I’m usually one for screen time limits, but during Christmas I practically force-feed my kids Christmas movies and shows so we can fit it all in and not miss a single favorite. Normally, we start watching them right after Thanksgiving, so we only have a few short weeks to cram them all in. This year, we started November 1, and I LOVE IT. I don’t feel so frantic. Ha!
Anyone that knows me knows that the only movies I can quote are Christmas movies. I quote them all year round and somehow always find a time and place to use them.
Here’s our ultimate Christmas movie list for kids and adults. I will say, we watch FAR more than this list every year – I just search “Christmas” on every single streaming service we have and we work down the list – but these are the ones that we go back to year after year!
You have t-minus 30 days to watch them all – so get started!
You can check out some of my favorite Hallmark movies here! And be sure to bookmark my Ultimate Halloween Movie List and my Thanksgiving List for next year too!
Elf
This is the first movie Ryan and I turn on after Thanksgiving. We always seem to watch the first half and never finish the second though! My younger kids love it, but they tend to lose interest after he leaves the north poll. Asher has gained a true appreciation for the full film, like his parents!
Where to watch: Hulu, Sling TV, Amazon Prime, Youtube, Apple TV
Our rating: 4+
Charlie Brown Christmas
This is a true classic, obviously. I do cringe at how rude the kids are to Charlie Brown, and have to tell my kids constantly every year that we treat people with more respect, but I will always love this film. I also love that Linus quotes Luke 2 and that we can discuss the story of Christmas afterwards.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, PBS kids, Apple TV
Our rating: 2+ (though we have to constantly tell our kids to be more respectful to their friends!)
Curious George Christmas
I adore this movie. When Asher was little, he’d ask to watch it practically every morning. I know every word and every song!
Christmas in the lobby, always organized and neat…are you ready? For Christmas day to come. Sing it with me. Or if you’re a monkey, hum.”
Where to watch: Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, AppleTV
Our rating: 1+
Babes in Toyland
I grew up watching this version of Babes in Toyland so it’s nostalgic for me. My kids think it’s a little weird!
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, Disney+, Youtube
Our rating: 6+
Home Alone 1&2
Favorite, favorite. I can practically recite every word. I’m not a fan of #3 and beyond, but the first 2 are ultimate classics! We showed these to Asher much later than Easton (big brother problems), but E loved them at age 4. At that age, most of the disrespectfulness and a few minor swear words went over his head. We have to tell him while we watch it now that we don’t repeat those things and that we treat our parents and siblings with much more respect! 🙂
Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Fandango, Hulu
Our rating:
Home Alone – 6+ (Again with having to remind our kids that we are more respectful to our parents and family than Kevin is!)
Home Alone 2 – 5+ ( a little darker and scarier, but this one is a little better in the disrespectful department!)
Santa Claus 1&2
I adore these movies and so do my kids. Molly Shannon in the second one is one of my favorite scenes of all times. A little secret that all may not agree with – I’m not a fan of the 3rd one! My kids like it, but I don’t!
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, Disney+, Netflix
Our rating: 3+
I think they’re fine for 3+ though I’ve found they don’t hold my kid’s attention as well until after 5+
The Grinch
I almost love this new Illumination version of the classic Dr. Seuss story more than the original! I’m not a fan of the live action version and never thought the original could have a contender, but this one is!
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Youtube
Our rating: 2+
The Nutcracker
I danced in the nutcracker every year from 5-14 years of age. I remember seeing this version of it with MaCaulay Culkin from the 90’s when I was a little girl and have loved it ever since. And so do my kids. I was actually surprised that Kezia watched the entire thing this year (age 3). And was in near tears that she went and put her ballet outfit and shoes on and danced with the dancers throughout the entire thing. Clear some furniture in your family room if you have little dancers like me!
