Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fatter, la la la la, la la la la.
One of the most comforting things about the Christmas season is the truckload of family Christmas movies that get released each year.
It can be a bit stressful to pick one out, and better still, to pick a really good one. That is why we have compiled this list of best kids Christmas movies of all ages.
Review of Best Christmas Movies for Kids
1. A Christmas Story (1983)
A Christmas story is an all-time classical family holiday movie. Despite being produced in 1983, this movie has retained its spot as one of the best kids’ Christmas movies.
The storyline is set in the narrative as grown-up Ralphie talks about a most memorable Christmas. He describes funny adventures he and his friends went on. This particular year, he desperately wanted a Red Ryder BB gun as a Christmas present. After leaving hints for his parents, including it in an essay at school, and even telling Santa Claus, it seemed like he won’t be getting his greatest wish.
In 2012, a Marist Poll named the film the favorite holiday film in the US. So in the spirit of Christmas traditions, A Christmas story is one of the best Christmas movies for kids.
Movie Details
- Cast: Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin
- Box Office: $20.6 million
- Genre: Comedy, Family
Award(s)
| Organization | Year | Award |
| Genie Awards | 1984 | Best Achievement in Direction – Bob Clark |
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Have you ever wondered what it’ll be like, a year without Christmas?
Dr Suess’ The Grinch who stole Christmas is the first full adaptation of Dr Suess’s books and it is one of the best Christmas kids movies. Better still, it can be enjoyed by the adults too on Christmas eve as a family Christmas movie.
Treated badly by his classmates when he was a child, the grinch decided that he hated Christmas and left the town of Whoville to Live on the top of Mount Crumpit. Years later, adult Grinch decided to crush the Who’s spirit of Christmas by stealing all the Christmas presents after the mayor of Whoville proposed to his childhood crush and the only person who was kind to him, Martha May.
Movie Details
- Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin
- Box Office: $345.1 million
- Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Award(s)
| Organization | Year | Award |
| Academy Awards, USA | 2001 | Best MakeupRick BakerGail Rowell-Ryan |
| BAFTA Awards | 2001 | Best Makeup/HairRick BakerKazu HiroToni GGail Rowell-RyanSylvia Nava |
3. Home Alone (1990)
If your family does not already have this movie as part of their best family Christmas movies, then you just have to rectify this, this year.
Home alone is one of the best kids Christmas movies. It is fun-packed and filled with the adventures of Kevin, who was forgotten at home while his family went on a Christmas holiday vacation to Paris.
When the wet bandits discover that Kevin was home alone, they decide to rob the house but unfortunately for them, Kevin had set up several booby traps.
According to Marielle Sabbag, “Everything about Home Alone is beautiful and has a realistic quality.”
Movie Details
- Cast: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Roberts Blossom
- Box Office: $477.1 million
- Genre: Comedy
Award(s)
| American Comedy Awards, USA | 1991 | Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role)Macaulay Culkin |
| Casting Society of America, USA | 1991 | Best Casting for Feature Film, ComedyJane JenkinsJanet Hirshenson |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | 1991 | Most Promising ActorMacaulay Culkin |
4. Black Nativity (2013)
Black Nativity is a one-holiday movie that the whole family can enjoy. It tells two stories, one of the true Christmas story another of an estranged family that finds hope.
It makes our list of best Christmas movies for the family because it addresses deep issues that even a child can understand to an extent.
Follow Langston on his journey to understand his roots and why he grew up alone with his mum and never meeting his grandparents!
Movie Details
- Cast: Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Tyrese Gibson, Jacob Latimore
- Box Office: 7.5 million
- Genre: Drama, Family, Musical
Award(s)
| Organization | Year | Award |
| African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) | 2013 | AAFCA Award Best Music |
| Image Awards (NAACP) | 2014 | Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture |
5. Polar Express (2004)
With Christmas comes an air of magic and so is this magical Christmas movie for kids.
