25 Must-See Christmas Movies For Kids

Year: 1999

Rating: NR

Age your child will enjoy it: 3+

What it's about: This adorable Christmas movie features three different stories: "Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas", "A Very Goofy Christmas", and "Mickey and Minnie's Gift of Magi." The beloved Disney gang celebrating the magic of Christmas will surely get your kiddo in the holiday spirit.

Year: 1965

Rating: TV-G

Age your child will enjoy it: 3+

What it's about: Charlie Brown feels dejected at the commercialization of the holidays as he tries to find the meaning of Christmas while looking for a tree for the Christmas play with the rest of the Peanuts gang.

Year: 1998

Rating: G

Age your child will enjoy it: 3+

What it's about: Everyone's favorite red-nosed reindeer has to take a heroic stand against the evil Ice Queen in order to save Christmas.

Year: 1969

Rating: TV-G

Age your child will enjoy it: 3+

What it's about: Frosty, a snowman brought to life by a magician's hat, and the children that built him embark on a journey to the North Pole to prevent Frosty from melting completely. Good luck getting those catchy songs out of your head.

Year: 2004

Rating: G

Age your child will enjoy it: 5+

What it's about: Based on the cherished children's book by Chris Van Allsburg, "The Polar Express" is a timeless Christmas story about a boy who doubts in the existence of Santa Claus. After boarding the magical train to the North Pole, he meets unforgettable characters and learns meaningful lessons along the way.

Year: 1994

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 6+

What to look out for: In "The Santa Clause", single dad and toy salesman, Scott, accidentally startles Santa on his roof, causing him to slip and fall. After he is magically recruited to complete Santa's duties for the next holiday season, Scott is skeptical and believes it was a dream until unexplainable things start happening to him.

Year: 2003

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 6+

What it's about: This beloved comedy stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a clueless human raised amongst elves who travels to New York to find his biological father. The hilarious Christmas shenanigans Buddy gets up to will have the entire family quoting the movie all season long.

Year: 1974

Rating: NR

Age your child will enjoy it: 6+

What it's about: After Santa Claus decides to take a vacation instead of delivering gifts, villains Heat Miser and Snow Miser try to stop elves Jingle and Jangle from finding proof that people still believe in Santa.

Year: 1990

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 7+

What it's about: In this classic 90s movie, eight-year-old Kevin becomes the man of the house as he defends his home from burglars with traps after he was (accidentally) left behind by his family during Christmas vacation.

Year: 1947

Rating: Approved

Age your child will enjoy it: 6+

What it's about: Kris Kringle is hired as a Santa Claus for a Macy's store but after claiming he's the real Santa, he's declared crazy and put on trial.

Year: 2018

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 4+

What it's about: The cynical grump we all know and love gets an animated makeover in this holiday comedy where he decides to pose as Santa Claus in order to steal Christmas.

Year: 2020

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 6+

What it's about: This Christmas musical tells the story of a jaded toymaker and his granddaughter who helps him get back the inventions that rightfully belong to him from the apprentice that betrayed him.

Year: 2020

Rating: TV-G

Age your child will enjoy it: 4+

What it's about: The "Star Wars" gang reunites in this LEGO holiday special to celebrate Life Day. As Rey sets off to learn more about the Force, she's hurled into a deeper, cross-timeline adventure, without certainty she'll make it back in time for the festivities.

Year: 2019

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 3+

What it's about: This delightful animated story tells the tale of Jesper, a desperate postman who befriends a lonesome toymaker named Klaus.

Year: 2017

Rating: TV-PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 3+

What it's about: Olaf sets out on a mission to find holiday traditions and restore Anna and Elsa's Christmas festivities.

Year: 2021

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 5+

What it's about: Nikolas is a young boy in search of his father, accompanied by his pet mouse and a reindeer. Throughout his journey he encounters magic and mischief, and inevitably meets his destiny of becoming Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus.

Year: 2000

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 7+

What it's about: This is another classic Christmas tale based on the beloved children's tale by Dr. Seuss where the Grinch decides to ruin Christmas for the entire town of Whoville, but not before Cindy Lou Who decides to make things right.

Year: 1996

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 7+

What it's about: Arnold Schwarzenegger is a real character in this movie as he stars as Howard, a workaholic dad who is incredibly determined to find a sold-out action figure for his son.

Year: 2004

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 9+

What it's about: Empty nesters Nora and Luther Krank decide to skip Christmas and go on an island cruise, but their decision causes an uproar in the neighborhood. After their daughter announces a surprise visit, the Kranks only have twelve hours to perform a Christmas miracle and pull together a celebration.

Year: 1946

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 9+

What to look out for: The story begins because George is considering killing himself. (This is a huge but, arguably important, concept to bring up with kids; so watch with care.) But a guardian angel shows him what life would've been like if he had never existed and George realizes how loved and needed he really is.

Year: 1992

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 7+

What it's about: One year after the events of the first movie, Kevin is stranded in New York City after boarding the wrong flight and soon discovers the same criminals from last year are on the loose.

Year: 1998

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 8+

What it's about: Jack Frost comes back to life as a snowman a year after his death and tries to make up for lost time with his son. We're still not over Michael Keaton's car crash over 20 years later, and your kid may never be either. That, and the fact that even though he eventually puts things right with Charlie (as a snowman), he is still dead in the end. As he disappears (but not before appearing as Michael Keaton once more) the camera pans and he whispers "I will always hear you" over dramatic music — it's devastating, but so worth the heartbreak.

Year: 2009

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 9+

What it's about: Charles Dickens's classic tale is essentially a ghost story, and this adaptation features a few very creepy spirits who take him on a journey of self-redemption.

Year: 1983

Rating: PG

Age your child will enjoy it: 9+

What it's about: Set in the 1940s before Christmas break, nine-year-old Ralphie sets out to convince his family that a BB gun is the perfect Christmas gift for a boy his age.

Year: 1989

Rating: PG-13

Age your child will enjoy it: 11+

What it's about: Clark Griswold is determined to have the perfect Christmas with his family but things take a turn after trouble at his job ensue and his cousin and other relatives show up unannounced to live in his property.