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These are great family Christmas movies that you can watch with your kids and enjoy. Hopefully there will be some movies in that list that you haven’t seen before!
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The Star
(2017) (1 hr 26 mins) (imdb 6.5)
This sweet and entertaining movie tells the story of Jesus’ birth from the point of view of the animals. It is beautiful to watch, funny and has a great cast of voices including Mariah Carey and Oprah Winfrey. I highly recommend this movie.
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Charlie Brown Christmas
(1965) (25 mins) (IMDB 8.3)
A true Christmas classic. It is a heart-warming story with a wonderful soundtrack. Good for all ages and one of the few shows with the story of the nativity in it.
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It’s a Wonderful Life
(1946) (2 hr 10 mins) (imdb 8.6)
Age 11 and up
An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately man, George Bailey, by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
This is a wonderful Christmas movie that I have seen many times. My kids could never sit through the entire movie until they reached their teens though.
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Angela’s Christmas
(2018) (30 mins) (imdb 7.1)
A Netflix original, based on the Book “Angela and the Baby Jesus” by Frank McCourt author of “Angela’s Ashes”. Set in Ireland in 1914, it tells a story of McCourt’s mother at about age 6 who sees Baby Jesus in Church and worries that he is cold.
This sweet film is both funny and heart-warming. My kids and I really enjoyed it.
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ELF
(2003) (1 hr 35 mins) (imdb 6.9)
A cute silly movie with slapstick humor that kids of most ages should enjoy. It made me laugh out loud multiple times.
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Mickey’s Christmas Carol
(1983) (26 mins) (imdb 8)
This is my favorite version of the Christmas Carol story. It is definitely the best one to watch with kids.
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The Small One
(1978) (26 mins) (Disney) (imdb 7.8)
A Disney nativity film from the point of view of a small boy and his donkey that is not easy to find.
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas
(1966) (26 min) (IMDB 8.3)
IMDB How the Grinch Stole Christmas
A Christmas animated classic at 50 years old. Catchy songs that you can’t stop singing with a good moral at the end.
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Dr Seuss’ The Grinch
(2018) (1 hr 25 mins) (imdb 6.5)
An animated film with Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch. It is surprisingly good. I liked it so much better than the Jim Carey grinch from a few years ago.
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The Snowman
(1982) (26 mins) (imdb 8.2)
This non-speaking, short film with lovely music and beautiful animation is based on the book by Raymond Briggs. It’s about a young boy who builds a snowman that comes to life and takes him to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. We have watched this so many times I can’t even count. We would play it before the kids went to bed when they were little because it is very calming.
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Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
(1999) (1 hr 6 mins) (imdb 7.2)
IMDB Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
This film is 3 separate short films. One about Donald, one for Goofy and the last is Mickey & Minnie in the Gift of the Magi.
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Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
(2004) (1 hr 8 mins) (imdb 6.6)
IMDB Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
Another Disney movie that is a combination of 3 short films.
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Snowed in at the House of Mouse
(2001) (1 hr 5 mins) (imdb 6.7)
IMDB Snowed in at the House of Mouse
Sadly, this one is hard to find right now. It is not on Disney + (Why??). Supposedly it is owned by Netflix, but I could not find it there either.
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Santa Claus is Coming to Town
(1970) (48 mins) (imdb 7.7)
IMDB Santa Claus is Coming to Town
A 1970 Rankin Bass film that tells the story of Santa Claus. I always liked this one.
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Arthur Christmas
(2011) (1 hr 37 mins) (imdb 7.1)
Santa’s clumsy son Arthur sets out on a mission with St. Nick’s father to give out a present they misplaced to a young girl in less than 2 hours. It’s cute and entertaining and nicely animated.
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A Christmas Story
(1983) (1 hr 34 mins) (imdb 8)
Ages 11 and up for mild language and a few racist and sexual innuendos.
This is another holiday classic with 1940’s nostalgia. It makes me laugh, but I wouldn’t watch it with kids less than 11 or maybe 13?
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Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
(1964) (47 mins) (IMDB 8.1)
Another Christmas Classic that I loved as a child. It is basically the song made into a movie. It’s possible that young kids might be scared by the abominable snow monster. There’s also bullying: “all the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names, they never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.” I watch it with the kids and point out how mean the other reindeer are and how they hurt Rudolph’s feelings. You have to decide for yourself if this one works for your family…. I can’t believe I am putting a warning on Rudolph. 😂
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Home Alone
(1990) (1 hr 43 mins) (imdb 7.6)
Ages 10 and up.
OK, I put this film on the list, but I put it last. I had always disliked this movie. My 3 daughters never liked it much either. The first 15 minutes of the movie make me cringe. The family is so mean and horrible to Kevin; However, then next 1.5 hours of the movie are actually great. The slapstick humor has my son rolling on the floor laughing. It has a great Christmas soundtrack. There is a beautiful church scene with the choir singing “O Holy Night” and the older neighbor shows the importance of forgiveness.
It’s as if 2 different people directed this movie?
If you can just get through the first 15 minutes though …
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