A young boy who is skeptical about the existence of Santa happens to see a train outside his bedroom window that is on the way to the North Iole where Santa lives.
He boards the train at the dying minute and experiences a lot of adventures on the train including stopping the train to pick up another boy, a dissapearing hobo and a train accelerating out of control.
At the north pole, he finally opens up his heart to the beauty of Christmas and was able to not just see Santa, but also hear the bell which rings for all who truly believe.
Movie Details
- Cast: Tom Hanks, Leslie Zemeckis, Nona Gaye, Eddie Deezen
- Box Office: $313.5 million
- Genre: Fantasy
Award(s)
| Organization | Year | Award |
| BAFTA Awards | 2005 | BAFTA Children’s Award [Nominee]Best Feature Film |
6. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Not every child believes in the wonder that is Christmas, Santa Claus. This was the same for 6-year old Susan who was raised by her single mom not to believe in fairytales like Santa. In this family Christmas movie, Susan meets a special departmental store Santa who claims to be the real Santa Claus.
Follow Susan on her amazing journey as her faith in Christmas is restored and she gets the best Christmas gifts ever!
Movie Details
- Cast: Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, Gene Lockhart
- Box Office:$46,264,384
- Genre: Family, fantasy
Award(s)
None as of the time of writing this post
7. A Christmas Tree Miracle (2013)
A Christmas tree miracle is a family holiday movie and serves perfectly as one of the best kids Christmas movies. Christmas is coming but the Georges are not ready. Everyone but 6 years old Nina has forgotten what Christmas is truly about. To make matters worse, her father loses his job just before the holidays.
The entire family is taken in by an eccentric tree farmer and gradually, bonds are renewed and the spirit of Christmas is restored to this family.
A Christmas tree miracle is undoubtedly one of the best Christmas movies for kids
Movie Details
- Cast: Kevin Sizemore, Claudia Esposito, Terry Kiser, Jill Whelan
- Genre: Family
Award(s)
None as of the time of writing this post.
8. The Dog Who Saved Christmas (2009)
This holiday season, there is nothing heartwarming than everyone watching a family Christmas movie. Better still, a Christmas movie for kids with a dog as the main character.
The dog who saved Christmas is a story about Zeus who lost his ability to bark after messing up an investigation 5 years ago.
He is adopted as an early Christmas present and proves his worth by stopping two robbers that broke into the house on Christmas eve.
If you are still searching for the perfect kids Christmas movie, you can end your search with this movie.
Movie Details
- Cast: Mario Lopez, Dean Cain, Elisa Donovan, Sierra McCormick
- Genre: Family, Comedy
Award(s)
None as of the time of writing this post.
9. Get Santa (2014)
Christmas looks like it’s going to be a disaster when Santa gets locked up!
Get Santa is an action, comedy kids Christmas movie and adults alike. A young boy finds and in the family’s garage and calls his father, steve who is on parole.
When Steve discovers that Santa is on the run from the police, he throws him out of the house. However, the can be no Christmas without Santa, no gifts without a bag of presents and no way to carry presents without a reindeer-pulled sleigh.
Watch how Steve and his son saved Christmas against all odds.
Movie Details
- Cast: Jim Broadbent, Rafe Spall, Kit Connor, Stephen Graham
- Box Office:$4,798,222
- Genre: Comedy, Family
Award(s)
None as of the time of writing this post
10. I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1998)
I’ll be home for Christmas Is certainly one of the best kids Christmas movies. What makes this film even better is that it can be enjoyed by teens and adults too.
Jake’s estranged dad has promised him a Porshe car if he can get to their Christmas Eve family dinner by 6 pm. Unfortunately, he is set up and left stranded in the desert by his classmate who wants jake’s girlfriend for himself.
With 3 days to get across the desert to Larchmont, New York; with no cash and no identity, jake begins the arduous journey home.
Movie Details
- Cast: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jessica Biel, Adam LaVorgna
- Box Office:$12,214,338
- Genre: Family
Award(s)
None as of the time of writing this article.
