Decorating a gingerbread house is exciting. Hanging Christmas stockings by the fireplace is oh-so-magical. Waking up to the smell of hot cocoa and freshly baked ginger cookies is the best. Speaking of, let us know which of the best Christmas movies for families are some of your old school favorites!
But nothing will get you into the holiday spirit faster than cozying up on the couch with a few Christmas movies with your whole family! If you’re looking for the best family-friendly Christmas films, you’re in luck.
We’ve put together a list of some of the best Christmas movies for families! From old time classics like “Miracle On 34th Street” to Netflix’s 2019 hit holiday movie, “Klaus,” I made sure to include movies the whole family can enjoy!
1 The Nightmare Before Christmas, (1993)
Tim Burton’s stop-motion movie, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is perfect for anyone who loves Halloween and Christmas. Jack Skellington from Halloweentown accidentally stumbles into a whimsical town known as Christmas Town. He immediately gets inspired by Christmas and plans to bring along the celebration to his own town. He gets so obsessed with the concept of Christmas that he plots to replace Santa himself.
2 Elf, (2003)
Buddy (played by Will Ferrell) gets left on the doorstep of Santa’s shop by mistake. Raised as an elf, he later learns he’s human, travels to New York and gets into all sorts of shenanigans. But along the way, you might learn a few things, like how maple syrup and spaghetti go hand in hand.
3 A Christmas Story, (1983)
Adult Ralphie narrates what Christmas was like for him. There’s plenty of holiday family drama, laughter, tears, and a valuable culinary lesson in the end when the family opts to eat at a Chinese restaurant after their Christmas meal gets ruined by some uninvited guests.
4 Miracle On 34th Street, (1947)
An old man named Kris Kringle fills in for a drunk Santa at a Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. After becoming quite popular at the chain’s main store, he shocks everyone when he claims he’s the real deal. This leads the courts to question whether he’s sane or not. Along the way, old Saint Nick will help a mom and daughter get their Christmas spirit back.
5 Home Alone, (1990)
The McAllisters head to Paris on a family holiday trip but forget their youngest child Kevin at home. And as the family struggles to get back to him, Kevin is forced to deal with two home invaders dubbed “the Wet Bandits,” who have targeted his home.
6 Home Alone 2: Lost In New York, (1992)
The McCallisters fudge things up again when they fly to Florida, but Kevin gets sidetracked at the airport and ends up in the Big Apple. As if being lost in New York wasn’t bad enough, the Wet Bandits have returned and they want revenge on Kevin for getting them locked up in the first movie.
7 The Christmas Chronicles, (2018)
Santa Claus (played by Kurt Russell) finds himself in quite a pickle because two siblings named Kate and Teddy Pierce have devised a holiday plan to capture Santa on camera. But what starts out as a misadventure turns into an unimaginable holiday journey they’ll never forget.
8 Get Santa, (2014)
When a father and son discover Santa Claus has crashed his sleigh and is sleeping in their garage, they realize they have to keep the big man safe from the police who are trying to put him behind bars. Can they do it in time and save Christmas? Watch and find out.
9 Jingle All The Way, (1995)
Watch Arnold Schwarzenegger come to blows with another dad to get their son the last Turbo Man for Christmas. Arnie starts out being nothing but a disappointing dad in the beginning of the movie, but by the end, he’ll go to any lengths to make his son happy, even if it means becoming Turbo Man himself.
10 Disney’s A Christmas Carol, (2009)
In this 2009 reimagining of the classic Christmas tale, Scrooge (played by Jim Carrey) is a bitter old man who’s stingy to the core and hates Christmas. But then three ghosts appear to him and force him to have an epiphany.
11 It’s a Wonderful Life, (1946)
This timeless classic airs every year and introduces new generations to George Bailey, a man who’s considering jumping off a bridge because of financial troubles. But then an angel shows up and shows him what life would be like for his loved ones if he had never been born.
12 How The Grinch Stole Christmas, (2000)
The Grinch (played by Jim Carrey) tries to ruin Christmas for all those who live in Whoville by stealing the presents from under their Christmas trees. But along the way, he learns that the holidays are about a lot more than gifts.
13 Klaus, (2019)
An ancient feud is put to rest after a postal worker named Jesper from the frozen town of Smeerensburg becomes friends with a toymaker named Klaus. The two of them come together to deliver gifts on a sleigh that turn everyone’s frowns upside down.
13 All I Want for Christmas Is You, (2017)
Mariah Carey voices a little girl named Mariah, whose only wish for Christmas is to finally get a puppy. The movie also features 3 classic holiday songs by Carey herself that will have everyone in the family singing along.
15 The Polar Express, (2004)
A boy learns about friendship and bravery while embarking on a journey to the North Pole in “The Polar Express.” Tom Hanks voices five characters on the movie, including Santa Claus. Thanks to CGI, special motion-capture effects, and Hanks’ immaculate acting skills, you’ll barely know you’re watching an animated movie.
16 The Santa Clause, (1994)
On Christmas Eve, Scott Calvin (played by Tim Allen) has a mishap and accidentally makes Santa fall off the roof. Then he finds himself magically transported to the North Pole, where an elf tells him that as a result of his actions, he is now the new Santa. The movie is ridiculously hilarious, which is just what you’ll need for the holidays.
Sophie Agbonkhese is a writer, homeschooling mother of four, and a recovering overachiever (who occasionally relapses). She is the founder of My Cup Runs Over, a site dedicated to helping busy women simplify and enrich their lives. When she’s not writing or debugging websites, Sophie spends her time reading, dancing, bullet journaling, reading, gardening, listening to audiobooks, and striving fruitlessly to have a clean house for at least five minutes.