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The best Christmas movies for kids to watch this December

Pour the hot chocolate and grab the cookies and share these Christmas classics with your kids

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An excited Santa Claus
krakenimages / Unsplash

The holiday season kicks into high gear once the calendar turns to December. Sure, there’s shopping, wrapping, decorating, and baking on the list, but there needs to be some movie watching, too. Remember how much fun it was as a kid to put on those pajamas, grab the cozy blanket, and cuddle up to watch those classic Christmas movies and shows with the whole family?

Those chilly December nights are earmarked for family time on the couch, and what’s better to watch than those Christmas classics you loved from your childhood. Those classics are some of the best Christmas movies for kids. So, this holiday season, stir up the hot chocolate, pop the popcorn, and enjoy a couple of freshly baked cookies while watching holiday classics that always leave you filled with Christmas cheer.

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Best Christmas movies for kids

Christmas cookies ready to eat watching a holiday movie
Lydia Matzal / Unsplash

Every holiday season, new Christmas movies come out. Hallmark, Lifetime, and even Netflix typically premiere holiday movies. Sure, it’s always a blast to check out the new holiday films that are streaming, but there’s something special about those classic Christmas movies. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without watching these heart-warming holiday flicks.

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Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Miracle on 34th Street
96m
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Family
Stars
Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn
Directed by
George Seaton
Watch on disney+
This Christmas classic about whether or not Santa is real dates back to 1947. Starring Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, and a very young Natalie Wood, Miracle on 34th Street is the don’t-miss holiday season. It’s a wonderful movie to share with your kiddos as everyone rallies around Kris to prove that he is the real Santa Claus. Kris turns cynical single mom Doris and her non-Santa-believing little girl Susan into true believers. Set against the backdrop of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, watch the original first before tuning into the 90s remake.

Home Alone (1990)

Home Alone
103m
Genre
Comedy, Family
Stars
Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
Directed by
Chris Columbus
Watch on disney+
Everyone has probably seen the memes about this holiday movie, but if you actually sit down and watch, there’s a real sentimental component to it. Sure, it’s funny with all the craziness when you accept the fact that a family actually went to Paris without their 8-year-old child. Home Alone is definitely a Christmas movie kids and parents can relate to.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The Nightmare Before Christmas
76m
Genre
Fantasy, Animation, Family
Stars
Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara
Directed by
Henry Selick
Watch on disney+
Is this ’90s cult classic about Jack Skellington a Halloween movie or a Christmas film? The truth is it’s both. It’s been an endearing Christmas movie kids and adults have been loving for 30 years. If you haven’t watched it yet, make it a point this December.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
26m
Genre
Animation, Family, Comedy
Stars
Boris Karloff, June Foray, Dal McKennon
Directed by
Chuck Jones
Watch on peacock
The Grinch has gained almost as must notoriety during Christmas as the big guy in red. Dr. Seuss’ classic story was made into an animated classic in 1966. The original continues to endure and should definitely be watched. In 2000, Ron Howard brought the live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas to the big screen starring Jim Carrey. Settle in for a Grinch night to watch the original, the movie, and the animated Grinch remake with Benedict Cumberbatch voicing the mean one.

A Christmas Story (1983)

A Christmas Story
93m
Genre
Comedy, Family
Stars
Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
Directed by
Bob Clark
Watch on max
This holiday movie is absolutely beloved by many. An ’80s film about Ralphie’s quest to get a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle for Christmas despite being repeatedly warned about potentially shooting his eye out is legendary. It’s often played at least once during the month of December as a marathon. See what all the memes are about if you haven’t watched it in its entirety.

The Santa Clause (1994)

The Santa Clause
97m
Genre
Fantasy, Drama, Comedy, Family
Stars
Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson
Directed by
John Pasquin
Watch on amazon
Another ’90s smash, Tim Allen’s The Santa Claus is now actually a franchise with three movies and a series. The first one is of course the best and is a joy to watch every December. Put the series on the watch list, too. It’s actually a delight as Scott Calvin (Santa) and his family try to navigate their changing lives at the North Pole. You can watch all the Santa Clauses on Disney+.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

The Muppet Christmas Carol
85m
Genre
Music, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Drama
Stars
Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire
Directed by
Brian Henson
Watch on disney+
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has been done in movies, on stage, and on television. Perhaps the most charming and kid-friendly version is The Muppet Christmas Carol. This is a perfect way to introduce kids to the Dickens’ classic.

Elf (2003)

Elf
97m
Genre
Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart
Directed by
Jon Favreau
Watch on max
Every December this Christmas gem starring Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf is also shown as a marathon. If you hated it the first time, you’ll love it now. It’s just that kind of holiday movie, and Christmas wouldn’t be the same without watching it.

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

It's a Wonderful Life
130m
Genre
Drama, Family, Fantasy
Stars
James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore
Directed by
Frank Capra
Watch on apple tv+
The story of what life would have been like without George Bailey is a Christmas story that has also been told many different ways since this Christmas classic debuted in 1946. This holiday movie never gets old and is always a seasonal watch for the whole family.

Animated Christmas classics

While Christmas movies are amazing, let’s not forget those holiday animated shows that are simply unforgettable. Christmas wouldn’t be the same without one showing of Charlie Brown’s search for the meaning of Christmas and Rudolph helping those misfit toys find a child to love. These animated Christmas classics are getting harder to find on network television but are worth the effort.

It is so easy to get swept away by the craziness of the holiday season. Enjoying holiday movie classics with the family is a simple way to recharge the batteries and get an influx of Christmas spirit. If you’re looking for the best Christmas movies for kids, think back to your childhood. This list captures many of those classic Christmas movies you just need to watch every year. Now, you get to share them with your children and start the tradition all over again.

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Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller
Contributor
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
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