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30 Watch-at-Home Classic Christmas Movies

By Kyrie Collins, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Highlands Ranch-Parker-Castle Rock-Lone Tree, CO (compiled) November 19, 2021

One of my favorite activities during the holiday season is to curl up by the fireplace with my hubby and kids and watch classic Christmas movies.  Each of the movies below can be watched at any time through Amazon or Netflix.

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Appropriate for All Ages

A Christmas Carol (2009 - rated PG) Disney's animated retelling of Charles Dickens' classic novel about a Victorian-era miser who is taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas spirits.

Arthur Christmas (Rated PG) So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night? With an exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole, of course! But this year Santa's son, Arthur, has an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns.


Babes in Toyland (1934-Not Rated) Opposing the evil Barnaby, Ollie Dee and Stanley Dum try and fail to pay-off Mother Peep's mortgage and mislead his attempts to marry Little Bo. Starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

Charley Brown Christmas Tree (Rated G) Depressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.

Frosty the Snowman (Rated G) A living snowman and a little girl struggle to elude a greedy magician who is after the snowman's magic hat.

Home Alone (Rated PG) Macaulay Culkin stars as the 8-year-old kid who accidentally gets left behind by his family during Christmas break and has to protect his home from bumbling burglars. It will be as popular with your kids as it was in the 90s!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966 - Rated G) This is the original classic about a grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 - Rated PG) Jim Carrey stars as the green creature with a small heart in this hilarious full-length feature film directed by Ron Howard. 


Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Not Rated) This classic from the 1950s stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney. It's full of old-fashioned, wholesome dancing and music.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947 - Not Rated) or the 1994 Miracle on 34th Street version (PG). The real Santa Claus is hired to play himself at Macy's Department Store in New York City. His gentle, joyous spirit and magical powers soon transform those around him, including a little girl and her mother.

Muppet Christmas Carol (Rated G)  The Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale of an old and bitter miser's redemption on Christmas Eve.

Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer (Rated G) An outcast reindeer and his misfit friends look for a place that will accept them.

The Christmas Chronicles (Rated PG) The story of sister and brother, Kate and Teddy Pierce, whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus on camera turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about.

The Grinch (2018 - Rated PG) Directed by Yarrow Cheney (Despicable Me), The Grinch is a humorous story about a grumpy Grinch who plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville.

The Nutcracker (Rated G) A musical film with the New York City Ballet about a little girl who falls asleep after a Christmas party at her home and dreams about a fantastic world where toys become larger than life. Her beloved Nutcracker comes to life and defends her from the Mouse King.

The Polar Express (Rated PG) A young boy lies awake in his room one snowy Christmas Eve when a train — The Polar Express — stops in his front yard and the conductor invites him aboard. What unfolds is an extraordinary adventure and a journey of self-discovery that shows the boy that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. Tom Hanks is the voice of many of the characters.


For Older Kids & Tweens

A Christmas Story (Rated PG) In the town of Hammond in the 1940s, Ralphie wants just one thing for Christmas — an official Red Ryder B.B. Rifle. But his mother, his teacher, and even Santa all tell him, "You'll shoot your eye out." Ralphie fears he'll never get the BB gun for Christmas, but there may be a surprise in store for him.

A Christmas Carol (1951-Not Rated)  An old bitter miser is given a chance for redemption when he is haunted by three ghosts on Christmas Eve.

Elf (Rated PG) Buddy was a baby in an orphanage who stowed away in Santa's sack and ended up at the North Pole where he was raised by elves. As an adult, Santa permits him to go to New York City to seek out his roots. Unfortunately, his birth father is on Santa's Naughty List, his 10-year-old stepbrother doesn't even believe in Santa, and everyone in the Big Apple seems to have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. Buddy sets out to win over his family, and save Christmas too. Starring Will Ferrell, Bob Newhart, Zooey Deschanel, and James Caan.


National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Rated PG-13) Third in the National Lampoon series about the Griswold family. In this sequel, the Griswolds must deal with a holiday with their in-laws. Starring Chevy Chase.

The Family Stone (Rated PG-13) An uptight, conservative businesswoman accompanies her boyfriend to his eccentric and outgoing family's annual Christmas celebration and finds that she's a fish out of water in their free-spirited way of life.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (Rated PG) Despite having recently presided over a very successful Halloween, Jack Skellington is bored with his job and feels that life in Halloweenland lacks meaning. Then he stumbles upon Christmastown and promptly decides to make the Yuletide his own. Written and produced by Tim Burton.


The Santa Clause (Rated PG) A divorced father's strained relationship with his son begins to mend after a strange accident transforms him into the new Santa. Starring Tim Allen and Judge Reinhold.

It's a Wonderful Life (Not Rated) George Bailey is a small-town man whose life seems so desperate he contemplates suicide. As he prepares to jump from a bridge, his guardian angel intercedes, showing him what life would have become for the residents of his hometown if he had never lived. Starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.


Mature Teens & Adults

Christmas with the Kranks (Rated PG) With their daughter, Blair, away, Luther and Nora Krank decide to skip Christmas all together until she decides to come home, causing an uproar when they have to celebrate it at the last minute.

Joyeux Noël (Rated PG-13) This French film is based on the true story of a group of front-line soldiers who engaged in an unofficial cease-fire on Christmas Day during World War I. It won many international awards and was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Foreign Language Film.


Love Actually (Rated R) This classic romantic comedy features an all-star cast that includes Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, and many others. There are eight stories featuring eight interconnected couples, each navigating through the holidays — a joyous time for some and a lonely time for others — in their own way.

The Ref (Rated R) A dysfunctional family is abducted by a thief (the very foul-mouthed Denis Leary) after a robbery on Christmas Eve and he is forced to play referee to their endless bickering. 

Scrooged (Rated PG-13) Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol" gets an update. It focuses on a television executive who exploits the holiday season to boost ratings. The cast of stars includes Bill Murray, Karen Allen, Carol Kane, Robert Mitchum, Bobcat Goldthwait, and John Forsythe.

Trading Places (Rated R) Billy Ray (Eddie Murphy) is a petty crook, Louis (Dan Aykroyd) is a successful stockbroker, and they are both the victims of a twisted bet made by a couple of millionaire brothers. It's an 80s classic that is as funny now as it was then.



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