20 Best Christmas Movies Of All Time Families Will Love

Author: Daria Osipova | Updated Dec 21, 2023

🎄🎅 Celebrate the holiday season with the best Christmas movies of all time for families with kids of all ages.

What is Christmas without a fantastic festive film for the whole family to enjoy? For many, it is an annual tradition to have a family-friendly movie playing on Christmas Eve or New Year's Day.

However, it can be tough to find the perfect Christmas film that every member of the family will enjoy.

That's why we compiled a list of the best Christmas movies ever made, with a wide range of genres, like action, classic, holiday, animation, adventure and more. 

20 best Christmas movies of all time families will love.
20 best Christmas movies of all time families will love

Our list includes classic Christmas favourites, new holiday movies, the best animated feature movies ever made, and even a Christmas horror film.

So whether it's a funny Christmas comedy or a heartfelt classic Christmas tale, read on to find the best movies to watch with your kids to make this Christmas special. 


Some of the best Christmas movies of all time for families include:

Best Christmas movies

Age rating

Elf

8+ year olds

Home Alone

10+ year olds

Gremlins

12+ year olds

Frozen

5+ year olds

A Christmas Story

8+ year olds

Anastasia

6+ year olds

It's a Wonderful Life

9+ year olds

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

13+ year olds

Miracle on 34th Street

5+ year olds

A Christmas Carol

9+ year olds

Scrooge

6+ year olds

Klaus

6+ year olds

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town

5+ year olds

Arthur Christmas

6+ year olds

The Year Without a Santa Claus

4+ year olds

The Christmas Chronicles

10+ year olds

The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special

12+ year olds

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas

3+ year olds

A Holiday Spectacular

8+ year olds

The Muppet Christmas Carol

5+ year olds


Elf (2003)

  • Genre: Holiday, Comedy, Adventure, Family 

  • Age rating: PG

  • Run time: 1h 37min

  • IMDb score: 7.1

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 86%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 79%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 4 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 8+ year olds

One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Elf (2003) - PG / 8+ year olds.
One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Elf (2003) - PG / 8+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch the Elf movie on:

Elf (2003) - Official Trailer

Home Alone (1990)

  • Genre: Holiday, Comedy, Adventure, Family, Crime

  • Age rating: PG

  • Run time: 1h 43min

  • IMDb score: 7.7

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 66%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 80%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 4 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 10+ year olds

One of the best Christmas movies ever made: Home Alone (1990) - PG / 10+ year olds.
One of the best Christmas movies ever made: Home Alone (1990) - PG / 10+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch Home Alone on:

Home Alone (1990) - Official Trailer

Gremlins (1984)

  • Genre: Horror, Comedy, Fantasy

  • Age rating: PG

  • Run time: 1h 46min

  • IMDb score: 7.3

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 86%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 78%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 5 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 12+ year olds

One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Gremlins (1984) - PG / 12+ year olds.
One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Gremlins (1984) - PG / 12+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch Gremlins on:

Gremlins (1984) - Official Trailer

Frozen (2013)

  • Genre: Animation, Adventure, Musical, Fantasy

  • Age rating: PG

  • Run time: 1h 42min

  • IMDb score: 7.4

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 90%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 85%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 5 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 5+ year olds

One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Frozen (2013) - PG / 5+ year olds.
One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Frozen (2013) - PG / 5+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch Frozen on:

Frozen (2013) - Official Trailer

A Christmas Story (1983)

  • Genre: Holiday, Family, Comedy

  • Age rating: PG

  • Run time: 1h 33min

  • IMDb score: 7.9

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 89%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 89%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 5 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 8+ year olds

One of the best family movies ever made: A Christmas Story (1983) - PG / 8+ year olds.
One of the best family movies ever made: A Christmas Story (1983) - PG / 8+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch A Christmas Story on:

A Christmas Story (1983) - Official Trailer

Anastasia (1997)

  • Genre: Animation, Adventure, Musical, Mystery, Fantasy, Romance

  • Age rating: PG

  • Run time: 1h 34min

  • IMDb score: 7.1

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 84%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 77%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 4 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 6+ year olds

One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Anastasia (1997) - PG, 6+ year olds.
One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Anastasia (1997) - PG, 6+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch Anastasia on:

Anastasia (1997) - Official Trailer

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

  • Genre: Holiday, Family, Drama, Comedy, Supernatural

  • Age rating: PG

  • Run time: 2h 10min

  • IMDb score: 8.6

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 94%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 95%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 5 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 9+ year olds

One of the best Christmas movies of all time: It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) - PG / 9+ year olds.
One of the best Christmas movies of all time: It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) - PG / 9+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch It’s A Wonderful Life on:

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) - Official Trailer

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

  • Genre: Holiday, Family, Comedy, Adventure

  • Age rating: M

  • Run time: 1h 37min

  • IMDb score: 7.5

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 70%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 86%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 3 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 13+ year olds

One of the best family movies ever made: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) - PG / 13+ year olds.
One of the best family movies ever made: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) - PG / 13+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on:

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) - Official Trailer

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

  • Genre: Holiday, Comedy, Drama, Adventure

  • Age rating: G

  • Run time: 1h 36min

  • IMDb score: 7.9

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 96%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 87%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 4 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 5+ year olds

One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - G / 5+ year olds.
One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - G / 5+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch Miracle on 34th Street on:

⭐ 🍿 Discover the best G rated movies on Netflix to see next!

