50 of the Best Christmas Movies for Kids
Updated: Dec. 23, 2021Here comes Santa Claus (and friends) with these awesome kids' Christmas movies that are just right for all different ages.
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’Tis the season for the best kids’ Christmas movies
Jack Frost’s nipping at your nose and kids are amping up for Christmas. Plan one or several holiday-themed family movie nights to get everyone in the spirit. Snuggle up on the couch with the kiddos, serve some hot cocoa (extra marshmallows, please!), and screen a Christmas classic made just for the little ones for the sweetest Christmas tradition. Choose one of these family Christmas movies for a cozy Christmas activity in, or just have a marathon with all of them—we won’t judge! For even more movies, check out our list of the best Christmas movies of all time or funny Christmas movies to keep everyone laughing. If you’re looking for kid-centric entertainment, try our selections of kids’ Christmas movies on both Netflix and Disney Plus, as well as the best Christmas cartoons. You’re sure to have tiny tots with their eyes all aglow! Merry movie Christmas!
A Charlie Brown Christmas
A true joy for all ages, this is one of the most enduring kids’ Christmas movies, and it features a wonderful soundtrack, a heartwarming story, and the Peanuts gang. Keep it classic with these Christmas movie quotes that will take you back.
Best for: Kids age 3 and up. There could hardly be a more appropriate choice for any kid, but toddlers might nod off.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
The classic Dickens Christmas story gets a joyous Muppet-powered update that makes it one the best-of kids’ Christmas movies. It’s easy to stream along with these favorite Christmas movies on Amazon Prime.
Best for: Kids age 5 and up.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Nearly 60 years old, this is still one of the top kids’ Christmas movies because of its unique animation and musical score. Don’t be surprised if your kids are singing “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” until New Year’s. Give your kids extra holiday dreaming and streaming with the best Christmas movies on Hulu.
Best for: Kids age 4 and up.
The Polar Express
Based on the children’s Christmas book by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express easily makes our list of best kids’ Christmas movies with its magical journey to the North Pole.
Best for: Kids age 6 and up.
Elf
Will Ferrell plays Buddy the Elf in this hysterical kids’ Christmas movie about a human raised at the North Pole by elves. Make it a fun family evening with the best Christmas games everyone enjoys.
Best for: Kids age 7 and up.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Christmas aesthetics merge with shadow in this delightful, ever-watchable animated yarn about a Pumpkin King determined to take over for Santa in what is also one of the best Halloween movies for kids.
Best for: Kids age 8 and up.
Home Alone
The slapstick Christmas blockbuster is a ton of fun as a youngster forgotten by his family fends off holiday burglars.
Best for: Kids age 7 and up.
White Christmas
Wow kiddos with this technicolor Hollywood spectacle featuring over-the-top costumes, dance numbers, and classic Christmas songs. “White Christmas” tops the list of the best Christmas songs ever—is your favorite on the list?
Best for: Kids age 10 and up.
Rise of the Guardians
A rare treat, this Christmas movie is best for kids who’d rather imagine Santa battling dark forces alongside the Easter Bunny than nibbling cookies and milk. Check out these stocking stuffers for toddlers your little ones will absolutely love.
Best for: Kids age 7 and up.
Christmas with the Joker
Here’s an animated Christmas short for the tiny superhero in your life, starring Batman himself. Episode 2 of Batman: The Animated Series focuses on Christmas.
Best for: Kids age 7 and up.
Alone for Christmas
This cute adventure plays off the Home Alone premise, but this time it’s a pooch left alone to battle present-stealing burglars.
Best for: Kids age 5 and up.
A Christmas Tree Miracle
In one of our favorite family Christmas movies, parents of three school-age kids face challenges and might lose it all—until a Christmas tree farm brings them back together in this heartwarming story of hope.
Best for: Kids age 8 and up.
Christmas Oranges
Set in the early 1900s, this heartfelt story follows a young girl who loses everyone she knows and finds herself in a harsh orphanage run by a grumpy man who despises Christmas. Here are some old-timey photos to show you what Christmas looked like 100 years ago.
Best for: Kids age 6 and up.
A Magic Christmas
A family embarks on a holiday vacation to a wilderness cabin. The dad’s childhood friend shows up and they find a treasure map to a magical Christmas tree from years before.
Best for: Kids age 7 and up.
Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas
Your favorite adorable monkey, the beloved book character, is here with the Man in the Yellow Hat for Christmas adventures.
Best for: Kids age 3 and up.
Mrs. Miracle
Two youngsters keep scaring away nannies, but then Mrs. Miracle arrives right at Christmas and offers unexpected help to their widowed dad. If you love Hallmark Christmas movies, this is one of the most beloved of them all.
Best for: Kids age 6 and up.
The Princess Switch
Vanessa Hudgens plays two women who look exactly alike—one’s a princess-to-be and the other’s a regular person. Naturally, they switch places over the holidays. Keep your holiday swoon moments going with these best romantic Christmas movies.
