Beyond Elf: The Best Family Christmas Movies

Here are 18 of the best family Christmas movies worth watching with your family this holiday season.

When it comes to holiday traditions, there’s no doubt that one tradition revolves around watching a movie or two with your family to celebrate the season.

In 2017, my husband and I introduced our son to one of our go-to holiday shows: Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special. I know, I know. It’s not really a movie, but it’s holiday-themed and pretty fantastic.

Elf is another one of our holiday faves. We love it (as do so many other families) – but we often forget how many other holiday flicks deserve our attention.

So we’ve rounded up 18 of them.

Take a peek at some of the best family Christmas movies to watch this holiday season, and if we missed your favorite tell us in the comments.

A scene from the Christmas chronicles move
Photo via Netflix.com

The Christmas Chronicles

Year: 2018
Rated: PG

This Netflix original tells the story of a brother and sister who accidentally crash Santa’s sleigh and must help the wise-cracking elf save the holiday.

Cover of The Nightmare Before Christmas
Photo via IMDB.com

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Year: 1993
Rated: PG

What happens when Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town? He kidnaps Santa and tries to control Christmas in this Tim Burton gem.

Cover of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Photo via tvguide.com

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Year: 1964
Rated: TV-G

This stop-motion animated TV movie features “Santa’s ninth reindeer” — one of the most beloved Christmas characters — on his quest to seek acceptance for being different.

Cover of the muppet christmas carol
Photo via IMDB.com

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Year: 1992
Rated: G

It’s the Muppets’ twist on the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his encounter with the three ghosts of Christmas — featuring Kermit, Miss Piggy, the Swedish Chef and all your other favorite Muppets.

A Christmas Story cover
Photo via walmart.com

A Christmas Story

Year: 1983
Rated: PG

“You’ll shoot your eye out!” He may have been warned, but that didn’t stop Ralphie from pining for a Red Ryder BB gun. Will he get the one thing he longs for on Christmas morning?

Cover of it's a wonderful life
Photo via IMDB.com

It’s a Wonderful Life

Year: 1946
Rated: PG

George Bailey is a frustrated businessman who wishes he’d never been born. An angel from heaven visits him on the eve of Christmas to show George just what life would be like without him in it.

Scene from A Charlie Brown Christmas
Scene from A Charlie Brown Christmas via WXYZ.com

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Year: 1965
Rated: TV-G

It’s only 25-minutes long — perfect for the wee ones in the family — but this Peanuts flick is a classic. Watch Charlie Brown discover the true meaning of Christmas in this holiday film.

Screenshot from Frosty the Snowman
Photo via popculture.com

Frosty the Snowman

Year: 1969
Rated: TV-G

Full disclosure: This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies! It’s another TV short, great for the little ones to watch, about a greedy magician who is after Frosty the Snowman’s hat.

Movie poster from Christmas with the Kranks
Photo via Wikipedia.org

Christmas with the Kranks

Year: 2004
Rated: PG

The Kranks, who are hardcore Christmas celebrators, decide to skip the celebration altogether when they find out their daughter won’t be home for the holidays. But when she changes her plans, they duo has to kick it in high gear to prepare.

Cover of The Family Stone
Photo via Amazon.com

The Family Stone

Year: 2005
Rated: PG-13

This one is for a bit of an older audience, but it’s definitely worth watching this holiday season. An uptight businesswoman travels home with her boyfriend to meet his family: an eccentric bunch led by mom Sybil Stone, played by Diane Keaton. What you don’t realize right away is that Sybil is dying and this is her last Christmas. It’s a heartbreaking yet beautiful holiday film.

Cover of How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Photo via tvguide.com

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Year: 1966
Not rated

Sure, you can watch the live-action adaptation from the year 2000, but why not catch the original animated TV short instead? The Grinch may have planned to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville, but he never planned to have his heart grow by three sizes.

Cover of A miracle on 34th Street
Photo via Amazon.com

Miracle on 34th Street

Year: 1947
Not rated

When an old man who claims to be Santa Claus is jailed for insanity, a young attorney comes to his defense to argue that the man is, in fact, who he says he is.

Scene from The Santa Claus
Photo via tvovermind.com

The Santa Clause

Year: 1994
Rated: PG

I must admit that I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched this movie starring Tim Allen as a man who accidentally kills Santa Claus on Christmas Eve — and is magically made his replacement.

Jingle all the way cover
Photo via shatthemovies.com

Jingle All the Way

Year: 1996
Rated: PG

Every parent can relate to the quest to find your child’s must-have toy on his holiday list. And that’s exactly what this dad is trying to do in this ’90s flick starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Home alone cover
Photo via IMDB.com

Home Alone

Year: 1990
Rated: PG

While your kids probably don’t know who Macaulay Culkin is, we’re sure you remember him as the adorable Kevin in this family favorite. Things get crazy when Kevin’s parents accidentally leave him at home during Christmas vacation.

Cover of the Polar Express
Photo via IMDB.com

The Polar Express

Year: 2004
Rated: G

Based on the children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg, in this film, a young boy journeys to the North Pole on the Polar Express — all while learning about friendship and the spirit of Christmas.

Scene from Jack Frost
Photo via Amazon.com

Jack Frost

Year: 1998
Rated: PG

A father who can’t keep his promises dies in a car accident. One year later, he comes back to life as a snowman and is given a second chance to make things right with his son before disappearing forever.

A scene from the search for santa paws
Photo via HBO.com

The Search for Santa Paws 

Year: 2010
Rated: G

Santa has lost his memory and it’s now up to a few magic dogs and an elf to help him and save Christmas. 

This post was originally published in 2017 and is updated regularly. 

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