The Smiling Homeschooler’s Ultimate Guide to Christmas Movies
OK, here’s the list of all the Christmas Movies known to modern families. Do you have a favorite we’ve over-looked? My only criteria is that it be appropriate…and does not star the Olsan Twins.
Now I know most of these have nothing to do with the REAL meaning of Christmas but some are just plain fun…in the same way as CARS and FINDING NEMO is fun and offer great family fun.
Note: Some of these movies (even the older ones) have some profanity and scenes I skip…so make sure you’ve watched it before making it a family movie. That’s why “Christmas Vacation” is NOT on this list.
Here’s the list so far:
A Christmas Carol – old version
Scrooge – Albert Finney
A Muppets Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol – George C Scott
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
An American Christmas Carol – Henry Winkler
A Christmas Carol — 2009 Jim Carrey
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Animated TV classic)
Charlie Brown Christmas
Frosty the Snowman
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (animated TV special)
Santa Claus is Coming to Town (TV classic)
The Year without a Santa Claus (TV classic)
The Little Drummer Boy (TV classic)
Small One (Disney animated classic)
Nester the Long Eared Donkey
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The House without a Christmas Tree
Eloise Christmas (live action)
Polar Express
The Grinch – Jim Carrey
Home Alone I & II
The Walton’s Homecoming
It’s a Wonderful Life
The Santa Claus (1, 2 & 3)
Ernest Saves Christmas
The Christmas Box (Hallmark Special)
Christmas Shoes (sad ending)
While You were sleeping (great couples video)
Miracle on 34th street (modern version – great couple’s video)
White Christmas
Holiday inn
Christmas in Connecticut
Meet me St. Louis — Judy Garland
The Lemon Drop Kid – Bob Hope
Bells of Saint Mary’s – Bing Crosby
It Happened one Christmas — Marlo Thomas
One Magic Christmas
Jack Frost – For some reason I don’t like this one
Elf
Christmas with the Kranks
Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus (TV Special)
The Bishop’s Wife — Cary Grant
The Preacher’s Wife — Denzel Washington
A Christmas Story – A Classic (with some bad language)
Babes in Toyland — Laurel and Hardy/and Disney version
Emmet Otter’s Jug-band Christmas
Arthur Christmas
New Animated Grinch
The Nutcracker -New Disney Version
The Legend of the Guardians
The Man Who Invented Christmas
The Star
Prep & Landing
Hallmark – Of course they’re all the same…but they are wholesome…and Christmassy.
Signed Sealed and Delivered – Christmas special
When Calls the Heart – Christmas specials
The Nativity is my favorite!!
1. The Little Match Girl with Keisha Knight Pulliam (youtube.com/watch?v=fKXYqmDuxlM) (an estranged family is visited by an Angel named Molly)
2. Timmy’s Gift: A Precious Moments Christmas Story
3. Bright Eyes (Shirley Temple; can be sad as parents die)
4. Buck Denver’s, Why Do We Call it Christmas? (Phil Visher)
5. Saving Christmas (Kirk Cameron)
6. Just in Time for Christmas (Hallmark)
7. Borrowed Hearts (Feature Films for families)
8. The Story Lady (Feature Films for Families
9. The Walton’s seasonal episodes, “The Best Christmas” (S5, EP. 12); “The Children’s Carol (contains soldier training; and british children escaping the London Blitz; S6, EP. 13-14); “The Spirit” (features an escaped German prisoner at Christmas time; S8, EP. 13).
10. Little House on the Prairie seasonal episodes: Pilot Movie; “Christmas at Plum Creek” (S1, EP. 15); “Blizzard” (S3, EP 11; contains a father’s death); “A Christmas They Never Forgot” (S8, EP. 11); “Bless All the Dear Children” (Legacy Movie)