14 Christmas Movies and Shorts Kids Will Love To Watch!

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Here are 14 Christmas movies and shorts that kids will love to watch. These movies are played multiple times at my house during Christmas.

It’s Christmas time and my kids couldn’t be happier! One of the things we love doing as a family is sitting in the living room and watching a movie. Some of my favorite Christmas memories are watching amazing Christmas movies and shorts as a family. I love passing down this tradition to my children. Here are 14 awesome Christmas movies and shorts kids will love to watch. I hope you enjoy these movies and shows as much as we do.

For each movie or short, I will include where you can stream it, and I’ll have a link to Amazon to order your copy if you want it.

Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you).

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What’s the Difference Between a Christmas Movie and a Christmas Short?

A Christmas movie is usually about an hour and a half long, while a short is under or around an hour long. I like to turn on shorts during the day for my younger kids because they hold their attention without being too long. We prefer to watch Christmas movies as a family, usually around bedtime, for a nice treat for the kids. First, I’m going to list all the Christmas movies and then the Christmas shorts.

1. The Christmas Chronicles Movies

If you know my children, you would know that The Christmas Chronicles 1 and 2 are my children’s favorite Christmas movies to watch. I love them too because I haven’t seen them a million times (yet), and it’s a refreshing take on Santa. Kurt Russel plays a very believable Santa who uses his magic to remind Teddy and his younger sister, Kate, that the true magic of the season is in them. If you haven’t checked this movie out, you need to!

You can stream it on Netflix or grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/44AdCJm

2. That Christmas

This is another newer Christmas movie on Netflix. I love That Christmas because it’s about a small town that works together when the worst snowstorm hits their town. Everyone in the town must work together and find a way to make Christmas special. I personally love the story of the twins where one is perceived as good, and the other is naughty. You realize that the “naughty” twin isn’t fully bad; she just has a funny way of fixing the problems she sees. My second child loves this movie. I think he relates to the “naughty” girl.

You can stream it on Netflix.

3. Elf

You can’t have a list of Christmas movies for kids and NOT include Elf. This is a heartwarming story of Buddy, who finds out he isn’t an elf and wants to finally meet his human dad. His dad isn’t a Christmas spirit person, so it takes some time, but the family finally accepts Buddy for who he is. Oh, and they save Christmas! It’s a great movie for when adults want to watch and not be completely bored.

You can stream Elf on HBO Max or grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/44Ffl03

4. Home Alone

Please do not come for me, but Home Alone wasn’t a big deal in my house growing up, so I don’t really care for it. That being said, my husband loves this movie and encouraged our kids to watch it. They did enjoy it, and I’m pretty sure they like it. It’s a good movie to put on for the kids and have a family movie night. Home Alone definitely has its fans, and your kids will laugh at the pranks pulled.

You can stream Home Alone on Disney+ and Hulu, or you can grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/48JKORb

5. How The Grinch Stole Christmas

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, featuring Jim Carrey, was a staple in my household growing up. We quote this movie at least once a month, if not more. There have been plenty of memories of watching this movie together and dying of laughter. I think this might be my favorite Christmas movie to watch with my kids. They love it just as much as I do. If you’re looking for a classic film to watch that will have you laughing, you should watch this film.

You can stream it on Prime or Peacock, or you can grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/48ubWCh

6. The Polar Express

The Polar Express is one of those movies you must watch with your kids during the Christmas season. It’s a very underrated Christmas movie, but it does have some spooky moments. I would recommend this movie for kids older than 5. The basic premise of this film is that a young boy who doesn’t believe in Santa boards a train full of kids going to the North Pole. Along the way, he starts to believe again and realizes the spirit of Christmas.

You can stream The Polar Express on Hulu and HBO Max, or you can grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/48NU9Y8

7. The Santa Clause

The Santa Clause is one of my favorite Christmas movies. I love Tim Allen in this role, and I think he makes a very good Santa. The humor in this film can be for adults at times, but most of the adult humor goes over kids’ heads. I think this film is perfect for older kids, but my younger ones have watched it and enjoyed it. I love the relationship between Scott (Tim Allen) and his son, Charlie. It’s very sweet.

You can stream The Santa Clause on Hulu and Disney+, or you can grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/4izWaKY

More Christmas Blog Posts:

• 25 Amazing Days of Christmas!
• What Moms Really Want for Christmas
• Amazing Christmas Gift Ideas for Book Lovers
• 12 Must-Do Christmas Activities Your Kids Will Love!
• The BEST Christmas Gift Planner and Tracker (+FREE Printable!)

Christmas Shorts:

1. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas

I still remember being a kid and watching this Christmas short with my sisters. It’s such a great show with three different stories. Each story teaches you a lesson about the Christmas spirit. My kids love this short, and it’s a little over an hour long. They love watching each story, and their favorite is the one with Goofy. This is a great short to put on when you want a little break.

You can stream this on Disney+ or grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/4ownpr5

2. Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas

This one is set up just like the first one. Three different stories show you a lesson about the Christmas season. This one is a little more modern-looking and has some pretty funny moments. It’s great for when you want to watch a show with the kids, but it’s not too long. It could be watched on a weeknight before bed.

You can stream this on Disney+ or grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/3Ml0JfY

3. A Charlie Brown Christmas

Certain Christmas shorts are classics, and every child should watch. A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of those. We watched this short last year as a family, and the kids really enjoyed it. They loved Snoopy and thought the little tree was so cute.

You can stream this on Apple TV or grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/4otPeA8

4. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (TV Movie)

Another classic short that every child should watch at least once is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Even though I have seen this shirt about a million times, it never loses its appeal. I love watching this short with my younger kids because they think it’s a funny show. It’s a tradition to watch this with the whole family before Christmas.

You can stream this on Peacock or grab a copy here:https://amzn.to/49Nlc70

5. Mickey’s Christmas Carol

A Mickey’s Christmas Carol is a brief show that entertains children with classic Disney characters and a delightful retelling of a beloved story. This is perfect for a family Christmas movie night when you want to watch a show that’s under 30 minutes. Kids will find the story interesting, and parents will find it nostalgic.

You can stream this on Disney+ or grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/4pesXHN

6. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

You can’t spend a Christmas season without watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This is another classic that kids will enjoy. This short will fill you with the Christmas spirit and also remind children to accept others even if they are different.

You can’t stream this on anything, but you can grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/48hWQ44

7. Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the Snowman is last on my list, but that doesn’t mean he’s last in my heart. I loved watching this short as a child, and now I get to watch it with my kids. They enjoy the story of Frosty and love the animation. I love the magician getting his due at the end. This is another perfect show to watch with kids that they will enjoy.

You can stream this short on Hulu or Peacock or grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/3MapM5z

Final Thoughts

This Christmas season can be one of the best without a lot of work. All you need to do is set up the living room with cozy blankets, pop some popcorn, get drinks for everyone, and turn on a Christmas movie or short that your kids will love. I hope you enjoy this list and enjoy watching these films. If there are any movies or shorts I forgot, let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from all of you. I hope you all have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Lastly, if you enjoyed this list, please share it on your social media. I appreciate all the love and support.

Thanks for reading,

Kel

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