Watching Christmas movies as a family is one of the best parts of the holidays, even if your family is Jewish like ours. As a little kid, my two favorites were Rudolph and A Charlie Brown Christmas. As a bigger kid, my favorite was Home Alone. And as a tween/teenager, my favorite was definitely Die Hard. Yes, I think Die Hard is a Christmas movie.
As my kids get older and more Christmas movies are released every year, it’s fun to introduce them to my favorites as they become age appropriate (Elf has been the biggest winner in our house) and discover new favorites together— like Noelle, Christmas Chronicles (Part Two came out this year) and the absolutely amazing new release Jingle Jangle.
Here’s a list of all the best Christmas movies, broken down by age! Tell me your favorites in the comments.
The Best Christmas Movies to Watch as a Family
For the Little Ones (5 and under):
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Where to watch: Vudu ($)
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 3+
Frosty the Snowman (2000)
Where to watch: Vudu ($)
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 3+
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Where to watch: AppleTv+
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 3+
A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
Where to watch: YouTube
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 3+
The Grinch (1966)
Where to watch: YouTube ($)
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 4+
The Year Without A Santa Clause (1974)
Where to watch: SlingTV, AMC
Rated: G
Recommended age: 4+
Jack Frost (1979)
Where to watch: Prime Video
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 4+
Babes in Toyland (1934)
Where to watch: Disney+, Prime Video
Rated: G
Recommended age: 5+
Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas (2001)
Where to watch: Prime Video
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 5+
Small One (1978)
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 5+
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Where to watch: Disney+, Prime Video ($)
Rated: G
Recommended age: 5+
Buddy’s Musical Christmas (2015)
Where to watch: HBO Max
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 5+
Prep and Landing (2011)
Where to watch: Hulu, ABC
Rated: G
Recommended age: 5+
Eloise at Christmastime (2003)
Where to watch: Xfinity
Rated: TV-G
Recommended age: 5+
Anabelle’s Wish (1997)
Where to watch: Prime Video
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 5+
Frozen (2013)
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 5+
Bigger Kids (6-9):
Polar Express (2004)
Where to watch: Prime Video, SlingTV
Rated: G
Recommended age: 6+
The Grinch (2018)
Where to watch: Prime Video, YouTube ($)
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 6+
The Search for Santa Paws (2010)
Where to watch: Hulu, HBO Max, Prime Video
Rated: G
Recommended age: 6+
Klaus (2019)
Where to watch: Netflix
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 6+
Noelle (2019)
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated: G
Recommended age: 6+
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 6+
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
Where to watch: Prime Video ($)
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 6+
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Where to watch: Prime Video ($)
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 7+
Elf (2003)
Where to watch: Hulu, Prime Video
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 7+
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 7+
Fred Claus (2007)
Where to watch: Prime Video, SlingTV
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 7+
Unaccompanied Minors (2006)
Where to watch: HBO Max
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 7+
Jack Frost (1998)
Where to watch: Prime Video
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 8+
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 8+
The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
Where to watch: Hulu
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 8+
A Christmas Story (1983)
Where to watch: Hulu
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 8+
The Princess Switch (2018)
Where to watch: Netflix
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 8+
The Grinch (2000)
Where to watch: Netflix
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 8+
Jingle All the Way (1996)
Where to watch: Hulu
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 8+
Jingle Jangle (2020)
Where to watch: Netflix
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 8+
White Christmas (1954)
Where to watch: Netflix
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 8+
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Where to watch: Hulu, SlingTV
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 9+
I’ll be Home for Christmas (1998)
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 9+
The Santa Clause 1-3 (1994, 2002, 2006)
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated: PG, G, G
Recommended age: 9+, 7+, 7+
A Christmas Carol (2009)
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 9+
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Where to watch: Prime Video
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 9+
Tween-ish (10-13):
Home Alone (1990)
Where to watch: Disney+
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 10+
Christmas Chronicles: Part One and Two (2018, 2020)
Where to watch: Netflix
Rated: PG
Recommended age: 10+
A Christmas Prince (2017)
Where to watch: Netflix
Rated: NR
Recommended age: 10+
Scrooged (1988)
Where to watch: Prime Video ($)
Rated: PG-13
Recommended age: 12+
Teens and up (13+):
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Where to watch: Prime Video, SlingTV
Rated: PG-13
Recommended age: 13+
The Holiday (2006)
Where to watch: Hulu, SlingTV
Rated: PG-13
Recommended age: 13+
Last Christmas (2019)
Where to watch: HBO Max
Rated: PG-13
Recommended age: 13+
The Family Man (2000)
Where to watch: Prime Video
Rated: PG-13
Recommended age: 13+
Eight Crazy Nights (2002)
Where to watch: Hulu
Rated: PG-13
Recommended age: 14+
Four Christmases (2008)
Where to watch: Prime Video, SlingTV
Rated: PG-13
Recommended age: 14+
Just Friends (2005)
Where to watch: Prime Video ($)
Rated: PG-13
Recommended age: 15+
The Family Stone (2005)
Where to watch: HBO Max
Rated: PG-13
Recommended age: 15+
Love Actually (2003)
Where to watch: Hulu
Rated: R
Recommended age: 16+
Die Hard (1988)
Where to watch: HBO Max
Rated: R
Recommended age: 16+
Bad Santa (2003)
Where to watch: Prime Video ($)
Rated: R
Recommended age: 17+
Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
Where to watch: Netflix
Rated: R
Recommended age: 17+
The Night Before (2015)
Where to watch: Hulu
Rated: R
Recommended age: 17+
Mery Christmas 2020!
In the 1973 20th Century Fox-CBS version with Sebastian Cabot and David Hartman is superior to the 1994 version. In fact, Macy’s allowed the 1973 version to be shot on location, at their Main Store, just like the original.
My kids get older and more Christmas movies are released every year, it’s fun to introduce them to my favorites as they become age-appropriate. Wishing you a Christmas that’s merry and bright. We hope you have a safe and relaxing holiday season. I hope your holiday season is full of peace, joy, and happiness.
Watching Christmas movies as a family is one of the best parts of the holidays. Home Along and Jingle Jangle were my favorites. Thanks for sharing some movie recommendations!
My family often goes to Christmas night, we go around the streets to see the Christmas atmosphere happening in each family, sometimes some families celebrate Christmas together. There are many families who choose to spend time together, but also many families choose to go out like we do.