Where to watch : Amazon Prime or Apple TV
Our rating: 2+
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
We watched this every year when it would come on TV and my mom would always record it on a VHS. I have no idea what the whos actually sing around the Christmas tree, but I sing along! Ba Who Doraze!
Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Youtube, AppleTV
Our rating: 3+
Mickey’s Magical Christmas – snowed in at home (has most of the classic Mickey Christmas shorts!!)
If you’re a fan of all of the old Mickey Christmas classics from the 50’s – like Pluto’s Christmas Tree where Chip and Dale come in to Mickey’s house in their newly cut Christmas Tree, you can watch a lot of them in this Disney Christmas Special!
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, Vudu, AppleTV
Our rating: 2+
Jingle Jangle
This new Netflix movie was an immediate classic in our books. I adore musicals and feel like they were a lost art (until the Greatest Showman!), so as soon as I saw that this one had music and group choreographed numbers, I had to give it a try. My entire family loved it, and it will be our new tradition to watch it outside on the projector under heat lamps and blankets on Thanksgiving night like we did this year!
Where to watch: Netflix
Our rating: 3+
Christmas Chronicles
We haven’t had a chance to watch #2 yet this year, but my boys love the first one! Plus my good friend Kim is in it, so they think that’s pretty fun. There’s some language, so if you have young ones, you may want to watch first. But the story is fun and the imagery is so vivid. It’s such a fun update to the classic Santa story. Also – my kids now want to try to spy on and trap Santa.
Where to watch: Netflix
Our rating: 5+
White Christmas
Well you know from following me on social media that I could watch this a billion times in a year and never tire of it. It’s simply the best Christmas movie of all time. The music, the choreography, the sets. It’s just beautiful and such a classic.
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Youtube, Vudu
Our rating: 2+ (though my kids usually don’t join in until after the initial war scenes)
Flinstones Christmas
We watched this annually as kids, so I was so excited to find it to show my kids!
Where to watch: HBO Max, Amazon Prime
Our rating: 2+
Frosty the snowman
Always a classic. My little ones never like the mean magician, but they love watching Frosty come to life and play with the kids!
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, AppleTV
Our rating: 2+
Mickey’s once upon a Christmas 1&2
This collection of 2 Mickey cartoons are a favorite in this house. All of your favorite Disney pals are there – Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, and more! And now with Disney+, they’re even easier to watch!
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, Disney+, AppleTV, Youtube, Vudu
Our rating: 2+
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
I also grew up watching this every year. It’s such a sweet way to introduce young kids to the classic Dickens story. The scene of Scrooge McDuck watching Daisy, as Belle, dancing to the festive music has always been a memory for me!
Where to watch: Disney+, AppleTV, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Youtube
Our rating: 4+ (3 if we fast forward the cemetery scene)
Pluto’s Christmas Tree
This is the one I mentioned above. When I see Chip in the Santa outfit, dressed as a candle, blow out his own candle on his head, it takes me right back to being 3 and watching it with my siblings! This is on Disney+ solo, but you can also watch it as part of that compilation I mentioned above!
Where to watch: Disney+
Our rating: 2+
Prep and Landing
These little shorts are my spy-loving Easton’s favorite! They’re such a fun spin on the classic Santa’s elves story.
Where to watch: Disney+, AppleTV, Vudu, Amazon Prime, Youtube,
Our rating: 3+
The Polar Express
I’m going to say something that may not be the popular opinion – I’m not a huge fan of this movie! I love the train scene with the hot chocolate and dancing, and the music and scenery is so pretty, but the rest of it is a little intense for my liking. I give this one a little higher age rating than normal because I find that my younger kids only sit for 10-15 minutes of it and then lose interest. I do like watching it with just Asher.
