmas in 1980s Chicago. It feels very much like A Christmas Story for children of the 80s, so make sure to watch this one along with your kids. The 80s nostalgia was fun for the adults, and the goofy comedy had us all laughing. Aside from some salty language and an unnecessarily suggestive part (hey, would it really feel like the 80s without those?), we found it to be appropriate and totally fun.

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Michael Farina said:  From Jim Henson's studio, I remember watching this heartwarming story about a mother and son otter who brighten their days with singing. The story is touching, the music is good, and the puppetry is amazing.

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Kelly R. said:  This hilarious musical inspired by A Christmas Carol was an instant favorite Christmas movie for my family. There's some iffy stuff in here, so we previewed it first before sharing it with our tween and almost-teen, who both love it as much as we do. All of the usual Christmas movies in our annual rotation are basically on pause while we rewatch this again and again!

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