It’s Christmas time, the kids are getting very, very, very excited and yet there’s still a way to go before Santa arrives. The solution? Distract the little ones with a holiday movie or two.
There are plenty of Christmas movies to choose from, but which films would be good for the youngest members of the family? In this post, I am offering up some suggestions.
Below is a list of 25 Christmas movies perfect for kids. These films offer fun and entertainment for all the family, but especially for the youngsters.
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Arthur Christmas (2011)
Produced by Aardman Animations and Sony Pictures Animation, Arthur Christmas is a 3D animated picture featuring the vocal talents of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie and Jim Broadbent. The film tells the tale of Arthur, the son of Father Christmas, and his mission to save the big day!
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Jingle All the Way (1996)
Arnold Schwarzenegger switches action for comedy in a festive treat about a man desperate to buy the No.1 toy for his son’s Christmas present. The problem? The toy is so popular, it is difficult to get hold of in Jingle All the Way – a laugh-filled Christmas movie.
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Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Jim Carrey takes on the role of the miserly Grinch in this live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ children story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Ron Howard directs, while Carrey brings the laughs.
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I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1998)
In this Disney movie, Jonathan Taylor Thomas plays a college student travelling from his campus to his family home in time for Christmas. Jessica Biel and Gary Cole star, while Arlene Sanford directs.
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Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
In this animated movie, Mickey and his pals dive into some holiday-themed fun for all the family to enjoy. The movie is split into three different segments, with Mickey taking centre stage, and Donald Duck, and Goofy becoming the focus of the other two stories.
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Elf (2003)
Since making its debut in 2003, Elf has become one of the best-loved Christmas movies thanks to a fantastic turn from Will Ferrell as Buddy the elf. The film sees Buddy embark on a quest to find his biological father, in this heart-warming and hilarious tale from director Jon Favreau.
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Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
Ernest P. Worrell – the main character in the popular series of Ernest movies – pops up in a movie where Ernest needs to… erm… save Christmas! The late Jim Varney provides both the heart, and the laughs.
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The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas (2012)
An animated adventure featuring Dr. Seuss’ famous character, the Cat in the Hat. Martin Short voices the eponymous cat, while Tony Collingwood and Steve Neilson direct.
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Home Alone (1990)
Macaulay Culkin takes on the role of Kevin McCallister in this hilarious family movie about a young boy left home alone. Arguably one of the best Christmas movies of all-time, the film is filled with slapstick comedy and memorable scenes.
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Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Macaulay Culkin reprises his iconic role for this sequel, which this time sees Kevin lost in the Big Apple. More slapstick, more comedy, and more fun.
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The Snowman (1982)
Based on the picture book of the same name by Raymond Briggs, the BAFTA Award-winning The Snowman is a delightful animated short, which has become a firm family favourite in the UK, ever since it made its debut. Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, the mini-movie tells the story of a young boy who befriends a snowman, and is perfect viewing before bedtime.
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Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
A remake of the 1947 Miracle (see above), this ‘90s update retains the film’s charm and injects an extra bit of magic via Richard Attenborough, who takes on the role of the department store Santa. Still just as good (if not better), Miracle on 34th Street is a must-watch every Christmas.
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Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
Regarded as a cult classic, Santa Claus: The Movie tells the origins of the big man himself, while also focuses on the story of Patch, one of Santa’s Elves. The cast includes Dudley Moore, John Lithgow, and Burgess Meredith.
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The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
The Muppets serve up another reworking of A Christmas Carol, with Kermit as Bob Crachit and Gonzo narrating the story as Charles Dickens. Michael Caine plays Ebenezer Scrooge, while Brian Henson directs.
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Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish (1998)
In this Christmas-themed movie, Richie embarks on an adventure in an alternate world in which he was never born. Inspired by the classic movie, It’s A Wonderful Life, the film is fun for all the family.
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Nativity! (2009)
A small-scale story about a primary school teacher’s little white lie, which escalates into a much larger problem. This British comedy stars Martin Freeman, Marc Wootton, and Pam Ferris.
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Frozen (2013)
Disney’s classic tale about two sisters and their friends of Arendelle, is ideal family viewing during any season, but especially when it’s getting cold outside. Not a Christmas movie as such, but certainly a winter favourite perfect for this time of year.
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Santa Buddies (2009)
In this spin-off from the Air Buddies film series, a pup named Paws causes mischief at Santa’s workshop and family-friendly drama ensues. Fun for the little ones in the household.
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The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
In The Christmas Chronicles, two children accidentally ruin Christmas, then have to work with Santa to put things right, in this family adventure film from director Clay Kaytis. Kurt Russell plays Santa, with Darby Camp and Judah Lewis as the two children.
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The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020)
Chris Columbus takes over directing duties with this follow-up to The Christmas Chronicles. The core cast reprise their roles for more family fantasy fun.
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The Grinch (2018)
An animated take on the Dr. Seuss classic, with a voice cast that includes Rashida Jones, Angela Lansbury, Pharrell Williams, and Kenan Thompson. Benedict Cumberbatch plays the role of the Grinch.
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The Santa Clause (1994)
Tim Allen dons the famous red suit to become Santa, after he accidentally kills the real Santa. From here, Allen has to cope with the weight gain and the onset of white hair, to become the person the world needs to fulfil ‘The Santa Clause’.
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The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
In this stop-motion animated musical, the King of Halloween Town, Jack Skellington, discovers the wonderful world of Christmas Town. Henry Selick directs, while the voice cast includes Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, and Paul Reubens.
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Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas features all of the characters from 1991’s Beauty and the Beast, but serves up a whole new collection of Christmas-themed songs.
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The Polar Express (2004)
And finally, based on the children’s book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express tells the story of a young boy who embarks on a train trip to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the movie utilises computer animation to tell the story.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this post about Christmas movies for kids – I hope it proves useful. For more useful posts, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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- How many Nativity movies are there?
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