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - Official Trailer

A Christmas Carol (1984)

  • Genre: Holiday, Drama, Supernatural

  • Age rating: PG

  • Run time: 1h 40min

  • IMDb score: 7.8

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 75%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 5 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 9+ year olds

One of the best Christmas movies of all time: A Christmas Carol (1984) - PG / 9+ year olds.
One of the best Christmas movies of all time: A Christmas Carol (1984) - PG / 9+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch A Christmas Carol on Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video

A Christmas Carol (1984) - Trailer (HD)

Scrooge (1970)

  • Genre: Holiday, Musical, Adventure, Supernatural

  • Age rating: G

  • Run time: 2h

  • IMDb score: 7.5

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 75%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 83%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 4 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 6+ year olds

One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Scrooge (1970) - G / 6+ year olds.
One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Scrooge (1970) - G / 6+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch Scrooge on Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video. 

Scrooge (1970) - Official 50th Anniversary Trailer

Klaus (2019)

  • Genre: Holiday, Animation, Adventure, Comedy

  • Age rating: PG

  • Run time: 1h 36min

  • IMDb score: 8.2

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 95%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 96%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 4 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 6+ year olds

One of the best Christmas movies ever made: Klaus (2019) - PG / 6+ year olds.
One of the best Christmas movies ever made: Klaus (2019) - PG / 6+ year olds

Where to watch:

Follow this link to watch Klaus on Netflix.

⭐ 🍿🥤 🎥 Discover what Netflix kids movies to watch next.

Klaus (2019) - Official Trailer

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (1970)

  • Genre: Holiday, Animation, Adventure

  • Age rating: G

  • Run time: 48min

  • IMDb score: 7.7

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 93%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 82%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 5 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 5+ year olds

One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (1970) - G / 5+ year olds.
One of the best Christmas movies of all time: Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (1970) - G / 5+ year olds

Where to watch:

You can watch Santa Claus In Comin' To Town on Amazon Prime.

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (1970) - Official Trailer

Arthur Christmas (2011)

  • Genre: Holiday, Animation, Comedy, Adventure

  • Age rating: G

  • Run time: 1h 37min

  • IMDb score: 7.1

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 92%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 77%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 4 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 6+ year olds

One of the best family movies of all time: Arthur Christmas (2011) - G / 6+ year olds.
One of the best family movies of all time: Arthur Christmas (2011) - G / 6+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch Arthur Christmas on:

Arthur Christmas (2011) - Official Trailer

The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)

  • Genre: Holiday, Animation, Family, Comedy, Adventure

  • Age rating: G

  • Run time: 51min

  • IMDb score: 7.5

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 90%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 83%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 3 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 4+ year olds

One of the best Christmas movies ever made: The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) - G / 4+ year olds.
One of the best Christmas movies ever made: The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) - G / 4+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch The Year Without a Santa Claus on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV. 

The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) - Trailer

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

  • Genre: Holiday, Comedy, Family, Adventure

  • Age rating: PG

  • Run time: 1h 44min

  • IMDb score: 7.0

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 68%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 76%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 3 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 10+ year olds

One of the best family movies of all time: The Christmas Chronicles (2018) - PG / 10+ year olds.
One of the best family movies of all time: The Christmas Chronicles (2018) - PG / 10+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix today!

The Christmas Chronicles (2018) - Official Trailer

The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special (2022)

  • Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy

  • Age rating: PG

  • Run time: 42min

  • IMDb score: 6.9

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 94%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 80%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 4 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 12+ year olds

One of the best Christmas movies of all time - The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special (2022) - PG /  12+ year olds.
One of the best Christmas movies of all time: The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) - PG / 12+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special on Disney+.

🌟 🎬 🍿 🥳 Discover the top 10 Disney movies of all time to see next!

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) - Official Trailer

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)

  • Genre: Holiday, Animation, Family, Comedy, Adventure

  • Age rating: G

  • Run time: 1h 6min

  • IMDb score: 7.0

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 40%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 66%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 3 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 3+ year olds

One of the best family movies ever made: Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999) - G / 3+ year olds.
One of the best family movies ever made: Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999) - G / 3+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas on:

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999) - Trailer

A Holiday Spectacular (2022)

  • Genre: Holiday, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Historical

  • Age rating: PG

  • Run time: 1h 25min

  • IMDb score: 7.5

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 81%

  • The recommended age rating for PG-rated movies: 8+ years old. 

One of the best Christmas movies of all time: A Holiday Spectacular (2022) - PG / 8+ years old.
One of the best Christmas movies of all time: A Holiday Spectacular (2022) - PG / 8+ years old

Where to watch:

Rent or buy A Holiday Spectacular on Amazon Prime Video today! 

A Holiday Spectacular (2022) - Official Trailer

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

  • Genre: Holiday, Musical

  • Age rating: G

  • Run time: 1h 25min

  • IMDb score: 7.8

  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 77%

  • Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 86%

  • Common Sense Media rating: 4 / 5

  • Common Sense Media age recommendation: 5+ year olds

One of the best family movies of all time: The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - G / 5+ year olds.
One of the best family movies of all time: The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - G / 5+ year olds

Where to watch:

Watch The Muppet Christmas Carol on:

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - Original Trailer

We hope our list of the top holiday films for families has helped you find a great movie to enjoy this Christmas season.

Whether you picked to watch a Christmas classic, a kids-friendly animated musical, or an exciting adventure film, we hope you'll be spending Christmas enjoying that movie. 

Become a Christmas School Holiday Hero by sharing this article with friends and family, so they can also find a fantastic movie to spread the Christmas spirit and holiday cheer!

And don't forget to bookmark this article for next year to avoid a nightmare before Christmas as you struggle to search for a good movie to watch! 

🎄🎅 Happy Christmas holidays, from our family to yours!


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