25 Best Family Christmas Movies

The Christmas holidays are just days away. The house smells of Christmas desserts and festive sweet treats, the fairy lights wink merrily, and the sparkling Christmas tree mysteriously promises wish fulfilment.

Favourite movies about Christmas gather family and friends in front of the TV set, delighting them with unforgettable moments and long-familiar melodies. The best New Year comedies lift your mood and make children laugh merrily, filling the house with happiness. We have compiled a list of New Year films for the whole family so that you can choose a movie to your liking and spend a wonderful evening with your children.

Contents

1. Home Alone (1990)
2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
3. A Christmas Story (1983)
4. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
5. When Santa Fell to Earth (2011)
6. A Christmas Carol (2009)
7. The Polar Express (2004)
8. A Dennis the Menace Christmas (2007)
9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
10. Elf (2003)
11. Prancer (1989)
12. The Santa Clause (1994)
13. The Search for Santa Paws (2010)
14. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)
15. All I Want for Christmas (1991)
16. Christmas in Wonderland (2006)
17. Christmas Story/Joulutarina (2007)
18. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey (2007)
19. Daddy Wanted for Christmas (2003)
20. Nativity! (2009)
21. A Little Christmas story (1999)
22. Snow Buddies (2008)
23. Blizzard (2003)
24. A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
25. A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)

This movie has long topped the ranking of the best New Year's films. It was proved so popular with audiences that the creators filmed as many as six parts. The plot, perhaps, is known to everyone. Parents with many children in a hurry forget to take their youngest son Kevin McCallister on a Christmas trip.

The boy turns out to be no slouch. He quite calmly uses his father's credit card, orders food in a hotel room, successfully fights with a pair of burglars who have been breaking into other vacant houses in the neighborhood and can survive alone in an unfamiliar city.

Heaps of funny situations, favourite music and a charming protagonist, make you watch this comedy year after year and enjoy watching it, getting into the Christmas spirit.

 

This story is probably one of the best Christmas musical films directed by Tim Burton. Charlie Bucket, a boy who lives in poverty with his family, can't believe his luck: Wonka announces a contest in which Golden Tickets have been placed in five random Wonka Bars worldwide and he is one of the five lucky winners of a tour of Willy Wonka's candy factory.

No one has ever gotten into the holy of holies — the production of magically delicious sweets. Is it possible to imagine something better than the Chocolate River, pinksugar boat, non-melting lollipops and sweet mint grass?

The mysteries of the factory will draw you in, making you happy and worried for the characters. And the main characters will help you understand how important family is for a person. And, of course, it will not do without festive miracles — that's what Christmas is all about!

 

Well, sit back and get ready for friendly, healthy family laughter. Imagine yourself being in the shoes of the parents of a child who demands not something but a real air rifle as a present!

Little Ralphie tried every possible method: he begged his parents, wrote about his dream in his school essay and even talked to Santa on his lap.

He received the invariable "You'll shoot your eye out!". And suppose you mix all these requests with Dad's strange affection to the lamp in the form of a woman's leg and his eternal struggle with the smoking stove, Mum's endless attempts to feed Ralphie's younger brother and the protagonist's constant escape from the neighbourhood hooligans, you get a funny Christmas pun that keeps the whole family laughing.

 

Little Susan is growing up without her daddy. She no longer believes in Father Christmas — her mum told her that miracles don't happen. But, even without expecting to receive the cherished gifts, Susan makes her Christmas list with the other children.

More than anything else, she wanted to have a daddy, a little brother and a new home. Meeting Santa in a major New York department store will make her believe in miracles. Now six-year-old Susan is sure that her dreams will come true and that Santa Claus does exist.

 

Nine-year-old Ben has not had much luck lately. His parents have moved to a small town where it's not so easy to find friends. And while his father is busy looking for a new job, and his mother — opening a pastry shop, where not everything is going well, the boy is finally bored.

