Happy Holidays: 20 Kid-Friendly Films for Christmas

The Polar Express shares the story of a young boy who finds himself on a journey to the North Pole on a magical train — the Polar Express. A beloved Christmas film, the movie shares the message of believing in the spirit of the holiday.

The movie features motion-capture computer-animation, which means the characters were created partly from work by real-life actors blended with computerized animation. Tom Hanks notably stood in and voiced a number of the roles. The Polar Express earned three Academy Award nominations, all centered around the film’s music/sound. 

Read THR’s 2004 review of The Polar Express here.

This movie tells the classic story of the most famous reindeer of all. Before Rudolph was the Christmas icon he is today, he was rejected by the North Pole reindeers for his unique red nose. However, the very feature he was criticized for ends up being an asset to Santa and the rest of the world when Rudolph saves Christmas. 

A 2018 THR poll found that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the most beloved holiday film, further solidifying the reach and longevity of this story.

This 1999 animated movie centered around the cherished Disney characters is sure to entertain the kids this holiday season. An oldie but a goodie, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas features three separate stories that spotlight different sets of characters: Donald Duck and the rest of the Duck family; Goofy and Max; and Minnie and Mickey Mouse. 

In one of Will Ferrell’s most recognizable roles (and that’s saying a lot), the six-time Emmy Award winner portrays Buddy the Elf, a human who was accidentally raised by elves after stumbling into Santa’s toy sack on Christmas Eve as a baby. When Buddy realizes he has a father living in New York City, he leaves the North Pole and ventures out to reunite with his biological father, causing chaos along the way. 

Read THR’s 2003 review of Elf here.

Another magical movie, Frosty the Snowman, encapsulates the story of a snowman who comes to life after a few children place an old silk hat on his head. Frosty finds himself in hot water when the snow begins to melt, which threatens his own life as well, as the children embark on a plan to help the snowman make it to the North Pole. 

In the live-action adaptation of the widely known Dr. Seuss book, Jim Carrey stepped into the unforgettably green role for How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The film tells the story of the Grinch, a creature who cannot stand Christmas, living on Mount Crumpit right outside of Whoville. When Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen) learns about the Grinch’s story, she sets out to reinstall Christmas spirit in his heart. 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas was nominated for three Oscars and won one for best makeup. Momsen reflected on how beloved the film has become in conversation with THR, noting, “The film that [director] Ron [Howard] made is so heartwarming. How can you not love it? It’s for children; it’s for adults. The core story is so universal. It’s just amazing.” 

Read THR’s 2000 review of How the Grinch Stole Christmas here.

One of the most popular holiday movies of all time, Home Alone introduced Kevin McCallister to the world in 1990. With Macaulay Culkin in the leading spot, the movie sees what happens when Kevin is literally home alone and left to defend his house from a few robbers.

Culkin was a mere 10 years old when he shot the original film, which catapulted him into child stardom. Home Alone earned two Oscar nods and created a full franchise of movies, with the latest coming out in 2021. 

Read THR’s 1990 review of Home Alone here.

Almost exactly to the date, A Charlie Brown Christmas was released 60 years ago, featuring the beloved characters from Peanuts. In the holiday special, Charlie Brown embarks on a journey to understand the true meaning of Christmas. 

An adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novel of the same name, Robert Zemeckis’ A Christmas Carol stars Jim Carrey in the leading role of Ebenezer Scrooge. This animated film tackles Scrooge’s journey visiting the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future so he can reclaim his life for the better. 

Netflix’s Klaus is one of the newer films on the list, and it offers a brand-new perspective on how Santa Claus came to be the beloved figure he is today. In the animated film, a young boy named Jesper recognizes the carpentry talent of the town mailman, Mr. Klaus, and inspires him to use his skills to generate joy. 

The film earned a 2020 Oscar nomination for best animated feature, and features a famous cast with stars like Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones and Joan Cusack voicing the characters.

Read THR’s 2019 review of Klaus here.

Hailing from the team behind Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, this 1970 movie shares the story of Kris Kringle — and how he became Santa Claus. After being taken in by the Kringle family, who are all elves, Kris grows up learning how to make toys, which is a talent he shares in his adulthood to the kids of Sombertown. 

However, a toy ban implemented by Mayor Burgermeister Meisterburger threatens Kris’ livelihood, though he’s swiftly saved by none other than a group of reindeers. From there, he heads out to the North Pole with Jessica, a schoolteacher from the town that he marries, and they continue making toys and spreading cheer.

This comedy starring Tim Allen spawned a film franchise, and the original 1994 movie chronicles how Scott Calvin stumbled into the role of Santa Claus. The title itself is a play on “the Santa Clause” that Allen’s character has to abide by, stepping into the big shoes of being the world’s Santa.  

The Grinch shares the same story as How the Grinch Stole Christmas with a fresh, animated take on Dr. Seuss’ green creature. Benedict Cumberbatch voices the titular character in this revival that THR described in its review as “a vibrant, amusing CG animated feature that gives the big mean, green guy a kinder, gentler makeover.”

Read THR’s full 2018 review of The Grinch here.

The official sequel to Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas, this movie shares five different stories featuring the iconic Disney characters. The first story sees Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck go head-to-head in an ice skating competition; a second tale spotlighting Donald Duck’s nephews who find themselves on the naughty list; and a third where Goofy’s son, Max, brings his girlfriend, Mona, home for Christmas. 

The final two stories chronicle Donald once more, as he wishes for some peace around the holiday season, which ends up dimming the holiday spirit. Finally, in the fifth story, Mickey’s dog Pluto makes a mess of the Christmas decorations and is sent out to his doghouse, and ends up running away to the North Pole. 

Another reimagination of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, this musical comedy spotlights the Muppets characters. Dickens narrates the film as Gonzo, sharing the story of Ebenezer Scrooge once more.

Puppy Paws, the son of Santa Paws (aka Santa Claus’ dog), wants to live a normal life as a puppy. So when he finds Budderball on Santa’s naughty list, he ventures out to find him and the rest of the Buddies (a group of adorable golden retriever puppies), where trouble ensues. 

Santa Buddies stems from Air Buddies, an extension of the Air Bud franchise. One year after its debut, the prequel project, The Search for Santa Paws, was also released.

Before there was Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, there was a series of beloved animated movies centered around the Mattel doll, including the holiday-themed Barbie in the Nutcracker. This movie pulls from E. T. A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, another beloved Christmas tale.

Santa Claus’ youngest son, Arthur, is tasked with saving Christmas in Arthur Christmas when a mere singular child doesn’t receive a gift on the holiday. James McAvoy voices the titular role, where he’s also joined by Hugh Laurie and Bill Nighy. THR’s review praised Arthur Christmas as “an endlessly amusing 3D, CG-animated Yuletide romp with lively innovation at every turn.”

Read THR’s full 2011 review of Arthur Christmas here.

Another family-friendly comedy, the adored Saint Bernard Beethoven sets out to save Christmas and aid Santa when an elf accidentally crashes his sleigh in Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure.

In The Year Without a Santa Claus, Santa catches a cold in early December and decides to forgo delivering gifts when he believes the Christmas spirit has dissipated. However, elves Jingle and Jangle embark on a journey to a town in the South to — hopefully — prove to Santa that the world still loves the holiday.