This article may include affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you shop through them.
The best Christmas movies for kids are The Polar Express, Elf, Arthur Christmas, Klaus, The Grinch and Home Alone. For toddlers, start with A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman. Here are 30 Christmas movies for kids, sorted by age with the rating for each, so you can pick the right one for your family movie night.
Streaming availability changes every December, so we noted only the movies that are made by a streaming service. Many of the classic TV specials air on network TV in December too.
Classic Christmas Specials for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Short, sweet and safe for the littlest viewers. Most are under an hour.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965, TV special)
Charlie Brown looks for the true meaning of Christmas and picks the saddest little tree on the lot.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964, TV special)
The stop-motion classic with Hermey the elf, the Island of Misfit Toys and Burl Ives.
Frosty the Snowman (1969, TV special)
A magic hat brings Frosty to life. Just 25 minutes long.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966, TV special)
The original animated Grinch, narrated by Boris Karloff. Still the best version for little kids.
The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974, TV special)
Santa takes a year off, and the Heat Miser and Snow Miser steal the show.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983, G)
Scrooge McDuck in a 26-minute Christmas Carol. Perfect for a first Christmas movie.
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017, TV special)
Olaf goes looking for holiday traditions for Anna and Elsa.
Animated Christmas Movies for Kids
Full-length animated movies for kids about 4 and up.
The Polar Express (2004, G)
A boy takes a magical train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. A must for the whole family.
The Grinch (2018, PG)
Illumination’s colorful version of the Dr. Seuss story, with Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the Grinch.
Arthur Christmas (2011, PG)
Santa’s youngest son has to deliver one missed present before sunrise. Clever and funny for all ages.
Klaus (2019, PG)
A Netflix original about a postman and a toymaker that tells a new origin story for Santa. Gorgeous animation.
The Star (2017, PG)
The Nativity story told by a donkey and his animal friends.
That Christmas (2024, PG)
A Netflix animated movie about kids in a seaside town on a very snowy Christmas, written by Richard Curtis.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993, PG)
Jack Skellington discovers Christmas Town. Some scenes are spooky for kids under 6.
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009, PG)
Jim Carrey as Scrooge. Beautiful, but the ghosts are scary for young kids.
Live-Action Christmas Movies for Kids
The family movie-night classics, best for kids about 6 and up.
Elf (2003, PG)
Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised by elves who goes to New York to find his dad.
Home Alone (1990, PG)
Kevin defends the house from burglars after his family leaves him behind.
The Santa Clause (1994, PG)
Tim Allen accidentally becomes Santa. The start of a whole franchise.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992, G)
Michael Caine and the Muppets. Funny, musical and a great introduction to Dickens.
Miracle on 34th Street (1994, PG)
The remake with Mara Wilson, about a girl who learns to believe in Santa.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020, PG)
A Netflix musical about a toymaker and his granddaughter, with dazzling costumes and songs.
The Christmas Chronicles (2018, TV-PG)
Kurt Russell plays a cool, funny Santa who teams up with two siblings on Christmas Eve. On Netflix.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024, PG)
The beloved book comes to life as the rowdiest kids in town take over the church Christmas pageant.
Noelle (2019, PG)
Anna Kendrick as Santa’s daughter, who has to find her brother and save Christmas. On Disney+.
Jingle All the Way (1996, PG)
Arnold Schwarzenegger chases down the hottest toy of the year on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Movies for Tweens and Older Kids
A little more grown-up, but still family-friendly.
A Christmas Story (1983, PG)
Ralphie just wants a Red Ryder BB gun. Some language, but a family tradition for many.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, PG)
George Bailey sees what life would be like if he had never been born. Best for kids 10 and up.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, PG-13)
Clark Griswold’s quest for the perfect family Christmas. Some language and innuendo, so best for teens.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, PG)
Kevin ends up alone in New York at Christmas. Just as fun as the first.
Spirited (2022, PG-13)
Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds in a musical take on A Christmas Carol. On Apple TV+.
What Is the Best Christmas Movie for a 5-Year-Old?
The Polar Express, Arthur Christmas and The Grinch (2018) are great for 5-year-olds. They’re full-length movies with very little that’s scary. For a shorter option, the 1966 How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is just 26 minutes.
More Christmas Movie Lists
See all 47 Disney Christmas movies, the nostalgic Disney Christmas movies from the ’90s and 2000s, and our Spanish-language holiday movies and shows. Make it a night with matching family pajamas and an Elf on the Shelf movie-night setup.