Even approaching Christmas did not make him happy — he did not believe something would change. And just at that moment, right in front of his eyes, Santa fell from the sky in his Christmas caravan! From that moment on, everything changed. Ben and his school friend Charlotte are waiting for a journey to the Magic Land, a search for a reindeer from a magical harness, exciting adventures, and even saving Christmas.

 

It is an American computer-animated Christmas fantasy film Based on Charles Dickens's 1843 novel of the same name. It is hard to imagine a person who does not like Christmas. That's precisely what Ebenezer Scrooge was — he was only interested in money: love, friendship and holidays had no value for the greedy financier. He had gained wealth all his life and despised weekends, seeing them as a waste of precious time.

However, the power of Christmas makes him repent and overturn all his ideas about life. It turns out that there is love in the world, and humanity is not alien to Scrooge. The film reminds us of the main values of life and is imbued with the magic of Christmas.

Photo: disneyplus.com

 

A little boy stopped believing in Santa Claus and Christmas. Is that the way it should be? On the eve of the holiday in 1956, a magical train known as the Polar Express appears at his house — there has never been a railway here before.

The kind conductor calls the hero to go to the North Pole, where the real Santa lives, and miracles happen. The boy at first refuses but, having changed his mind, sets off to meet the adventures together with other passengers of the express train. The magical story once again confirms that all dreams come true at Christmas time. And the magical atmosphere of the animated film makes even adults believe in miracles.

 

A Christmas present from the creators of the Dennis the Menace film series. A innocent little kid is always becoming the cause of big disasters. Especially uneasy relations he has with his neighbour, Mr Wilson. This time the prankster has decided to create a holiday atmosphere and is preparing to meet Christmas.

Except that for some reason, cakes fly in the air, as if on order, Christmas tree toys are broken, and the neighbour finds himself under the wheels of a bicycle. Everything comes together as it should: the adults are shocked, and the children are having fun.

Photo: rottentomatoes.com

 

The green, hairy, evil Grinch lives as a hermit on top of a mountain, at the foot of which the town of Wholand is spread out. Fun annoyed the hero, and Christmas became a terrible torture for the green hermit.

During the preparation of residents for the holiday Grinch was especially angry and decided to get rid of this terrible event forever — steal Christmas. Will no one ever fall in love with the green villain, and will there never be any more fun in the town?

 

Want to know what happens when you hide in Santa's bag? Then this story is for you. A boy from an orphanage once climbed into a bag of gifts and thus was taken directly to the North Pole.

The elves raised him and named him Buddy. However, the guy noticed the differences as an adult: human growth cannot be hidden behind an elven costume. And so Santa decides to send Buddy back to New York in search of a father who has no idea that he has a son.

The adventures of an adult elf in the human world are filled with humorous situations and touching moments on the eve of Christmas.

 

It's a great old film about little Jessica, the daughter of a bankrupt farmer, and her big friend. The girl comes across an injured reindeer in the woods and, by her childish logic, decides that it is Father Christmas' reindeer: after all, she has just seen one of Santa's reindeer on a street garland fall to the pavement and break. She decides to help the animal and return it to Santa... Jessica hides him in her barn, determined to heal it and wait for Santa to get him. This is where Jessica's amazing adventures begin, as well as those of the rest of the residents of the American village.

Belief in miracles and a kind heart of a girl can do the impossible. This touching movie will left the whole family with enough warm feelings on a cold December evening.

Photo: themoviedb.org

 

Don't scare Santa if you suddenly find him on your roof, as with the toy salesman Scott Calvin. As a result, Santa ended up in a snowdrift, and Scott, on a parked reindeer, sped off to the North Pole.

The role of the old man beloved by the kids needs to be played by someone, so the head-elf convinces Scott to replace Santa for a while. It's easy for Calvin to wear a costume and dance with the kids, but it's completely different when the hair turns grey, the beard grows and belly spills over the waistband! The only thing Scott is counting on is the opportunity to prove to his son that Santa exists.

