The Very Best Christmas Films to Watch with Kids

If there is one thing a Covid Christmas 2020 guarantees, it is that we will be spending more time sitting in front of the TV together as a family. This means you will never get a better opportunity to watch some of the best Christmas films ever made with the whole family all together. In fact, why not start right now and make sure you work through these great Christmas movies for kids? 

No list of Christmas or indeed movies for children would be complete without it. The tale of Elsa, Anna, and friendly snowman Olaf that dreams of seeing Summer makes this a must see, and very probably a sing along. Not strictly a Christmas film as such, it does have a reindeer! The faultless vocal talents of Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel make this a joy to listen to as well as watch. 

If you haven't seen Elf, is it even Christmas? Will Ferrell's cotton-headed ninny-muggins Buddy is the baby who accidentally crawled into Santa's sack and ends up being raised at the North Pole by Papa Elf. In the best Christmas tradition, it is Buddy's job to make sure his natural father Walter makes it from the naughty list to the nice list, and to prove to everyone that Santa Claus is real.

In an unlikely comedy outing for Arnold Schwarzenegger, he excels as Howard Langston, the workaholic mattress salesman who is never quite there for his family. In a film inspired by the sell out toy crazes of the 1990s, the film tells the story of the ever more outrageous rivalry between Howard and another father, Myron, for the last Turbo-Man doll in town. The film has a strong and heart-warming message about giving at Christmas.

Out of all the many versions of Dickens' classic available, this version from 2009 is an excellent holiday season choice to introduce children to the story. Filmed using motion capture techniques, Jim Carrey plays a multitude of roles, including Ebenezer Scrooge and the three ghosts! The film was criticised at the time for its dark themes as a Disney product, but is now established as one of the best recent versions of A Christmas Carol.

It does not seem possible that Home Alone is now 30 years old, and yet it seems to always have been part of Christmas. Kevin is accidentally left at home alone in Chicago when his family accidentally oversleep and rush to the airport for a Christmas trip to Paris. Befriending his neighbour, Old Man Marley, Kevin manages to reunite him with his son and granddaughter, as well as getting the better of Harry and Marv, two criminals who try to break into his house.

Spoiler alert: although this film technically deals with the death of Santa Claus, it also happily explains exactly why Santa will go on forever (and gives a useful get out for explaining away any instances of multiple Santas at any point!). Toy salesman Scott Calvin accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall off his roof and inherits the red suit under what is known as the Santa Clause. Over the coming year, he gradually morphs into...Santa!

Another retelling of the Charles Dickens classic, but with a characteristic Muppet twist! This is one Christmas story which never gets old, and certainly not when the familiar characters are adapted to fit their Muppet characteristics. With Michael Caine playing Scrooge, and Statler and Waldorf playing Jacob and Robert Marley, not to mention Fozziwig's rubber chicken factory, this is one Christmas film you cannot miss and that the kids will love.

Christmas movie? Halloween movie? We have no idea, but a good spooky story is a great addition to a family Christmas film night. Jack Skellington is bored with the usual holiday routine at Halloween Town and tries to take over the traditions of the different holiday at Christmas Town. However, the spooky 'Christmas' gifts from Halloween Town scare their recipients, and it is up to Santa to save Christmas.

Another stop-motion masterpiece, this is the tale of a young boy who does not believe in Santa. As he struggles to fall asleep on Christmas Eve, a steam engine pulls on his street. This is the Polar Express, which takes him all the way to the North Pole. It's a train full of adventure, and when the boy returns home he finds a present in his stocking the following morning containing the train's bell, which can only be heard by those who 'truly believe'.

Definitely not one for the younger kids, but if you wanted a special film night with the teenagers after the little ones have gone to bed, this - the third retelling of "A Christmas Carol" in our list! - is the best Christmas movie to get them to stay put and spend some family time. Bill Murray's workaholic television executive is charged with putting on a Christmas Eve extravaganza, and his encounters with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future give him a wakeup call he will not forget.