Family Christmas movies: 30 classic, funny and animated picks for every age

Timeless Christmas classics

• It's a Wonderful Life (1946): the classic about how much one life matters. Still moving.
• Miracle on 34th Street (1947): a department-store Santa who might be the real thing.
• White Christmas (1954): songs, dancing and snow. A cozy musical for the whole family.
• A Christmas Story (1983): one boy's quest for a BB gun, told with dry humor.
• Home Alone (1990, PG): the most rewatched family Christmas movie there is.
• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992): the best version of the Dickens story for kids, and many adults agree.

Funny Christmas movies

• Elf (2003, PG): Will Ferrell as a human raised by elves. Pure joy.
• Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, PG): the same fun, this time in New York.
• The Santa Clause (1994, PG): a dad accidentally becomes Santa.
• National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989, PG-13): every family holiday disaster in one movie. Best for older kids.
• Jingle All the Way (1996, PG): two dads fighting over the year's must-have toy.
• Arthur Christmas (2011, PG): how Santa's family really delivers all those presents.

Animated Christmas movies for kids

• Klaus (2019, PG): a beautifully animated origin story for Santa. A modern classic.
• The Polar Express (2004, G): a magical train ride to the North Pole.
• The Grinch (2018, PG): a bright, gentle version of the Dr. Seuss story for younger kids.
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966): the original 26-minute special, perfect before bedtime.
• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): short, sweet and full of great music.
• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993, PG): works for both Halloween and December.

Romantic Christmas movies

• The Holiday (2006, PG-13): two women swap homes for the holidays. The ultimate cozy rewatch.
• Love Actually (2003, R): several love stories in the weeks before Christmas in London.
• While You Were Sleeping (1995, PG): a sweet, funny romance set around Christmas in Chicago.
• Last Christmas (2019, PG-13): a London Christmas romance full of George Michael songs.
• Happiest Season (2020, PG-13): a holiday romantic comedy about meeting the family.
• Carol (2015, R): an elegant 1950s love story set around Christmas in New York.

Christmas movies for adults

• Die Hard (1988, R): the eternal debate about whether it's a Christmas movie. It is.
• Scrooged (1988, PG-13): Bill Murray in a sharp, modern take on A Christmas Carol.
• The Family Stone (2005, PG-13): a messy, funny and emotional family Christmas.
• Gremlins (1984, PG): a creepy-funny Christmas classic. Too scary for little kids.
• The Night Before (2015, R): three old friends' last big Christmas Eve out in New York.
• Tokyo Godfathers (2003, PG-13): an anime about three unlikely friends who find a baby on Christmas Eve.

Pick by age

• Under 6: A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966), The Grinch (2018).
• 6 to 10: Elf, The Polar Express, Arthur Christmas, The Santa Clause, Klaus.
• 10 and up: Home Alone, A Christmas Story, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Christmas Vacation.
• Teens and adults: The Holiday, Die Hard, Scrooged, The Family Stone.

How to choose a Christmas movie as a family

1. Start from the youngest viewer's age.
2. Everyone suggests one title, and everyone gets one veto.
3. Make a December list and cross movies off as you go, so nobody has to choose from scratch every night.

Choosing together with ReelMatch

In ReelMatch each person swipes through trailers on their own phone, and the app shows the titles everyone said yes to. It's a quick way to build a family Christmas watch list that nobody argues about. It's free on iPhone and Android.