With Christmas music filling our ears for weeks now and inspired by our recent top Christmas books blog, it’s high time to delve into the world of Christmas movies. The options are vast, making it a challenge to decide where to start.
To ease the decision-making process, we reached out to parents in our Chiangmai kids community for their all-time favorite festive movies—resulting in a Christmastastic list ranging from classics to animated films and re-imaginings of beloved favorites. With new movies regularly streaming on Netflix, the holiday viewing choices are bountiful.
Feeling curious or eager to share a sneak peek with the kids? Simply click on the title to watch the trailer and curate your very own Christmas movie wish list. Let the festive film marathon begin!
The Santa Clause
What’s it about? It’s Tim Allen (again) at his finest. When he accidentally makes Santa fall off his roof on Christmas Eve, he’s transported to the North Pole to assume the role before the following Christmas arrives, much to the delight of his son.
Home Alone
Whats is about? Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) has become the man of the house, overnight! Accidentally left behind when his family rushes off on a Christmas vacation, Kevin gets busy decorating the house for the holidays. But he’s not decking the halls with tinsel and holly. Two bumbling burglars are trying to break in, and Kevin’s rigging a bewildering battery of booby traps to welcome them!
ELF
What’s it about? As a toddler, Buddy was mysteriously transported to the North Pole and raised by Santa’s elves. Now, he’s on a mission to find his real dad—Walter Hobbs—in New York City. (Did we mention Walter is on the naughty list?) As you can imagine, things don’t go well.
Frozen
What’s it about? Yes, we absolutely consider this a Christmas movie (even though we watch it all year round). The popular Disney flick follows Anna and her pals to save their home from the infinite winter caused by the queen, who just so happens to be her sister. Plus, there’s also a sequel you can watch right after.
Father Christmas
Whats is about? A Raymond Briggs classic Christmas tale of a worn-out Father Christmas who goes on vacation only to be recognised around the world in this classic British comedy, thankfully he makes it back just in time to start his job on Christmas Eve!
The Snow Man
What’s it about? No, Frosty isn’t the only snowman in town. This gentle adventure tale is based on the book by Raymond Briggs, and follows a boy who builds a snowman—that comes to life—after the family pet passes away. This one has very little dialogue and a short running time (just 26 minutes), which makes it ideal to watch with the younger kiddies. His adventure eventually takes him to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas.
Klaus
Whats is about? A simple act of kindness always sparks another, even in a frozen, faraway place. When Smeerensburg’s new postman, Jesper, befriends toymaker Klaus, their gifts melt an age-old feud and deliver a sleigh full of holiday traditions.
The Rise of the Guardians
What’s it about? When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world.
The Nutcracker
What’s it about? On Christmas Eve, a little girl named Marie falls asleep after a party at her home and dreams herself (or does she?) into a fantastic world where toys become larger than life. Her beloved Nutcracker comes to life and defends her from the Mouse King, who is then is turned into a Prince in this much loved magical adventure after Marie saves his life.
The Smurfs: Christmas Carol
What’s it about? In this short film, Grouchy Smurf is the modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge. When he gets a surprise visit from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, he starts to understand the holiday.
Arthur Christmas
What’s it about? Ever wonder how Santa deliver presents to every single child in just one night? According to this film, he does so with a high-tech operation in the North Pole. Unfortunately, this year, Santa missed one child (yikes) and he enlists the help of his clumsy son Arthur to make things right.
The Polar Express
What’s it about? Based on Chris Van Allsburg’s children’s book, a young boy with little belief in Santa Claus takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole on the Polar Express. After meeting some friends along the way (and the big man himself), he quickly learns about friendship, bravery and the spirit of Christmas and that the magic of Christmas comes to those who believe.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
What’s it about? Dr. Seuss’s Christmas tale comes to life with an all-star cast, special effects and laugh-out-loud comedy. A bitter and hateful Grinch becomes increasingly irritated at the thought of the nearby village planning their big Christmas celebrations. To ruin their holiday, he disguises himself as Santa Claus (and his dog to look like a reindeer) and travels to the village to raid it of all of the presents, trees and decorations.
A Boy Called Christmas
What’s it about? Based on the namesake book by Matt Haig, the movie reimagines the story of Father Christmas. The plot centers on Nikolas as he embarks on a thrilling adventure to find a magical town called Elfhelm.
Magic dogs and an elf team up with two children to rescue Santa who has lost his memory.
Jack Frost
What’s it about? A father who can’t keep his promises to his son dies in a car accident. But one year later, he’s back as, um, a snowman. Now that they can do all the things they’ve missed when Jack was human, can he make things right with his son before he’s gone forever?
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
What’s it about? Sam the Snowman narrates a tale of a young red-nosed reindeer who, after being cast out for being different, teams up with an elf to look for a place that will accept them. After a scary encounter with the Abominable Snowman, they stumble upon a whole island of misfit toys and need to ask Santa for help.
Jingle All The Way
What’s it about? A father vows to get his son a Turbo Man action figure for Christmas. However, every store is sold out of them (of course), and he must travel all over town and compete with everybody else in order to find one. A friendly reminder to get your shopping done early.
Barbie in ‘A Christmas Carol’
What’s is about? Barbie stars in her first holiday movie in this heart-warming adaptation of the classic Dickens story filled with cherished Christmas carols, fabulous fashions and lots of laughs! Barbie also appears in her own adaptation of The Nutcracker for serious Barbie festive fans.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
What’s is about? Depressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
What’s it about? Sing and dance along to this fun musical, which tells the tale of a talented toymaker and his delightful granddaughter, who helps him find joy again after a heartbreaking betrayal.
An imaginary world comes to life in a holiday tale of an eccentric toymaker, his adventurous granddaughter, and a magical invention that has the power to change their lives forever.
Santa Paws
Whats’ is about? Magic dogs and an elf team up with two children to rescue Santa who has lost his memory.
The Christmas Chronicles
What’s it about: This Netflix original ticks all the boxes of a Christmas classic: kids up to no good, the threat of a canceled Christmas and a boy who doesn’t believe in Santa. Not to mention, the highly anticipated sequel starts streaming in November.
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
Scrooged
What’s it about: Think of it as a modern-day version of A Christmas Carol. Scrooged stars Murray as a grumpy TV executive who takes a trip into his past to learn the true meaning of Christmas. Rated PG-13, this one might be best for older children.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
What’s it about? Another adaptation of A Christmas Carol, this time reimagined by a set of beloved characters—aka the Muppets.
Winnie The Poo – A Very Merry Pooh Year
What’s it about? Ring in the season with Winnie The Pooh in a holiday adventure.
Christmas With The Kranks
What’s it about? (More for teens) With their daughter away, the Krank family decides to opt out of Christmas altogether (to their neighbor’s dismay). But when she decides to come home, chaos ensues as they try to figure out how to celebrate the holiday at the last minute.
Deck The Halls
What’s it about? (More for Teens) Two neighbors have it out after one of them decorates his house for the holidays so brightly that it can be seen from space and the two embark on a festive competition for the brightest lit house in the neighbourhood.
