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Movies4Kids recommends: 20 Christmas Movies you can stream right now

Here at Movies4Kids we’d like to try and make everyone’s Christmas just a little brighter, and what better way to spread some Santa-Style cheer than to recommend some seasonal movies for the whole family to enjoy (which means we can’t include the rather grown up Die Hard, no matter how brilliant a Christmas movie it is).

This year, the 20 movies featured are those that are available on international and UK streaming services such as Disney+, Amazon Prime, Netflix and the UK’s NowTV. While that does mean some classics couldn’t be included (sob – Elf) because they were not available on streaming sites at time of writing, it’s nonetheless a terrific list of Christmassy, snowy, warm and toasty treats to get you in the yuletide mood…

And don’t forget to click on a movie’s title to go to the full Movies4Kids review…

Arthur Christmas (Netflix)

One of the many lovely movies to come from Aardman Animation, this is the story of how Santa’s son Arthur (voiced by James McAvoy) almost ruins Christmas when he tries to deliver a missing present to a little girl on Christmas Eve. 

A Christmas Carol (Disney+)

An animated version of the classic Dickens’ tale, this features a slightly scary Scrooge (voiced by Jim Carrey) so is recommended for older kids and grown-ups.

The Christmas Chronicles and The Christmas Chronicles 2 (Netflix)

Kurt Russell IS Santa in The Christmas Chronicles and its superior sequel that features Goldie Hawn as Mrs Claus and Hunt For The Wilderpeople’s Julian Dennison as a cantankerous elf.

Godmothered (Disney+)

Young fairy godmother Eleanor (Jillian Bell) ventures into the real world to try and help TV journalist Mackenzie (Isla Fisher), whose request for help when she was a young girl went unanswered.

The Grinch (Netflix)

The animated adaptation of Dr Seuss’s classic kids’ story. Benedict Cumberbatch voices the green furry creature who hates Christmas and the cheery residents of Whoville, too.

Home Alone (Disney+)

Macaulay Culkin has to protect his house from inept burglars Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci when his family accidentally go away for the holidays and leave him behind.

It’s A Wonderful Life (NOW TV)

This 1946 b&w movie is a classic for a reason – it features one of cinema legend James Stewart’s best performances and, despite being a big old weepie, does restore your faith in humanity by the end. Stewart, of course, plays George Bailey, who contemplates suicide on Christmas Eve but is shown how his life has affected others by trainee angel Clarence. 

Jingle All The Way (NOW TV)

Arnold Schwarzenegger is the dad desperately trying to buy sold-out toy Turbo-Man for his son in this seasonal comedy made long before we could all order gifts online. 

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)

A lovely musical adventure about a disillusioned toy maker and the granddaughter who finds magic in his creations. A 2020 movie that already deserves to be called a Christmas classic.

Klaus (Netflix)

A terrific animated Christmas comedy, in which the postal academy’s worst student is exiled to a frozen island near the Arctic Circle. It’s there he discovers Klaus, a mysterious carpenter who lives alone in a cabin full of handmade toys.

Miracle On 34th Street (NOW TV)

The 1947 version with Natalie Wood is hard to find, but the 1994 remake with Richard Attenborough as the department store Santa, and Mara Wilson as the little girl who believes he is the real thing, is still a cute treat.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (Disney+)

The Muppets take on Dickens’ tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge and deliver one of the loveliest Christmas movies ever. Michael Caine is perfect as the infamous miser, while Kermit is Bob Crachit, Gonzo narrates and Miss Piggy steals the show as Bob’s wife.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Amazon Prime)

Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo are the Griswold parents whose Christmas plans – just as they have in Vacation and European Vacation – go disastrously wrong. Juliette Lewis and The Big Bang Theory’s Johnny Galecki also star.

A Nightmare Before Christmas (Disney+)

Tim Burton’s stop-motion animated movie isn’t for little kids but older ones will love the story of what happens when king of Halloweentown, Jack Skellington, discovers Christmas Town. 

Noelle (Disney+)

Anna Kendrick is Noelle Kringle, who has to take over the family business when her dad – Santa himself – retires in this comedy that also stars Shirley MacLaine, Bill Hader, Julie Hagerty and Billy Eichner.

The Nutcracker And The Four Realms (Disney+)

A retelling of the classic magical fantasy The Nutcracker And The Mouse King with a starry cast (Morgan Freeman, Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren, Richard E Grant).

The Polar Express (NOW TV)

Once you get past the odd animation, in which each adult character looks like a slightly creepy version of Tom Hanks (who also contributes some of the voices), there is much to enjoy in this animated story from Robert Zemeckis.

The Santa Clause (Disney+)

Silly but enjoyable comedy with Tim Allen as the man who accidentally injures Santa and finds himself magically recruited to take the jolly one’s place on Christmas Eve.

Saving Santa (Amazon Prime)

Noel Clarke, Joan Collins, Tim Curry and Martin Freeman are among those providing voices for this animated story of a lowly elf who is the only one who can stop an invasion at the North Pole.

Scrooged (Amazon Prime, NOW TV)

One for older kids and adults as this Scrooge is particularly mean as played by Bill Murray. In this 20th century update, he’s TV executive Frank Cross, who may or may not learn the error of his ways in the run up to Christmas.