10 Classic Christmas Movies for Kids and Adults

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Recommended for Kids: Yes

Few movies get recommended for Christmas viewing as much as It's a Wonderful Life. Some people love the happy ending. Others love its life-affirming message that even the least of us can bless others in ways we never realized. These are great reasons to watch the movie, but there is one rarely cited reason. It is a rare Christmas movie that captures the value of a sacrificial life.

George Bailey does very few things that fit the American Dream. He spends most of his life giving up on his dreams of adventure. Instead, he serves his community, often wondering what he's lost . . . and slowly realizing his service did more than he ever expected. A rare inspirational movie that understands the most inspiring story depicts struggles well and then shows how those struggles prove redemptive.

Further Reading: 2 Life-Changing Prayers from It's a Wonderful Life

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Where to Watch

Recommended for Kids: Yes

The star the Three Wise Men followed to Bethlehem is one of the most iconic Christmas images. This 1956 animated film uses a classic animation style—cut paper figures against a lighted screen. Like the animation style, the story is simple—a narrator describes the Wise Men's journey to Bethlehem, following the biblical text closely. While the movie is simple, it has a charming style, making it far more fun than newer Sunday School cartoons. A great way to introduce children to the Christmas story through a short movie that adults can enjoy.

Further Reading: What Is the Significance of the Star of Bethlehem?

Photo Credit: © Cathedral Films/Primrose Productions

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Recommended for Kids: Yes

Christmas and romantic comedies pair so well, and there is a long tradition of movies pairing the two subjects. Christmas in Connecticut may be one of the best.

The concept starts simply. Elizabeth Lane writes a homemaking guide for a major newspaper, where she claims to be a married mother living on a Connecticut farm. Neither her readers nor her boss know she's single with no children, lives in a New York City apartment, and can't cook. She does a good job of keeping her secret . . . until her publisher decides a great holiday gesture would be to give a returning WWII sailor an old-fashioned Christmas. Who better to host than her at her charming farm?

Her boyfriend suggests they pretend to be married and use his farm to host the guests. They even babysit a friend's child for several days to complete the ruse. However, things get complicated when the sailor, Jefferson Jones, arrives. Elizabeth has to play at being married. However, the more time she spends with Jefferson, the more she wonders what to do about her "husband." Since Jefferson grew up on a farm, she also wonders how long she can keep up the rest of her ruse. A great mix of laughs and Christmas cheer.

Further Reading: 6 Clean, Classic Romantic Comedies to Watch with Your Daughter

Photo Credit: © Warner Bros

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Recommended for Kids: Maybe

Sometimes, amid the constant holiday rush, it's nice to watch a movie that features Christmas but not as a main theme. This 1961 Disney movie fits that need. It's a fun fairytale with romance and adventure, which becomes a story about making Christmas toys.

The story is based on a 1903 Victor Herbert musical (the "babes" in the title are orphans that the heroes care for). In a fairytale land populated by nursery rhyme characters, villain Barnaby pressures Mary Contrary to pay off her financial debts or marry him. Plot twists follow as Bo Peep and other orphans staying with Mary try to solve the problem. The heroes end up in Toyland, where making gifts in time for Christmas may solve their problems.

Film buffs argue whether this movie is better than the 1934 version starring Laurel and Hardy, and both have their charms. However, this 1961 movie has a faster pace and some great special effects scenes—such as a toy-making machine malfunctioning and a wooden soldier battle. Fun viewing to add a little variety at Christmas.

Further Reading: 13 Old and New Christmas Movies to Watch with the Family

Photo Credit: © Walt Disney Pictures

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Recommended for Kids: Yes

The Rankin-Bass Christmas specials are all classics worth exploring, but The Little Drummer Boy works especially well for introducing children to the Christmas story. It tells the story from a different angle than The Star of Bethlehem, making them good movies to watch together during the Christmas season.

Based on the 1941 song written by Katherine Kennicott Davis, the story follows a Jewish drummer boy who has lost his family. As he wanders with his pet animals, he comes across three travelers from the East. They discuss following a star to find a place where a king will be born. The boy doesn't know what to think of their stories, but he will soon find out more. A charming mix of Bible story and Christmas cheer.

Further Reading: What "The Little Drummer Boy" Reveals about Faith

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Recommended for Kids: Yes

Every Christmas season brings new musicals, many forgotten the next year. White Christmas is one of the few that has survived for decades. The story follows two WWII Army veterans who have gone into show business. Hints of romance follow when they meet a sister singing act in Florida. When they meet an Army friend in need over Christmas vacation, the sisters agree to help with their fundraising plans. As the four spend more time together, the romance becomes stronger . . . but will their show business plans tear them apart?

Further Reading: 10 Inspiring Christmas Movies to Watch on Netflix

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Recommended for Kids: Maybe

There are numerous movie versions of A Christmas Carol to choose from. The 1984 TV movie starring George C. Stott is one of the closest adaptations. The 2009 animated movie starring Jim Carrey has grand special effects. However, this 1970 version starring Albert Finney may be the best musical based on Dickens' classic. You may have seen the songs more recently in the 2022 Netflix remake. The remake is fun, but the special effects and performances are only okay. Here, the acting (particularly Finney's performance) is great, and the special effects (especially the Christmas ghosts) is better than in most Christmas Carol movies. A great way to introduce the family to Dickens' classic story.

Further Reading: Is A Christmas Carol Really about Christmas?

Photo Credit: © Twentieth-Century Fox

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Recommended for Kids: Maybe

Sometimes, the most interesting Christmas movies are the unconventional ones. Cash on Demand has the same basic theme as A Christmas Carol but wraps its message into a bank heist story.

Grumpy Mr. Fordyce has little patience for his bank employees, especially when a surprise inspector arrives. Once the inspector enters Fordyce's office, the truth becomes clear. The man is a thief who wants Fordyce to help him access the safe. Not complying will have serious consequences for Fordyce's family. As Fordyce reluctantly helps with the heist, he is forced to reconsider his behavior. Has he cared more about being a good bank manager than about other people? If he survives today, how will he behave tomorrow?

A nice mix of suspense and humor, Cash on Demand does what the best "Christmas and…" movies do. Its story features Christmas themes (family, forgiveness, and charity toward others). However, the Christmas elements don't feel like gimmicks. Each part of the story enhances the other.

Further Reading: 10 Classic Films Every Christian Teenager Should Watch

Photo Credit: © Hammer Films

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Recommended for Kids: Yes

If you haven't seen this cartoon before, you almost certainly know its famous song, "Walking in the Air." The song has been covered by everyone from metal band Nightwish to Celtic Women singer Chloë Agnew.

The cartoon is adapted from a 1978 picture book by Raymond Briggs about a boy dreaming his snowman can fly. The cartoon turns this simple idea into a beautiful musical story that children of all ages will enjoy. Its popularity has led to Snowman concerts, Snowman shopping bags, and a sequel cartoon, The Snowman and the Snowdog.

Further Reading: The Definitive Ranking of Christmas Songs

Photo Credit: © TVC London

Where to Watch

Recommended for Kids: Yes

Like The Little Drummer Boy, this musical explores the Christmas story through side characters. In this case, Amahl is a young man with a disability whose mother runs a boarding house. When the three wise men come seeking rooms for the night, Amahl's mother wonders what she could do with their gold to care for her son. The story poses interesting questions about charity and loving people experiencing poverty. It even features a miracle or two.

Further Reading: Who Were the Three Wise Men of the Christmas Story?

Photo Credit: Graphic by G. Connor Salter