Photo: disneyplus.com

 

It turns out that Santa Claus gets presents too. A snow-white puppy named Paws was brought to life by a Magic Icicle, and now Santa has a faithful little friend. Together they go to New York.

In the hustle and bustle of the big city, Santa's magic crystal is stolen, he has lost his memory, and little Paws is lost. The puppy is found by Quinn, a girl living in an orphanager. The cruel orders established by the headmistress did not prevent the little girl from taking Paws with her. Will Santa be able to return his four-legged friend, and how Quinn's life will change? You will find out by watching this film with the whole family.

Photo: disneyplus.com

 

If you're turning 234, it's probably time to retire and hand over the running of your wonder toy shop to someone else, like employee Molly Mahoney. Edward Magorium did just that because he had been in business for over a hundred years.

During this time, he has created the most beautiful place on Earth, always filled with children's laughter and a sense of celebration. Molly is only 25 — life should be attractive and joyful, but the girl is always sad for some reason.

This state of mind of the owner could not help but affect the shop: once lively and cheerful, it has turned into the most depressing place, and it is time to close. Will there be children's laughter again, or will Edward's life's work cease to exist?

Photo: themoviedb.org

 

A touching, funny story for family viewing about how children need a family. Eaton and Hallie are going through their parent's divorce, and all they want is for Daddy to love Mummy again. A plan to reunite the family is thought out and approved, but there are challenges along the way. For example, Mum's fiancé Tony. They can't do it alone. But Christmas is approaching, so you can turn to Santa for help because only he can create real miracles.

Photo: themoviedb.org

 

Christmas doesn't have to be sad, as it happened to the Sanders family. They've had to move to a small town, the kids are separated from their friends and not happy about the approaching holidays.

Then Mum gets delayed at the airport, and Dad has to do pre-holiday shopping. Were they going to the shopping centre with their father, and could the children think they would find a bag with a million dollars?

It would seem that the problems are solved! But the bag has owners — two thieves — who are ready to do anything to get back the stolen goods. You have all chance to find out how this cheerful detective New Year's story will end.

Photo: m.imdb.com

 

Incredibly, Father Christmas, Santa Claus (and he has many more names) was once a little boy too. He has his own unusual, magical, Christmas story.

A boy named Nicholas, who lives in Lapland, is orphaned — his parents and younger sister died tragically. The heads of the families in the village took care of the child: every year at Christmas, he was taken into care by a new family, and the boy, in gratitude, gave the children toys he made himself.

Once, in a challenging year, none of the villagers could take Nicholas in, and it was decided to give him to a grumpy, unfriendly carpenter Iisakki in another village. The latter appreciated the boy's skills and took him as an apprentice...As the years passed, Iisakki was getting older, and Nicholas was growing up. Their common handicraft prospered, and the good old tradition of giving children toys continued growing...

The amazing events of the film and the magic of Christmas will leave the most pleasant impressions after watching.

Photo: rottentomatoes.com

 

Thomas waits for his father to return from the war and collects baseball cards for his arrival, remembering how they used to set the table together at Christmas. Tragic news shocks the boy: his father is dead.

Thomas ceases to be interested in the world around him, baseball cards are heartbreaking, and his mother is constantly sad. They go to the village with Mum's sister to change scenery and celebrate Christmas.

Unfriendly, bearded Jonathan Toomey has also recently moved and settled in an abandoned house in the woods near the village. He lives as a hermit and endures the taunts of the children, silently taking his grief. Soon Thomas and Jonathan get to know each other — Mr Toomey begins to teach the boy how to carve wood. Everyone should have their own Christmas miracle.

Photo: rottentomatoes.com

 

Nine-year-old Linda is an orphan. The girl knows exactly what she wants for Christmas. She would like a daddy. And it would be wonderful if she had a mum. And she wouldn't say no to a little brother. But even at 9, Linda realises that even Santa Claus can't do that.

After gathering her thoughts, the girl decides that if she needs her father so much, all she can do is go and find him herself! This kind and touching film will surely bring the whole family together to give them once again the opportunity to feel the value of the warmth of the dearest people.

