Hey Hollywooders! With the plethora of Christmas movies available on TV and streaming services, it can sometimes be difficult to choose a film that the whole family will love.
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Today we’re sharing our guide to the best movies to watch with your family this holiday season and where you can find them!
Family Christmas Movies: How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Since Dr. Seuss’ creation of “The Grinch,” the character has become a Christmas staple. The iconic 2000s live-action movie Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas is widely considered a Christmas classic. The comedy stars Jim Carrey as The Grinch, Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who, and Christine Baranski as Martha May.
Kicking off December with a viewing of How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
First of many viewings#Christmas2021 #Christmas #TheGrinch #ChristmasMovies pic.twitter.com/yXQGY7iw57— Bill Farrell (@BillFarrell2) December 1, 2021
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas takes viewers through The Grinch’s endeavors to ruin Christmas for Whoville, gives background as to why he despises Christmas, and ends with him learning to love and establishing friendships with the Whos. The film is full of fun scenes and hilarious jokes that will captivate the whole family!
The 2018 film Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch is an animated movie that puts a twist on the classic story, with narration by Pharrell Williams. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as The Grinch and Cameron Seely as Cindy Lou Who. It also features Kenan Thompson, Rashida Jones, and Angela Lansbury. This film focuses more on Cindy Lou Who and her family and why having a memorable Christmas is so important to them.
You can stream Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) on Freeform, and catch Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018) on Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas!”
Family Christmas Movies: Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
The 1994 Miracle on 34th Street is a remake of the 1947 film of the same name. The movie centers on a single mother, Dorey, living in New York City who has a young daughter named Susan. When looking for a new person to play Santa Claus at Cole’s Department Store, she comes across Kris Kringle, who gains the trust of the children who visit him and has uncanny resemblances to the real Santa Claus.
Kris has a secret though— he is the real Santa Claus. He must then convince the skeptical Dorey and Susan, and an entire jury of his true identity. Miracle on 34th Street stars Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Mara Wilson, and Dylan McDermott.
Miracle on 34th Street (1994) gets my vote for most beautifully shot and lit Christmas movie. It is a BEAUTY of a picture. pic.twitter.com/fgk5R8hUJr
— Kevin Parry (@kevinbparry) December 22, 2020
Watch Miracle on 34th Street on HBO Max!
Family Christmas Movies: Klaus (2019)
Klaus is an animated Netflix film that tells an origin story of Santa Claus and how he started delivering toys to children on Christmas. The movie follows a mail carrier, Jesper, and a toymaker, Klaus, who team up to bring joy to the town of Smeerensberg. The town has had a long-running feud between the 2 main families— the Ellingboes and the Krums— which creates hostility in the town.
After Klaus finds a sad drawing from one of the Krum children and gives the child a toy to cheer him up, children give Jesper letters to deliver to Klaus so they can also receive a new toy. Klaus was written and directed by Sergio Pablos and stars Jason Schwartzman, J. K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, and Joan Cusack.
Watch Klaus on Netflix!
Family Christmas Movies: The Santa Clause series
Disney’s The Santa Clause trilogy follows father Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) who becomes Santa Claus when he puts the Santa suit on after the former Santa falls off the roof. Throughout the first film, Scott must juggle his relationship with his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) and the responsibilities that come during his first Christmas season as Santa, all while convincing his ex-wife (Wendy Crewson) that he’s not crazy.
i would wear every single outfit in the santa clause movies and i have no shame. they did not need to go that hard but they did pic.twitter.com/C5wmVS78Ay
— riley/roo amoss (@famousriloamoss) December 1, 2021
The Santa Clause 2 (2002) focuses on Scott as he temporarily steps away from the role of Santa to find a wife before Christmas Eve, or else he will no longer be Santa Claus. This film introduces Scott’s love interest Carol (Elizabeth Mitchell) and Charlie’s half-sister (Liliana Mumy). The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006) is the 3rd and final film in the series, which brings Jack Frost (Martin Short) as he plays with time travel and tries to become the new face of Christmas.
The film series also stars Judge Reinhold, David Krumholtz, and Spencer Breslin. These movies are the perfect mix of entertaining, funny, and heartwarming, and make great picks for a movie marathon!
Watch all 3 The Santa Clause movies on Disney+!
Family Christmas Movies: The Home Alone series
One of the most iconic Christmas movies of the ‘90s, Home Alone follows a young boy named Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) who is accidentally left home by his family when they embark on their Christmas vacation. Kevin must then learn to navigate the freedom of being home alone while also stopping burglars who are trying to break into his house on Christmas Eve.
Home Alone (1990) also stars Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O’Hara, and John Heard. New additions have since been made to the franchise, all with similar storylines. These movies include Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Home Alone 3 (1997), Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House (2002), and Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (2012).