Where to watch: Youtube, AppleTV, Vudu, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Fandango
Our rating: 6+
Elf on the shelf
We actually used to “have” an elf but he doesn’t visit anymore. We told Santa that we could report on our own. Best decision we’ve ever made! Ha! I won’t go into detail in case little eyes are viewing this. But my kids still love this movie, and all of the sequels that are available on Netflix.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, Netflix
Our rating: 2+
All I want for Christmas
I’m not sure if anyone else besides my siblings and I watched this movie growing up, but we did every single year and I still remember every scene. I loved it so much (or maybe I loved Ethan so much), I wanted to name my first son Ethan! Snowball, snowball!
Where to watch: Sling TV, Amazon Prime, Youtube, Netflix
Our rating: 8+
Jingle All the Way
I’m not sure this movie stands up to the time since it came out, but I still love it. My boys think it’s pretty funny too.
Where to watch: Youtube, Vudu, Amazon Prime, Hulu
Our rating: 5+
The Preacher’s Wife
Whitney. The soundtrack. The story. Love this one!!
Where to watch: Hulu, AppleTV, Amazon Prime, Youtube, Vudu, Netflix
Our rating: 9+
Beauty and The Beast Enchanted Christmas
My favorite scene of Beauty and the Beast as a kid was when Belle wore that pretty hooded red robe and pink dress and they played in the snow. So this extension of that quickly became a favorite as a kid, and now my kids love it too!
Where to watch: Disney+, AppleTV, Youtube, Vudu, Amazon Prime
Our rating: 4+
Miracle on 34th Street
I actually love the classic 40’s version of this movie, but my kids prefer this one – and I love it too. Because Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda, duh! Such a sweet story, and the little girl is adorable as usual.
Where to watch: AppleTV, Youtube, Vudu, Amazon Prime, Disney+
Our rating: 6+
Christmas Story
I feel like you either love or hate this movie. Or you either have never seen it, or grew up watching the 24hr marathon of it on TBS every year. That was us. It was always on in the background on repeat on Christmas Eve as kids, so it’s nostalgic and a must-watch for me. We just showed it to Asher for the first time last year and he thought it was so-so!
Where to watch: Hulu, Sling TV, Youtube, AppleTV, Vudu
Our rating: 9+
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
This movie was one tradition that both mine and Ryan’s family had in common. We can’t go through a Christmas season without at least watching it twice. And quoting it the whole season through! We have yet to show our kids it, though I’m sure most of the inappropriate parts would go over their heads, but I can’t wait until they can join in on the tradition.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, Youtube, AppleTV
Our Rating: 11+
Meet Me in St. Louis
This movie takes place over the course of an entire year, so it’s not entirely a holiday film. I watched it at my Grandma’s house growing up every year. But I couldn’t exclude the movie that gave us the song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” could I?!
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, Youtube, AppleTV, Vudu
Our rating: 5+
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
We love this cute little short movie of Olaf trying to find new Christmas traditions! And the music is super fun as usual.
Where to watch: Disney+, Youtube, Vudu, Amazon Prime
Our rating: 3+
Christmas in the Smokies
You guys know my unapologetic love for cheesy Christmas movies! See my entire Hallmark movie list from last year if you’re on board with the predictable, cheesy, but delightful Christmas movies. This one is set in the Smokey mountains and I love it. I don’t often watch them multiple times, one is usually enough, but I put this one on in the background when I’m baking.
Where to watch: Netflix, Vudu, Apple TV, Vudu
Our rating: 10+
Angela’s Christmas
This is such a sweet story of a little girl in a struggling family who is trying to keep everyone safe and cared for during Christmas.
Where to watch: Netflix, Youtube, Amazon Prime
Our rating: 4+
The Star
A spin on the classic Christmas story of Jesus’s birth, and has such a fun cast Kristin Chenoweth, Keegan-Michael Key, Kelly Clarkson, Anthony Anderson and sooo many more, and really great music!
Where to watch: Hulu, Sling TV, Vudu, Amazon Prime, Youtube
Our Rating: 4+
Shows and Shorts
The Snowman
The music and imagery in this short film are just beautiful!