Best for: Kids age 7 and up.
Holiday Rush
When a widower loses his job over the holidays, he has to convince his kids that a move back into his childhood home is the best thing. It’s a heartfelt Christmas comedy filled with lessons about what really matters. This one’s ready to stream along with our other favorite Christmas movies on Netflix.
Best for: Kids age 8 and up.
48 Christmas Wishes
Elves try to pass as real human kids in order to save Christmas in this adorable feel-good comedy. If your kids are precocious smartypants, challenge them with these Christmas riddles that are fun to figure out.
Best for: Kids age 6 and up.
A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish
Teens at work at a Christmas theme park find themselves falling for each other in this heartwarming rom-com that’s perfect for every Christmas mood. If you love feel-good, heartfelt stories, here are the best Christmas movies on Lifetime.
Best for: Kids age 8 and up.
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
This classic animated special brings together Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and the gang to celebrate the magic of the season.
Best for: Kids age 3 and up.
Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
This sequel to the early classic cartoon reunites the Disney pals for more Christmas fun. We also recommend the 1952 short cartoon Pluto’s Christmas Tree for extra holiday delight.
Best for: Kids age 3 and up.
Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas
Fans of the Ice Age crew love this sweet and funny Christmas special that finds Sid and his buddies traveling to the North Pole to see Santa.
Best for: Kids age 6 and up.
Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
Indulge in nostalgia when you watch this sweet Christmas special from 1976 where Frosty gets a mate, but Jack Frost gets in the way. If you’re hosting this year, here are some awesome Christmas party themes you haven’t thought of yet.
Best for: Kids age 6 and up.
Prancer
Sam Elliott plays a single dad whose daughter believes she’s found one of Santa’s reindeer in this sweetly classic dramedy that’s effortlessly sentimental. Awwww. Here are some Christmas quotes that will touch your heart.
Best for: Kids age 6 and up.
Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July
This is an homage to the classic stop-motion animation TV Christmas specials from the 1960s and 1970s. The retro watchable style is back in this 2016 production that pits the evil Winterbolt against a magic queen who enlists Rudolph and pals for help.
Best for: Kids age 4 and up.
Santa Buddies
Kids love the Buddies movie series with talking golden retrievers. The adorable puppies are dressed up in cheer and ready to save Christmas in this romp that mesmerizes little ones. Get some more Christmas cuteness with these adorable pics of animals dressed up for the holidays.
Best for: Kids age 4 and up.
Arthur Christmas
Stunning CGI animation delights in this comedy-adventure about the technological elf system that makes Christmas gifting happen—but then a glitch makes them miss one kid.
Best for: Kids age 6 and up.
The Christmas Chronicles
Kurt Russell steals the show as the ultimate Santa Claus for cool kids in this dashing comedy that steals everyone’s heart.
Best for: Kids age 8 and up.
The Christmas Chronicles 2
Return to the magic with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, this time up against naughty elves who have it out for Christmas. Impress your kids with these holiday-themed jokes.
Best for: Kids age 8 and up.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Settle in for this magical, beautiful tale about the granddaughter of a toymaker whose best invention is under threat. Stunning dance numbers and glorious costumes fill the screen with wonder.
Best for: Kids age 8 and up.
Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas
This film follows a lost lamb who is about to become someone’s Christmas present. The farm animals band together to help save him.
Best for: Kids of all ages.
Robin Robin
This little birdie, who has been raised by a family of mice, makes a heartwarming wish on a Christmas star to be a mouse too.
Best for: Kids of all ages.
A Boy Called Christmas
In this 2021 Christmas favorite, you’ll find young Nikolas embarking on a quest to Elfhelm, accompanied by a talking mouse, to find his father and seek hope for the kingdom. An all-star cast—Kristen Wiig, Maggie Smith, Jim Broadbent, and others—bring their acting chops to this magical fantasy filled with dazzling enchantment.
Best for: Kids age 8 and up.
8-Bit Christmas
Neil Patrick Harris stars as Jake, an adult who tells the story of his Christmas when he was 10 years old and all he wanted was a Nintendo Entertainment System.
Best for: Kids age 8 and up.
The Claus Family
Young Jules hates the holidays, but when his grandfather becomes sick, Jules learns of his legacy and that he is the one who has to save Christmas.
Best for: Kids age 7 and up.
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
Anna and Elsa come to the realization that their family doesn’t have any holiday traditions, so Olaf sets out on a quest to bring them some. Need a little homemade Christmas joy? Here’s some easy DIY decor that anyone can handle.
Best for: Kids of all ages.
David and the Elves
This Polish family film (dubbed in English) brings Christmas delight for little ones as one of Santa’s elves befriends a kid who misses his grandparents after his mom and dad relocate to the big city. The boy and elf head off on an adventure—but they better hurry, because the elf shrinks the longer he’s away from the North Pole.
Best for: Kids age 6 and up.