Photo © MDR/Steffen Junghans

 

Primary school teacher Paul Madens hates Christmas and all its symbolism for apparent reasons: on the eve of the holiday, his girlfriend, to whom he was going to propose, dumped him. A series of equally sad events followed this — she went to Hollywood to realise their mutual dream of an acting career, and he stayed to work as a teacher in not the most prestigious school.

Needless to say, how "pleased" was Paul when the head teacher asked him to become a producer of the Christmas play? Yes, and random words Madensa about an important play, interested in Hollywood, instantly spread around the town. How will the frustrated actor cope with this situation?

Photo: rottentomatoes.com

 

Every child has a favourite toy, without which it can be lonely and difficult to fall asleep. En liten julsaga ("A Little Christmas story") is a 1999 Swedish children's fiilm about the journey of a cute bear cub, Inna's favourite toy, around Stockholm. The girl has lost it in the in the Metro after Christmas-shopping with her mum. And since then, it always found itself in different people's hands. But on Christmas Eve, the bear miraculously returns to its owner, who has given up all hope of finding it.

This story successfully complements Christmas films for family viewing; it teaches kids to treat toys carefully and creates a unique atmosphere of festivity and cosiness in the house.

Photo: www.filmarchiv.at

 

Ten-year-old Jessica is upset — her best friend has moved to another town. The girl is no longer happy about the world around her. The girl's aunt, Millie, tells Jessica a story about friendship and Christmas to make her feel better.

Little Katie was a beginner figure skater who could not overcome the fear of going out on the ice rink for long. Then one day, a talking reindeer named Blizzard appeared at her house. Together they experienced many funny and exciting moments, and most importantly, the new friend taught Katie how to skate.

Together they realised that the most valuable thing in life is meeting and caring for each other. Aunt Millie helped Jessica to realise that true friendship does not end as long as at least one loving person remembers it.

Photo: parentpreviews.com

 

This is probably one of the cutest Christmas films ever — it's the story of the journey of five funny puppies. Accidentally the Buddies become trapped in a truck heading to Ferntiuktuk, Alaska. Needless to say, how scared were the little ones? But having got acquainted with a local husky puppy Shasta and having looked at the neighbourhood, they got used to it.

It turns out that Shasta's owner, Adam, dreams of participating in dog sledge races, but his father forbids it, and he has no dogs. But now the boy has a chance because Shasta has five new friends! Movie soundtracks, kind and a magical atmosphere of the film will not let you distract from it even for a minute and will make you hug your loved ones a bit tighter.

Photo: disneyplus.com

 

Netflix's 'A Boy Called Christmas', a film adaptation of British author Matt Haig's children's book of the same name, was released in 2021. A boy named Nicholas embarks on a long and sometimes dangerous journey that eventually leads to the arrival of one of the most beloved holidays of the year  Christmas. Light, kind, cosy — this film will suit children and adults (unless they have forgotten how to believe in miracles).

The film was set in Lapland, Czech Republic and England, and the most beautiful scenes were taken in the Slovak mountains, where a real blizzard replaced winter special effects.

Photo: rottentomatoes.com

 

The sequel to A Christmas Story (1983) takes place in the 1970s, with the adult Ralphie taking his family to his childhood home on Cleveland Street to deliver his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had growing up. Ralphie is now a grown man with almost everything to consider himself truly happy. He has a great job, a wife and children, but he does not have what is called happiness in the full sense of the word, childlike joy and fun. Ralph makes a very interesting and unusual decision to feel happy again, as in his childhood.

Kidpassage wishes you a pleasant viewing and warm cosy family evenings with a cup of fragrant tea. We hope that our list of Christmas films for the whole family helps you make up your mind and have a wonderful time with your loved ones.

Your children will remember such life moments with gratitude in the future, and a good film will teach them to appreciate family, take care of relatives and create a magical atmosphere for the most beloved holiday. After all, learning to believe in miracles is essential — they will come true!