Get into a festive mood with one of these family friendly Christmas movies, from The Muppets Christmas Carol to Home Alone too!
We’re all about Christmas right now at HoneyKids HQ. Once we’ve popped into all the Christmas markets, sat on Santa’s knee and stocked up on goodies for the Christmas feast, it’ll be time to snuggle on the couch with the kids for a Christmas movie marathon. Here’s what will be on our screens this festive season…
The best Christmas movies for kids and families
1. Elf
You must have seen this modern day Christmas classic, and if you haven’t, scooch on over to Netflix stat! This is the hilarious story of Buddy, a human baby orphan who sneaks into Santa’s sack one Christmas and is adopted by the Elves. When he grows up and finds out he isn’t an elf but a human, he embarks on a journey to boost Christmas spirit, find his human father and reconnect with him. Buddy’s adventure in New York after living in the North Pole is both heartwarming and hysterical. Definitely one to add to the watch list! Watch now on Amazon Prime
2. Spirited
Another Christmas movie featuring Will Ferrel, this time with his long time real-life friend Ryan Reynolds, in a musical film no less! The story is based on Charles Dickens’s well-loved story of a miserly misanthrope who is taken on a magical journey. Some people love it with the musical edge; others aren’t convinced – let us know what you think! Watch now on Apple TV+
3. The Christmas Chronicles
Remember the movie Overboard? The one where Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russel stole all our hearts (and each other’s in real life!) See this movie magic duo back together on screen in The Christmas Chronicles 2, and fall in love with them all over again! Watch now on Netflix
4. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
An American Christmas classic! If you haven’t seen any of the National Lampoon series, then start with this one. The Griswalds Christmas capers are hilarious in a slapstick kind of way – it’s physical comedy at its best with Chevy Chase at the helm. Watch now on Apple TV+
5. A Christmas Prince
A journalist looking for a scoop meets the subject of the slanderous gossip and changes her opinion of him – a classic rom-com with a fairytale ending. There is a whole series of films in A Christmas Prince, and our kids love them all! Watch now on Netflix
6. The Muppets Christmas Carol
What’s Christmas without the Muppets? There’s nothing better than watching a classic Christmas tale come to life with puppets and rockin’ tunes. A million times better than the original, we think! Watch on Disney+
7. The Princess Switch
Vanessa Hudgens (of High School Musical fame), exercises her acting chops in this funny tale of strangers who look alike and decide to switch places (yes, the storyline is very much like The Parent Trap). There’s romance, intrigue, and a happy fairytale ending – all the ingredients for a fun Christmas movie (or three!) Watch now on Netflix
8. Rise of the Guardians
If you have kids who wobble in their Santa beliefs, put on Rise of the Guardians and it’ll sort that right out for another year or two. Heck, it even had us believing (not only in Santa, but in the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, Jack Frost and The SandMan too)! It’s so good, and now there’s a sequel! Watch on Amazon Prime
9. Dr Seuss’ The Grinch
Introduce your kids to The Grinch – the cantankerous, furry and green creature who despises Christmas. But Dr Seuss reminds us that even an ice-cold heart can be melted at Christmas (all you need is love). Psst, though we love the live-action classic with the hilarious Jim Carrey (and Cindy Lou’s awesome hairdo), we think the kids will prefer the animated version instead! Watch on Amazon Prime
10. Home Alone
Our cheeky kids insist on an annual viewing of Home Alone – Macaulay Culkin was our kid hero back in the day, so we’re more than happy to re-watch him slap his cheeks in that pose, copied by millions of kids in the ’90s. Let’s just hope our kiddos aren’t as rambunctious as Kevin! Watch on Disney+
11. The Polar Express
The Polar Express with Tom Hanks is so beautifully shot (with 3D life-like animation) that you’ll be checking your own window for the magic train on Xmas Eve for sure. And, we’re definitely inspired to take a train trip with the little ones next Christmas, too! Watch on Amazon Prime
12. Frozen
As huge Disney fans, you can bet we’re definitely including Frozen and Frozen 2 in our line-up of top Christmas movies for kids! Sure, the films might have nothing to do with Christmas, but both films are great movies packed with heartwarming messages and adorable characters. We just can’t Let It Go. Watch Disney+
13. A Christmas Carol
Ebenezer Scrooge certainly knows how to put the bah into humbug, and Jim Carrey’s 2009 version is our favourite of all. We all know the story, but watching A Christmas Carol in a 3D computer-animated style really is quite fun. But: a little scary for very small people. Watch on Disney+
14. The Santa Clause
Cosy up on the couch with this classic kids Christmas movie featuring the lovable Tim Allen as he steps into the role of Santa Claus. The kids might just start thinking Dad’s turning into Santa, too! (Psst, if you can’t get enough of the movie, watch its sequel for more hilarity.) Watch on Disney+
15. The Nightmare Before Christmas
Of course, we can’t leave out Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town! This alternative, dark stop-motion animated musical film might be slightly less holly and jolly, but is definitely one of our favourite Christmas movies to watch with older kids. Psst, it’s good to save this in the bank for Halloween next year, too! Watch on Disney+
16. Klaus
This animated feature from Netflix was nominated for an Oscar, which says a lot about how good this movie is! A sort-of origin story of Santa Claus, AKA Klaus, a large, reclusive, bearded man living in Smeerensburg, an isolated island town. He also happens to be very skilled in making toys. With help from postal carrier Jesper, Klaus slowly grows into his role as the bearer of gifts for kids. This film will surely warm people’s hearts – yes, even the cold-hearted ones! Watch on Netflix
17. A Charlie Brown Christmas
While everyone’s all jolly and festive this Yuletide, Charlie Brown is down in the dumps (yes folks, seasonal depression is a real thing). To make him feel better, Lucy suggested that he put up a Christmas play… which, unfortunately, didn’t go well as she thought it would. Don’t worry though: this Xmas disaster manages to turn around into a Xmas delight. Watch on Apple TV+
18. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Is it even Christmas if you don’t watch this timeless classic at least once this season? This claymation movie tells the tale of Rudolph, who was ostracised by family and friends for being different. There’s a very good lesson to be learned at the end of this movie, but we won’t spoil it here. Gather the family together for this goodie! Watch on YouTube
Love this list of Christmas movies for kids? Check out these festive storybooks too!