Christmas Movies
One of our family traditions is to watch the myriad of Christmas specials and movies that celebrate the holiday. We have included some of our favorites below for you to choose from to enjoy with your family.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Warner Home Video – 1965
A little boy learns the true meaning of Christmas, with help from his friends and his dog.
A Charlie Brown Christmas is the treasured holiday tale of a small boy and his dog. When his friends seem to become obsessed with the gifts and decorations of the season, Charlie Brown begins to wonder if anyone still knows what Christmas is really all about. It may take a small tree lit up with Snoopy's dog house decor and warmed with Linus's blanket to show Charlie Brown the real meaning of Christmas.
A Season For Miracles
Hallmark Hall of Fame, CBS Television – 1999
After fleeing with her niece and nephew to save them from a foster home, a woman is mistaken for an heiress in a small town called Bethlehem.
Emilie Thompson has always wanted the best for her niece and nephew, but her drug-addicted sister doesn't seem to care about her kids. When the two children are threatened with foster care, Emilie runs away with them to a small town named Bethlehem. After being mistaken as a long-lost heiress and unknowingly acquiring the help of an angel, Emilie discovers that maybe Christmas is the season for miracles.
Disney's A Christmas Carol
Walt Disney – 2010
Jim Carrey plays the penny-pinching Ebeneezer Scrooge in this fast-paced retelling of Dickens' Christmas favorite. When he sees his knocker turn into the head of his long-deceased partner, Scrooge thinks that the image is the result of indigestion. However, when Jacob Marley's ghost suddenly confronts him fully with the promise of three spirits on their way to haunt him, Scrooge knows that the night to come will not be food-related, but possibly related to his entire life.
Barbie in a Christmas Carol
Universal Studios – 2008
In this retelling of this classical Christmas story, a selfish opera singer (a.k.a. Barbie) is visited on Christmas Eve by three spirits and learns the true spirit of Christmas.
In this retelling of this classical Christmas story, Barbie is Eden Starling, a selfish opera singer, living only for herself. Her motto: “In a selfish world, the selfish succeed.” She has all the popularity she wants, but no true friends. On Christmas Eve, Eden is confronted by three spirits, who all show her bits of her life in the past, present, and future. Will Eden learn from her mistakes and discover the true spirit of Christmas before it's too late?
Frosty the Snowman
Broadway Video – 1993
Rankin/Bass, Classic Media, Broadway Pictures Video – 1969
After donning an evil magician's supposedly useless hat, a snowman comes to life. Unfortunately, the warming weather threatens to melt him, so he and his new friends must try to get him to the North Pole before he becomes a "splash in the world." A refrigerated boxcar can help them en route to Santa's village, but a hatless magician follows them in hopes of retrieving his now-useful hat.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
MGM Television – 1966
The Grinch hates Christmas, and this year he's decided to take Christmas away from all those Whos down in Whoville. Accompanied by his dog, Max, the Grinch sneaks into Whoville late on Christmas Eve and steals all the packages, boxes, and bags. With nothing around them to remind them of Christmas, the Grinch eagerly awaits watching the Whos cry and bemoan their fate. However, on Christmas morning, what the Grinch sees is not exactly what he expects.
Jack Frost
Warner Home Video – 1979
Jack Frost arrives every winter, touching the world with his fingertips and creating icy crystal wonders. But this year he wants change and asks to become human. His wish is granted, but in order to keep his physical form, he must obtain the things all mortal men have before spring: a steed, gold, and a wife. Will Jack Frost succeed in time, or will he return to the icy life he knew before?
Once Upon a Christmas
Paramount – 2000
When the names on the naughty list outweigh those on the nice, Santa decides that it might be the time to take a vacation from Christmas. His daughter, Kristen, is determined to save Christmas and convinces her father to give her a chance to prove that the Christmas spirit is not entirely lost to the mortal world. Santa agrees that if she can change a family's naughty ways before Christmas Eve, then he won't cancel his midnight flight. Kristen realizes she has her work cut out for her when she meets the family she must turn to nice. Single, work-centered dad, Bill, naughty siblings, Kyle and Brittany, and lazy Uncle Johnny. Will Kristen be able to save Christmas in time?
The Christmas Box
Hallmark Entertainment – 1998
Career-focused Richard Evans has no time for wife, Keri, and daughter, Jenna, during the rush of the Christmas season. Christmas simply means more business for his ski shop. However, finances are tight, and when Keri accepts a live-in job taking care of an elderly woman, Mary, and her enormous house, Richard's world is turned upside-down. One day he accidentally stumbles across an elegantly carved box, and then begins having dreams filled with angels. Meanwhile, Mary is hiding something, and curiosity pushes Richard to figure out her secret. Between days at the ski shop, nights filled with angels, and weeks of always living at odds with Mary, Richard finally discovers the true meaning of Christmas.
The Polar Express
Warner Home Video – 2005
A young boy doubts the existence of Santa Claus, his village, and elves. But on Christmas Eve, when a magical train arrives to take him to the North Pole, he will need to learn how to believe in the unbelievable. An eventful train ride and a visit with a mysterious hobo all lead up to the biggest moment of the night, when Santa gives away the first gift of Christmas. Based on the loved book by Chris Van Allsburg, “The Polar Express” is a Christmas film everyone, children and adults alike, can enjoy.
The Year Without a Santa Claus
Warner Home Video, Rankin/Bass – 1974
When Santa decides to take a holiday, it's up to Mrs. Claus and two little elves to persuade him that the spirit of Christmas isn't lost to the world. However, bringing proof of the Christmas spirit to Santa involves a traipsing through the Miser Brothers' territory and bringing snow to a southern town for the holidays. If Mrs. Claus and her friends cannot convince Santa that the world still has the Christmas spirit, then everyone is doomed to a year without a Santa Claus.
It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown
CBS Television – 1992
It's time for the further holiday adventures of the round-headed kid and his black and white dog! This Christmas, Sally is in the school play performing the part of an angel, and she resorts to employing Charlie Brown as a help during rehearsals. But that's all before Charlie Brown attempts to sell his comic book collection to get the money to buy Peggy Jean some lovely gloves for Christmas, and Peppermint Patty worries about how to play a sheep in the school play and how to get her book report done. And for some odd reason, the big-nosed Santa ringing his bell down the street looks an awful lot like the black and white candy cane thief.