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, Netflix
Our rating: 2+
Rudolph
Fun fact about Ryan – he hates these claymation classics. So I watch them once with the kids and then we’re done for the year!
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Our rating: 4+
You can bet we’ll also be watching every single Christmas or holiday themed episode and short-film in the newly released Happy Holidays Collection on Disney+ too! Disney original movies, live action, animated classics and new films, and every episode of Disney Channel shows and Disney Junior shows available.
There’s holiday themed episodes of all of our favorites: Phineus and Ferb, Doc McStuffins, Elena Of Avalor, Fancy Nancy, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and so many more.
Adult Movies
The Holiday
Believe it or not, I’m not a fan of Love Actually. But the Holiday – I love! It’s not super Christmasy, but all the snow and being set around the holidays makes it a must-watch for me. I usually don’t end up watching it every year – more like every other, but it’s still a favorite classic romantic-comedy for me!
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, Youtube, Apple TV, Netflix
Our rating: 13+
The Family Stone
Gah, this movie is a gut-wrencher, but I love it. The cast is so great, and the story of family is heart-warming.
Where to watch: Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Youtube, Vudu, Netflix
Our rating: 18+
While You Were Sleeping
I wouldn’t exactly call this a Christmas movie, though it is set over Christmastime. You know my love for a good rom-com, so I take the opportunity to rewatch this one every year! Serendipity too!
Where to watch: Disney+, AppleTV, Amazon Prime, Youtube, Vudu, Netflix, Hulu
Our rating: 16+
Just Friends
This one’s definitely for the adults, but we think it’s hilarious! Rotten Tomatoes begs to differ with a 2-star rating, but Ryan Reynolds is hysterical in it, and it’s one of those movies where you just keep laughing but also want to make all of the awkwardness stop! Haha!
Where to watch: Youtube, AppleTV, Vudu, Amazon Prime, Netflix
Our rating: 16+
Next year I’m going to have a ton more to add to my Hallmark List and my Netflix list! So far this year on Netflix alone I’ve watched:
Midnight at magnolia
Operation Christmas Drop
All 3 A Christmas Prince
All 3 Switched at Christmas
Christmas in the Smokies
A Country Christmas
The Holiday Calendar
The Knight Before Christmas
Christmas Inheritance
Bad Moms Christmas (don’t judge me- its hilarious)
A Princess For Christmas
Now it’s time to catch up on Hallmark!
11/30/20
Ultimate Christmas Movie List for Kids and Adults!
So so so many good ones on that kids list!!! The snowman is a personal fave. BUT you have to check out Klaus on Netflix! Such a winner winner!!! So cute. Major funny moments and a seriously huge message about kindness. (Tear jerker ending…of course.) It’s about a myth that inspired the Santa Klaus we know and love. Seriously adorable. Instant family fave over here.
Also, The Small One on Disney Plus! This (along with The Snowman are two faves from when I was little!!! =]
SECOND THIS! Klaus is SO GOOD
Klaus is so good! It was nominated for an Oscar for best animated film and won the equivalent at the BAFTAs. Love it and watch it every year!
Love actually! For adults
Great list!
I’m not a fan of the polar express or Love Actualky either. But agree with so many more! The Holiday, the Home Alone & Santa Claus movies (minus the 3rd ones). Great list!!
Thank you!!
I always enjoyed the sequel to frosty, called frostys winter wonderland and can be found on YouTube. He gets married to crystal in this one (if your watching one with aerosol snow you’ve found the wrong one!)
We totally watched All I Want for Christmas!!! My family loved it and watched it every year. Such a sweet, sweet movie, and funny too.
Just the best list ever! I loved All I want for Christmas! Ethan, be still my heart!
Fred Claus is a fun one too!
One amazing kids Christmas movie you’re missing is Klaus! On Netflix :). It is so well done and has become a new favorite.
Thank you!
Emmett Otter’s Jug-band Christmas, based on O’Henry story, Gift of the Magi, on Netflix. A fav!