11. Elf (2003)
The elf, produced in 2003 remains a worldwide favorite Christmas holiday movie. Once again, it makes our list for the best family Christmas movie because it’s appeal cuts across age.
Buddy is an elf…no, a human who was raised by elves in the north pole. Having lived his whole life believing that he is an elf, it comes as a great shock to him to discover that he was found in Santa’s bag as a baby.
When Santa tells him that his biological father is on the naughty list that year, Buddy goes to Newyork city to help his dad redeem himself.
according to a movie critic, “A movie full of Yuletide cheer, Elf is a spirited, good-natured family comedy, and it benefits greatly from Will Ferrell’s funny and charming performance as one of Santa’s biggest helpers.”
Enjoy this family holiday movie as you share the love of Christmas, provably with a bowl of popcorn or two.
Movie Details
- Cast: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen
- Box Office: $223 million
- Genre: Family, Comedy
Award(s)
| Organization | Year | Award |
| ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards | 2004 | Top Box Office Films |
12. Operation Christmas List (2016)
Operation Christmas list is another crime-themed Christmas movie for kids. In other words, 12year old Barney and his friends will have to face Forte and his gang of thieves.
When Barney decides that the best way to avoid the Christmas shopping rush was to buy the entire stock of the most sought after gift, he never imagined that someone else was thinking about the same thing. Only in a more sinister way.
Movie Details
- Cast: Colton Gobbo, Kyle Peacock, Jacob Soley, Julia Pulo
- Genre: Comedy, Family
Award(s)
| Organization | Year | Award |
| The Joey Awards, Vancouver | 2017 | Best Principal or Supporting Actor in a TV Movie Feature Age 6-10 Years – Christian Convery |
13. The Christmas Project (2016)
Christmas is a time when we learn or relearn the importance of love. For the Buckley boys, they must learn to love not just their friends, but their enemies too in this kids Christmas movie.
The Buckley boys are beyond aghast when their mother announces the Christmas project for the year. She decided that they will be ‘elving’ none other than the Hagbarts family.
So by day, the brothers try to avoid being bullied by the eldest Hagbart sibling and drop treats/gifts at the Hagbarts door by night.
Movie Details
- Cast: Jacob Buster, Anson Bagley, Josh Reid, Cooper Daniel Johnson
- Genre: Family
Award(s)
None as of the time of writing this post.
14. An Abominable Christmas (2012)
An abominable Christmas is about two young snow kids who failed to listen to their father’s warnings about humans. They find themselves fleeing from a scientist interested in using them for experiments.
lost in a quiet town in Colorado, the abominable snow kids find a loving family with whom they share the joy of the Christmas season.
This short animated Christmas film serves as a perfect Christmas movie for kids, both younger kids and teens alike.
Movie Details
- Cast: Isabella Acres, Drake Bell, Emilio Estevez, Nolan Gould
- Genre: family
Award(s)
None as of the time of writing this post.
15. Jingle Jangle (2020)
Step into a world of Christmas, where toys from highly creative minds come to life and perhaps prove a bit destructive.
Jingle jangle, is a Netflix original kids Christmas movie.
If you’ve seen all the classic Christmas movies and you want something new, jingle-jangle will satisfy all your holiday movie cravings.
An eccentric toymaker with a magical invention that changes everything, a creative granddaughter and last-minute attempts to save a dying toy factory.
Movie Details
- Cast: Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Noni Rose
- Genre: Fantasy, musical
Award(s)
None as of the time of writing this post.
16. Jingle All the Way (1996)
Jingle all the way is a family Christmas movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Howard.
Howard is a mattress salesman who loves his family but always tends to mess up his promises. After failing to be present at his son’s karate class graduation, he vows to himself to get a popular action figurine for Jamie as a Christmas present.
Like all Christmas movies, plans tend to go awry and Howard finds himself in a highly competitive race to get that figurine and fulfill his Christmas promise.
