The Absolute Best Christmas Movies For Families

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If you love watching Christmas movies, these are the absolute best Christmas movies for families to watch this year!

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is to sit down as a family, pop some popcorn (or indulge in one of those cheesy flavored popcorn tins), make hot cocoa with all the trimmings, and watch one of our beloved favorite Christmas movies. Over the years we have compiled quite the list of Christmas movie favorites.

If you want a definitive list of the best Christmas movies for families, check out this list of more than 30 Christmas movie classics. And from our family to yours.. have a Holly Jolly Christmas!

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30+ Best Christmas Movies for Families

1. The Santa Clause

When Scott Calvin dons the Santa suit on Christmas Eve he unwittingly becomes Santa Claus. This charming Christmas classic is about family and believing in the Christmas spirit.

2. Home Alone

How much trouble, I mean.. fun, can a little kid have when his family leaves him at home alone by mistake!

3. Elf

Buddy is a boy who grew up thinking he was an Elf. When he is forced to leave the North Pole, he brings that Christmas magic with him.

4. How The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

This classic Dr. Suess animated Christmas special will make your heart grow three sizes as you watch the Grinch figure out the true meaning of Christmas.

5. Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch

An updated version of the Grinch-y Christmas classic!

6. A Christmas Carol (George C. Scott)

When Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve, he is faced with the consequences of his life and is given a chance to change his ways.

7. Disney’s A Christmas Carol

An updated versio of A Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge.

8. Scrooge

This is a musical version of A Christmas Carol starring Albert Finney.

9. A Christmas Story

You’ll shoot your eye out! Will Ralphie actually get the Red Rider BB gun for Christmas?

10. Polar Express

Can you hear the Christmas bell ring? Do you believe? I tell you what, I believe!

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11. Miracle on 34th Street

Can a department store Santa be the real deal? This charming movie will have you believing for sure!

12. Miracle on 34th Street (classic)

This is the 1947 version of this lovely movie.

Classic Animated Christmas movies For Families

13. Charlie Brown Christmas

Will Snoopy win the holiday lights contest or will Charlie Brown and his friends discover the real meaning of Christmas?

14. Rudolph the red-Nosed Reindeer

Will Rudolph be able to save Christmas from the blinding blizzard?

15. Santa Claus is coming to town

You better watch out. You better not cry! You’d better not pout I’m telling you why….

16. Frosty the snowman

Frosty comes to life with a magic hat and returns every Christmas!

17. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

The Griswold family just wants to have a fantastic family Christmas. Watch to see if that will be possible without anything exploding first.

18. It’s a Wonderful Life

George Bailey has really had a wonderful life. He just needs to realize what the world would be like without him.

19. Snow Buddies

These puppies are not in trouble. Nope. They just need to save the Christmas magic but are having a hard time doing it!

Check out more Christmas movies For Families

20. Santa Paws

More adventures with these cute Christmas puppies!

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21. Christmas with the Kranks

Fed up with the commercial aspects of Christmas, this family goes on a tropical vacation instead.

22. Jack Frost

What if your Dad was really Jack Frost?

23. White Christmas

This is one of the most beloved Christmas classics about a two-man dance company!

24. The Star

When Bo breaks out on his own he ends up being part of the greatest Christmas story ever told.

25. Arthur Christmas

Can Santa’s youngest son save Christmas for a child?

26. Mickey’s Christmas Carol

Mickey Mouse is Bob Cratchet in this classic animated Christmas carol rendition.

27. I’ll Be home For Christmas

A Jokestar has to makeit home by Christmas to get his Dad’s car.

28. Jingle all the way

How far would you go to find the perfect toy for your kid?

29. Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas

This delightful Disney animated Christmas classic is so much fun!

30. Muppets Christmas CArol

Kermit and Ms. Piggy star in this fun Muppet adaptation of the Christmas Carol.

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Christmas Movies for Mom and Dad

These might not be for kids, but adults love these Christmas classics!

31. Love Actually

My personal favorite Christmas movie of all time. The engagement scene at the end makes me cry every. single. time.

32. Sleepless in Seattle

Sam and Annie live on opposite sides of the country. Will they ever meet and fall in love?

33. Family Man

A businessman gets a chance to see what his life would have been like if he had chosen to have a family.

34. While You Were Sleeping

A woman rescues a man on the railroad tracks and falls in love with his entire family.

35. Die Hard

Holiday party turns into terrorist attack and only one man can save Christmas!

If you love Christmas movies, you will also love these Traditions Your Family Will Cherish

Christmas traditions are some of the most powerful bonding opportunities for your family. I know the memories I made as a kid at Christmas-time are a strong anchor for me as an adult.

There are so many ideas though. It’s hard to keep track, isn’t it? Well, these Christmas family traditions are fantastic. Hope you like these ideas!