Such a strong list. Might I add to it:
Get Santa – For me this is a new Christmas classic. British. Beautiful accents and farting reindeers. Kid’s love farting reindeer.
Love Actually – Again British. This is adult only, but how can you not have this one?
It’s a Wonderful Life – The BEST
Sleepless in Seattle – come on man!
And one I just found for adults – Last Christmas – Can’t give too much away, but wowser!!
Thank you for the additions!
Yes! Great movies! I was actually also coming to recommend Klaus on Netflix. It is so good.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you too!
My sister’s and my favorite Christmas movie when we were kids was Yogi Bear’s First Christmas. When we went away to college my mom even taped it so we could watch over break. It’s not on often and can be hard to find but to us it’s a classic. If you ever get the chance you can see if it holds up for the kids.
Such a good list! I totally agree with your selections and, like Ryan, am not a fan of the claymation ones. Haha. They always creeped me out as a kid! If you guys haven’t watched Daddy’s Home 2, I’d recommend it. As a parent, I find it funny; it’s definitely a grown up one. Christmas with the Kranks is also fun. For young kids, we love the Snowy Day retelling on Amazon Prime; it’s based on the book but set on Christmas Eve. The follow-up to Angela’s Christmas is cute too, but those sweet stories always make me tear up. Haha.
The Muppet Christmas Carol is a really good one that I don’t see on this list! It stars Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. It was my fave Christmas movie as a kid, and now my kiddos love it too. Just wanted to suggest this one for your list. Happy holidays 🙂
Happy Holidays!!
Hi! What about Four Christmases (adult) and I’ll be home for Christmas?
Just wondering if you’ve seen those? I love them! I’ll be home for Christmas is a cheesy older movie with Jonathan Taylor Thomas but it’s
Super cute And funny! I love cheesy movies though!
Hopefully you can check them out!
I’m so happy you included While You Were Sleeping! Our family adores that movie and it’s free on Disney+. So many great ones on your list. Merry Christmas 🎄🎁
Hi Danielle,
This is such an amazing list ! Thanks for putting this together and I’m so surprised (and happy) to see that The White Christmas is your favorite movie! I love love love that movie and cannot get enough of it !
Little confused with your ratings …. the lower house the number of rating , the better or vice versa?
Home for Christmas , Jessica Biel is another Christmasy/funny and silly movie for adults
P.S: I enjoyed your virtual Christmas party, signed up for your cooking course and just received your sweatshirts order !!! I’ve met you twice in NYC during celebrations and eat what you love book your . Love all your work! Thanks
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your sweet family !
Hi thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed it ❤️ The rating for what ages we think are appropriate for that movie!
Great, thanks a lot !
This is a great list! We’re checking out some new movies this year based on your recommendations. 🙂
We also love Christmas with the Kranks (adult list) and Noelle (on Disney +). If you haven’t seen Noelle, I highly recommend you watch it! I’d put it on the kids list but probably for older kids.
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Very good article. I am dealing with a few of these issues as well..
Love these!!have you seen Snowy Day? Amazon prime, I’m pretty sure. It’s such a sweet one!
I watch All I want for Christmas every year since it came out. Love that one.
This is such an epic and wonderful list!! My kiddos and I are working through it and loving some of these gems. Thank you for compiling!
Oooh, so good!!! We discovered two classics you might like as a movie buff! I’m not a big fan of older movies always, but these are SO good and now have become staples! Definitely check them out!! I bet your kids would like them too! They have fun plots!
Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)
Netflix find a few years back:
12 Dates of Christmas
Love your list! Appreciate your comments on respect for others! Being a grandmother I grew up with White Christmas, Frosty- Grandkids love many you posted. Thank you! Merry Christmas
Love The Holiday! So glad to see it on your list! Now I have to watch Just Friends – how can you go wrong with Ryan Reynolds? Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!