Jingle all the way promises you a lot of adventure and will definitely top your list as one of the best kids Christmas movies.
Movie Details
- Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman, Rita Wilson
- Box Office:129.8 million USD
- Genre: Family, Comedy
Award(s)
| Organization | Year | Award |
| Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | 1997 | Favorite Supporting Actor – Sinbad |
| Golden Camera, Germany | 1997 | Best International Actor – Arnold Schwarzenegger |
17. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1983)
The nightmare before Christmas is just that, a nightmare before Christmas. If you’re tired of the typical and cliche family Christmas movies, you will want to try this one out.
Jack is the ruler of Halloween town but us tired of celebrating the same festival over and over again. He stumbles across portals to other holiday towns and entered Christmas town.
In a bid to bring the spirit of Christmas to his town, he places Santa’s life in danger, turns Christmas into a nightmare, and almost loses his one true love.
While this movie might be a bit spooky for very young kids, it is an enjoyable family holiday movie.
Movie Details
- Cast: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey
- Box Office: $91.5 million
- Genre: fantasy, family
Award(s)
| Organization | Year | Award |
| 20/20 Awards | 2014 | Best Original Score |
18. The Santa Clause (1994)
The Santa clause is a very lively and fun-filled family holiday movie. It is one of the best kids Christmas movies but can be enjoyed by all ages.
Santa has an accident on Scott’s roof on Christmas Eve. When Scott goes to investigates, he finds Santas suit and puts it on without knowing about the Santa clause.
By putting on the suit, he had inadvertently agreed to become the new Santa. When his beards turn white and he puts on a lot of weight, he finally, realizes that he is the new Santa much to the joy of his 6-year-old son.
Movie Details
- Cast: Tim Allen, Wendy Crewson, David Krumholtz, Larry Brandenburg
- Box Office: $190.5 million
- Genre: Family/Comedy
Award(s)
| Organization | Year | Award |
| BMI Film & TV Awards | 1995 | BMI Film Music Award |
19. Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
As a child, Clara’s mum had an imagination that created a whole different world with four realms. After her mum passes away, Clara discovers that she must set things right and restore harmony to this war-torn realms.
At the same time, she must prevent sugar plum from transforming humans into toys with a special machine.
Nutcracker and the four realms is the perfect Christmas movie for kids to watch this holiday season.
Movie Details
- Cast: Keira Knightley, Mackenzie Foy, Eugenio Derbez, Matthew Macfadyen
- Box Office: $174 million
- Genre: Fantasy
Award(s)
None as of the time of writing this post.
20. Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Skip Christmas? That is simply unacceptable in Riverside Illinois. When Luther and Nora Krank decide to skip Christmas that year, their neighbors out up a fight.
On the morning of Christmas Eve, they receive a call from their daughter, telling them that she is bringing her fiance home for their usual Christmas party.
Panicked, the Kranks have only 12 hours to prepare for a Christmas party including getting a Christmas tree and putting up decorations.
This family holiday movie shows the importance of unity and kindness.
Movie Details
- Cast: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, Erik Per Sullivan
- Box Office: $96.6 million
- Genre: Comedy, Family
Award(s)
None as of the time of writing this post.
FAQS
I think that the best Christmas film ever is home alone. But probably that’s because I watched it so many times as a kid.Â
The highest-grossing Christmas movie would be the grinch, closely followed by home aloneÂ
Good Christmas movies for 5-year-olds include jingle jangle, elf, get Santa, and the polar express.
The best animated Christmas movies include how the grinch stole Christmas, the nightmare before Christmas, etc
The most played Christmas movie of all time is the Grinch, 2018, and home alone.
Wrapping Up Best Kids Christmas Movies
Christmas is not Christmas without life and cheer. So despite how the year might have been, you can’t afford to miss out on watching any of these kids Christmas movie with your family.
We have included both old and recent Christmas movies in our list to suit the taste of everyone this season!