The Familyman’s Ultimate Guide to Christmas Movies
OK, here’s the list of all the Christmas Movies known to modern dads. 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.
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
Christmas Vacation — I’ve only scene a edited TV version which was funny…but I’m sure that the unedited version is not fit for…anyone.
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
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Don’t forget Emit Otter’s Jug Band Christmas. Jim Henson (of Muppett fame) did it.
Great story of giving, sacrifice, and stong family bonds.
A Holiday Romance with Andy Griffith, Naomi Judd, and the dad from “Major Dad” is one we watch at least twice every Christmas.
Great List!
I second adding Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas and would also suggest Max Lucado’s The Christmas Child starring Steven Curtis Champman.
A Thousand Men and A Baby – based on true story of the rescue of a Korean war orphan – with Richard Thomas.
A Holiday Affair w James Mitchum
You Can’t Take it with You-Jimmy Stewart
Not sure if it’s available on DVD, but the Claymation Christmas Special is a lot of fun.
You’ve got to add “The Family Man” of course! A great story to remind us of what we would be missing if we didn’t have our families.
I agree The Family Man is a great movie with a great message BUT only if you can find an edited version. Lots of sexually inapropriate material and probably some language.
Christmas in Connecticut is our favorite.
“Is catastroph!” Hahaha
“The Lord of the Rings” is awesome! OK, they’re not about Cmas, but they did COME OUT at Cmas. Nothing says Cmas like fighting orcs!
The Wife and I watched “A Muppet Family Christmas” last night as we decorated. It’s one of our faves, and very kid-friendly.
What was the one with a cow that gave her Christmas voice to the little boy that owned her?
My wife and I started to watch Christmas Vacation with our children. IT was not long until we were playing a board game.
The Nativity Story (2006) is an excellent depiction of what Mary and Joseph might have went through. Surprise pregnancy, road trip and giving birth in stable. And wise men are kind of wise guys. Check it out.
You missed the original “The Santa Clause” (much better than the sequels IMO). And we love “Elf” too — those two are a must for us each season.
Mary Christmas has a great pro-life message.
Yes, “Elf” is definitely a must for Christmas…my kids think it’s hilarious (as well the dad and mom), Merry Christmans everyone!!
A Christmas Carol; George C.Scott. I watch this at least twice during the season.
Our favorite CD is Hallelujah He is Born, Sawyer Brown.
I set up the tree after the kids are in bed, and string up the lights. my wife and I pop in A Christmas Story or Mixed Nuts, while I work.
A few that are obscure, but still favorites with our family, and not yet mentioned above: Little Troll Prince (only VHS at this point) animated-strong christian message, Jack Frost (the one animated in the same TV Classic style as Rudolph…, A Very Merry Cricket (just bought this with Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and more by Chuck Jones on DVD). The Christmas Gift is a claymation short by Will Vinton, set to music, also very good.
Shrek the Halls
The Christmas Card
“Annabelle’s Gift” is the one where the cow gives up her “Christmas Eve voice” so a little mute boy can talk. It is absolutely a fav. in our family, regardless of age. Shows compassion, sacrifice, putting others first….
And I would second the Max Lucado story with Steven Curtis Chapman in it “The Christmas Child”, it’s a sweet story with a very clear gospel message.
btw, it’s the OlsEn twins. 🙂
Two more never to be without at Christmas time are:
Seasons of the Heart (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0136523/)
and Borrowed Hearts (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0132893/).
@Big AL our DVD is called “Annabelle’s Wish”
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YOUR LIST DOES NOT CONTAIN THE VERY BEST MOVIE FOR CHRISTMAS!!!
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The Fourth Wise Man (staring Martin Sheen as Artaban)
You will not see this kind of Christmas movie come out of Hollywood anymore. It’s an incredible message of a wise man in pursuit of JESUS all his life. It’s about sacrifice and kindness to all. It is incredible!!!
PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH EVERYONE…IT SHOULD BE VIEWED BY EVERY CHRISTIAN EVERY YEAR!
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TICK LOVES SANTA
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A very funny Christmas special is from the Animated Series called “The Tick” that ran on Fox TV.
“The Tick” episode is called “Tick loves Santa”. If you like Todd’s sense of humor you will love “The Tick”. He’s a superhero with a child-like mind who still believes in Santa. He then meets a crook called Multiple-Santa and Tick is distraught because he can’t fight Santa. It is hilarious!!!
Tick’s friends are also superheros and none of them have any real powers. It’s very funny stuff.
It may be on YouTube. Runs 30 minutes. You won’t regret it.
Does anyone know about ‘Timmy’s Gift’ – done by Precious Moments. It’s for the little ones and has a great message.
I agree with “Mixed Nuts”. Lived in Southern California, and it’s so true. Maybe not appropriate for kiddos, but this was Adam Sandler’s first movie, and I laugh harder every time I watch it.
We love “Jingle All the Way”.
After seeing it, I also picked up a copy of “Silent Night” with Linda Hamilton- A WWII story.
“We’re No Angels” with Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov, Aldo Ray, and Basil Rathbone. FUNNY!
Don’t forget the Veggies Tales “The Christmas Star”
I am a huge advocate of Emmet Otter. It is a wonderful story similar to the “Gift of the Magi”. It really should be on your list.
Becky,
Nancy recommend it last year so I BOUGHT the video…not quite what I expected. Must be a girl thing. 🙂
What about Dolly Parton in Smokey Mountain Christmas? It’s about a bunch of kids who are alone and Dolly is trying to escape the rat race and finds them hiding in her old cabin. Very cute and good music too!
you must watch Elf! It’s a great family movie with lots of lines to keep quoting all year! We also love Jingle All the Way. I have a huge list of Hallmark favorites that my hubby says are way too predictable! I want to know when your book is going to be a Christmas movie! I wrote to the Kendrick Bros and told them about it! 🙂
I’d like to see your Hallmark list. I agree…predictable, but my wife and daughters like them and they’re pretty family friendly. We’d love to see it as a movie. Thanks for writing them. Have a wonderful Christmas!
I believe that there was a “Little House on the Prairie” Christmas special that was edited together from several of the regular weekly episodes.
Arthur Christmas is a wonderful animated story the whole family can enjoy.
“Santa and Pete” an entertaining story in which James Earl Jones explains some lesser known traditions about Santa, why his suit is red, etc. Grandpa, I know that’s Santa, but who’s this other guy? Why, that’s Pete. You don’t know about Santa and Pete?…
We have always liked “Mr. Krueger’s Christmas”, a made-for-TV movie with James Stewart. Has a very Christ-centered message rather than the standard Santa/elves/reindeer that seems to dominate Christmas these days.
Thank you for the many suggestions….
I can’t believe no one has mentioned “Christmas with a Capital C” about a town in Alaska that fights for the right to have a nativity display.
“Miracle at Moreau” is really good. I have it in VHS from Feature Films for Families(are they still around?) it’s about some kids who are snowed in at a Catholic School/Boarding School with one Nun during WW II in France. The nun is trying to keep their minds off the fact that they can’t be home at Christmas because there’s too much snow and their parents can’t make it to come get them. They are planning a Christmas play when they find some Jewish kids hiding. They hide the Jewish kids from theNazi soldiers. It’s exciting, scary and heartwarming.