The most recent release to the Home Alone series, Home Sweet Home Alone, premiered on Disney+ earlier this year. Home Sweet Home Alone follows 10-year-old Max who is left behind from his family vacation after a complication with flight bookings. Home alone for the holidays, he must protect his house from burglars who are trying to steal his family’s priceless heirloom. The film stars Archie Yates, Ellie Kemper, Rob Delaney, and Kenan Thompson.
Watch the Home Alone movies on Disney+!
Family Christmas Movies: Jingle All The Way (1996)
Jingle All The Way is a 1996 comedy that centers on a father who sets out to buy his son the most popular toy for Christmas. Howard (Arnold Schwarzenegger) hopes that getting a Turbo-Man action figure for his son Jamie (Jake Lloyd) will make up for his workaholic tendencies. On Christmas Eve, Howard goes on an action-filled journey to find a Turbo-Man in which he must compete with Myron (Sinbad) who is also in search of the highly-coveted toy.
Written by Randy Kornfield and directed by Brian Levant, Jingle All The Way also stars Phil Hartman and Rita Wilson.
Watch Jingle All The Way on Hulu and Disney+!
Family Christmas Movies: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a classic family comedy for the holidays! The film follows the Griswolds as they prepare for their family’s Christmas and celebrate the holiday. This marks the 3rd film of National Lampoon’s magazine Vacation film series.
Rule #1 of #BestChristmasEver: the Griswolds are always invited.
Don’t miss National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, tonight at 8/7c on AMC. ? pic.twitter.com/EUOq6mUmmx
— AMC-TV (@AMC_TV) December 8, 2021
Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), is the source of most of the movie’s laughs. With family coming from out of town to visit, Clark is determined to create the best Christmas. This includes picking out a massive Christmas tree and putting together an extravagant light display that causes a citywide power outage in what has become one of the most iconic Christmas movie scenes.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation also stars Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, John Randolph, and Diane Ladd. The film is based on a short story by John Hughes called Christmas ‘59, which was published in National Lampoon magazine. It was directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik.
Watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on HBO Max!
Family Christmas Movies: Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a Christmas musical that was released on Netflix in 2020. The fantasy film centers around a toymaker named Jeronicus Jangle (Forest Whitaker) who is working to complete his new invention, which he thinks could change his and his family’s lives. When he finishes the creation— a toy matador— the doll comes to life and convinces Jeronicus’s apprentice to steal him along with Jeronicus’ invention book to avoid being mass produced.
Jeronicus then begins to struggle financially before the death of his wife who has fallen ill. This leads Jeronicus into a depression which affects his relationship with his daughter Jessica. When Jeronicus learns that he must produce a new invention in order to keep his shop, he enlists the help of his granddaughter, Journey, who he meets for the first time when she visits him for Christmas. The two team up to ensure that Jeronicus doesn’t have his ideas stolen from him again.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey stars Madalen Mills, Phylicia Rashad, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Noni Rose, and Diana Babincova. The movie was written and directed by David E. Talbert. With its music and unique story, this film is different from any other Christmas movie and is bound to keep the whole family entertained!
Watch Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey on Netflix!
Family Christmas Movies: The Ultimate Christmas Present (2000)
The Ultimate Christmas Present is a Disney Channel Original movie starring Halle Hirsh, Brenda Song, Hallie Todd, Spencer Breslin, and John Salley. The movie takes place in Los Angeles, where main character Allie has never experienced a snowy Christmas. Allie and her friend Sam discover a weather machine in the woods that could finally bring snow to LA.
Alright who has the snow machine from the movie “the ultimate Christmas present”?? #onlyearly2000kidswillunderstand pic.twitter.com/51PWo2JF6A
— Nicholas• (@_AyyNicholas) February 16, 2016
Allie turns on the weather machine in her house, waking up to a snow day the next morning. Allie lands herself a spot on the naughty list for her actions, as it turns out the weather machine belonged to none other than Santa Claus. When the snow begins to put a damper on Allie’s and Sam’s Christmas plans, they must put a stop to it with the help of Santa. The Ultimate Christmas Present was written by Hallie Einhorn and Michael Hitchcock, and directed by Greg Beeman.
Watch The Ultimate Christmas Present on Disney+!
Family Christmas Movies: Noelle (2019)
Noelle is a Disney+ original Christmas movie that focuses on Santa’s 2 children: Nick and Noelle. After Santa Claus’ untimely death months before Christmas, his son Nick Kringle (Bill Hader) is in line to take over his position. Nick, however, is not ready to become the new face of Christmas. His sister Noelle (