14 Underrated Christmas Movies For Kids That Honestly Deserve More Respect

We all know the classic Christmas moviesIt's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, The Santa Clause, How the Grinch Stole Christmas — the list goes on. They're played on TV all throughout the holiday season, they're part of family traditions, and they'll (rightfully) never get old. But what about the movies that aren't played as much but are still just as good? While most of these movies are still beloved or have cult followings, it's sometimes hard to find them on TV in December. From Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas to Home Alone 3 (seriously!), the following 14 movies are perfect holiday underdogs to show your kids this season.

01
To Grandmother's House We Go
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To Grandmother's House We Go

After overhearing their single and overworked mom call them a "handful" and say she needs a vacation, twin sisters Sarah and Julie (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) run away to try and get to their grandmother's house to celebrate Christmas. But because they aren't allowed to cross the street without an adult, they don't get very far . . . until they hop on a bus and their crazy journey begins.

Rated: This TV movie originally aired on ABC and is suitable for little kids.

02
Jack Frost
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Jack Frost

After his musician father Jack Frost (Michael Keaton) tragically dies in a car accident on Christmas Day, Charlie becomes withdrawn and antisocial. But one year later, his dad miraculously comes back to life as the snowman Charlie built in his front yard after he plays his dad's harmonica. Trying to make up for lost time, the two bond and go on snowy adventures together before the threat of warm temperatures rolls in.

Rated: PG

03
The Preacher's Wife
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The Preacher's Wife

When the preacher of a struggling church becomes too consumed by his work to focus on his family, God sends an angel named Dudley (Denzel Washington) to help him get back on the right track. Dudley, however, becomes distracted by the preacher's wife (Whitney Houston). But because he wants to earn his wings and not get into any trouble, he helps Henry see what amazing people he's had right in front of him all along.

Rated: PG

04
Jingle All the Way
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Jingle All the Way

After work-obsessed dad Howard (Arnold Schwarzenegger) misses son Jamie's karate belt ceremony, he's desperate to get back into his good graces by Christmas. He promises to get Jamie the hottest toy of the season, Turbo Man, without realizing just how popular it is. He goes on a Christmas Eve quest to find the sold-out doll, and meets fellow desperate dad Myron (Sinbad) along the way.

Rated: PG

05
Babes in Toyland
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Babes in Toyland

Mary Contrary and Tom Piper are an engaged couple on the run from evil villain Barnaby, who tried to sabotage their wedding so that Mary had to marry him instead. The couple manages to run away to the Forest of No Return, which leads to Toyland. But after the Toymaker's apprentice, Grumio, builds a toy machine that explodes, Mary and Tom vow to help make enough presents in time for Christmas.

Rated: G

06
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
Disney

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas

This heartwarming movie tells three different tales about Mickey and his friends. In one, Huey, Dewey, and Louie wake up on Christmas morning consumed by the thought of their presents and wish it could be Christmas every day. Their wish is granted, but after a few days of disappointing their Uncle Donald with their obsession with material things, they begin to realize the true meaning of the holiday.

In another, Goofy and son Max are excitedly gearing up for Christmas until their neighbor Pete tells Max that Santa Claus doesn't exist. Determined to keep the magic alive for his son, Goofy does everything he can to prove that Saint Nick is real.

And in the third, a struggling Mickey and Minnie try to save money to buy each other the perfect Christmas gifts. Each gives away something special to them in order to afford the gift they want, but when they exchange gifts, they realize they bought something for the thing neither one of then no longer has.

Rated: This direct-to-video movie is suitable for kids.

07
The Christmas List
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The Christmas List

A perfume sales assistant is bored and unhappy in her life and decides to write a letter to Santa asking for all the things she thinks would make her happy. But when everything starts coming true, she quickly learns that material things don't matter as much as she thought.

Rated: The TV movie originally aired on The Family Channel and then ABC Family (now Freeform) and is suitable for little kids.

08
The Ultimate Christmas Present
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The Ultimate Christmas Present

This Disney Channel original movie tells the story of two teen girls, Sam and Allie, who find a weather machine at an old shack in the woods. Desperate for a white Christmas in California, they make it snow in Los Angeles. While they enjoy the snow at first, they quickly realize its repercussions: Allie's dad gets snowed in on a business trip and might not make it home in time for Christmas, and Santa, who the weather machine actually belongs to, might not be able to deliver presents on Christmas Eve.

Rated: This TV movie originally aired on the Disney Channel and is suitable for little kids.

09
Snow Day
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Snow Day

While this movie technically isn't Christmas-focused, it does center around one of the best things kids get during the holiday season: snow days. The film tells the story of a group of kids who get a snow day and attempt to keep their school closed by stopping the snowplow man from cleaning the streets. In addition to their antics, you also get to see high schooler Hal try to win the love of the popular girl, only to realize the girl of his dreams might have been in front of him all along.

Rated: PG

10
All I Want For Christmas
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All I Want For Christmas

Siblings Ethan and Hallie come up with a plan to get Santa Claus to help them get what they really want this year: their parents to get back together.

Rated: G

11
Home Alone 3
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Home Alone 3

While it's no Home Alone or even Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, the third installment is just as entertaining for little ones. The story is about a group of criminals who are on the hunt for a valuable computer chip, which ends up in a toy truck given to Alex, who is home sick from school. As their new target, he comes up with hilarious and creative ways to outsmart the criminals.

Rated: PG

12
The Search For Santa Paws
Walt Disney Studios

The Search For Santa Paws

After learning the heir to one of their biggest benefactors, toy store owner Mr. Hucklebuckle, wants to sell the family business, Santa Claus and his best canine friend, Santa Paws, leave the North Pole to convince him to keep the shop open. When they arrive in New York City, however, Santa and Paws get separated and need to find their way back to each other.

Rated: G

13
Ernest Saves Christmas
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Ernest Saves Christmas

Santa Claus is looking for his successor, but when he travels to Florida to give the job to the host of a children's show, he gets into some unexpected trouble. Ernest, a taxi driver, steps in to help him out and ultimately save Christmas.

Rated: PG

14
Prancer
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Prancer

Adamant in her belief that Santa is real, little girl Jessica finds an injured reindeer in the forest that she believes to be Prancer. She keeps him hidden in her family's shed to try and heal him, but after her dad (and the rest of her town) finds out about it, she desperately tries to save him.

Rated: G