45 Best Animated Christmas Movies to Watch With the Whole Family
From the novel to the nostalgic, these movies definitely make the "nice" list.
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There are some stories that are just better told in animation. Sure, with CGI and other special-effects, live-action movies can make actors the size of elves, reindeer fly through the sky and ghosts floating above a terrified Ebenezer Scrooge. But animation makes it easier to suspend disbelief and enter a world of holiday magic.
That's probably why so many Christmas movies for kids still rank in the top echelons of the greatest Christmas movies of all-time. There's just something cozy and nostalgic about sitting down with your family to watch the same holiday movies you watched when you were a child. And while some movies and specials definitely look dated, when it comes to a season that's all about nostalgia, that's okay.
When the time comes for family movie night, these are the best animated Christmas movies to watch with your family this year. There are recent (and even upcoming) favorites mixed in, in case you want to start a new tradition with your family. But then there are the classics that even Grandma and Grandpa probably saw back in their day. No matter which you choose, you'll be filled with holiday cheer.
That Christmas (2024)
Christmas comes every year — but not without some effort. This animated Netflix movie tells the story of a year when a horrible blizzard derails everyone's holiday plans, including Santa's. Brian Cox provides the voice of St. Nick.
An Almost Christmas Story (2024)
An owl named Moon gets more than he bargains for when he winds up in a tree bound for New York City's Rockefeller Center. There, he meets up with a girl, aptly named Luna, for a Christmas adventure to find his way home. It comes from David Lowery, director of Peter Pan and Wendy and the Pete's Dragon remake.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Not every Christmas movies has to be a fast-paced, action-packed romp about the mad dash to Christmas. Sometimes, it feels good to be a little more thoughtful, even melancholy, about the holidays. If that's the vibe, there's no better than A Charlie Brown Christmas, with its perfectly mood-setting music by Vince Guaraldi. It's only available on Apple TV+, but if you don't have the service, they've announced that they'll stream it for free on two days only: Saturday, December 14, 2024 and Sunday, December 15, 2024. Put it in your calendar!
Klaus (2019)
When this first debuted, film fans were shocked to see it rise about the Netflix Christmas movie trenches to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It lost to the mighty Toy Story 4, but kids still find the story — about a postal worker who befriends a toy maker in a chilly, remote town, if you can see where that's going — extremely charming.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
For fans of animation, there's nothing better than this Dr. Seuss adaptation, in which the Grinch is brought to life by Looney Tunes legend Chuck Jones. It also features narration by horror icon Boris Karloff, and an indelible performance of "You're a Mean One" by Thurl Ravenscroft.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Some people, no matter what the calendar says, are living the Halloween lifestyle year-round. It's a good thing this Tim Burton/Henry Selick collaboration can last from October to January 1, so these families can get their goth fix. (Plus, "What's This" is up there among some of the best Christmas songs of all time.)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
When people think of the most classic Christmas specials of all time, at least one of the stop-motion animated Rankin/Bass productions are sure to come to mind. This one is often the favorite because, in addition to being about Santa and Rudolph, it imparts a heartwarming lesson about embracing your imperfections. It's also narrated by Christmas mainstay Burl Ives, who never fails to put viewers in the Christmas spirit.
A Christmas Carol (2009)
Robert Zemeckis, director of Back to the Future, is known for always trying to introduce cutting-edge technology into his movies. For this year's Here, he' de-ages Tom Hanks and Robin Wright-Penn to tell a story that spans time. For this version of A Christmas Carol, he uses motion-capture technology, which records the motions of real-life actors for animation. For this movie, he uses it to let Jim Carrey give multiple performances and take on multiple roles in this adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens book.
Arthur Christmas (2011)
Christmas is all about family dynamics, and some kids can't help but relate to Arthur, Santa's hapless son who can't seem to do anything right. But when a present is left at the North Pole, Arthur has to shore up his bravery and save the day.
Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
There are so, so many versions of A Christmas Carol, but this one boils down all of the essential elements to just 26 minutes — a feat of brevity! It's good for kids with short attention spans, and they'll also enjoy seeing Mickey Mouse take on the role of Bob Cratchit, and Scrooge McDuck in the part of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Santa's Apprentice (2010)
In this film, originally from France, it's time for Santa to retire — but he doesn't want to. Still, the rules say he has to train an apprentice. If the kids love it, there's also a sequel called The Magic Snowflake.
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
For a feature-length take on Dr. Seuss' Grinch story, this movie comes from the same studio that brought us the Minions, and it uses the extra running time to expand on the world of the Grinch. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the Mean One, and he has all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile. It's also on Peacock, but only until December 6.
The Snowy Day (2016)
This Amazon original, just 40 minutes long, is based on the must-have book by Ezra Jack Keats. It's a sweet story about a boy named Peter who goes on a snowy walk to his grandma's house on Christmas Eve.
Frosty the Snowman (1969)
We all know the classic story of Frosty the Snowman, where Frosty comes to life thanks to a magical hat. The film, narrated by Jimmy Durante, is based on the Christmas song that every kid knows the words to by heart.
The Polar Express (2004)
This is another Zemeckis film, which also uses motion-capture technology. This time, Tom Hanks is at the center, starring in a touching film based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg. The movie follows a young boy who, doubting Santa's existence, goes on a magical train ride to find out more about the North Pole.
Duck the Halls (2016)
While Mickey's Christmas Carol is a heartfelt classic, if you're looking for something that'll make you laugh, this 22-minute animated special is better. In it, Donald decides to stay put for the holidays instead of flying south in the hope of experiencing a true Christmas — only to be blindsided by the cold. The humor is reminiscent of something irreverent, like a less-extreme Ren and Stimpy.
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022)
There's always room for another round of A Christmas Carol. Netflix's version is a musical adaptation of Dickens's classic, and the songs come courtesy of Leslie Bricusse, the songwriter behind "Candy Man" and "Pure Imagination" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Angela's Christmas (2018)
That Angela is the one from Angela's Ashes, and the 30-minute special is based on the children's story from celebrated author Frank McCourt. With those ingredients, you know you're in for a gripping story. Netflix followed up with a sequel, Angela's Christmas 2.
The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
The '70s and '60s were prolific times for Rankin/Bass Productions, a studio that cranked out tons of beloved stop-motion animation films (including the aforementioned Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer). This one is famous for its duo of unforgettable villains, Heat Miser and Snow Miser.
Robin Robin (2021)
This half-hour special is full of hygge, especially when you look at the flocked, felted feel of the stop-motion animals. It's about a bird who was raised by mice and wishes to become a mouse. It even got an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short.
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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