Happy holidays! It’s that time of year where we make popcorn and hot chocolate and gather the family around to watch the best holiday classics. I’ve compiled the 40+ best family Christmas and holiday movies for you to watch and divided them by their ratings. I included all of the classics, the best of the 1980s, plus non-traditional and even war-time Christmas movies.

 

My Family’s Favorite Christmas Movies

Forget politics. Nothing stirs up family drama like which Christmas movie is the best. We all agree that A Christmas Story is our all-time favorite. As in… we watch it streaming all day on Christmas and we have every single line memorized. But after that, it gets a little dicey as to which ones are our favorites.

Hubby’s favorite – A Christmas Carol. He will watch a version of this movie from every different year and format ever made. My big, tough, strong Green Beret has a tear in his eye at the end. Every. Single. Time. It’s heartwarming. He also introduced me to Joyeux Noel, which is the story of the Christmas truce between warring soldiers in the WW1 trenches. This is in my top 5 movies as well. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is another one of Hubby’s top picks. Why? Because he says I remind him of Del Griffith (eyeroll).

Stepson’s favorite – Christmas in South Park. I made the mistake of introducing him to South Park with the episode of Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo. He was hooked. His other favorites are Home Alone and Polar Express.

My favorite – Die Hard. I mean… is there a better Christmas movie ever made? No way, no how! John McClane saving the world gets me every time. A close second is Less Than Zero. It’s sad and depressing. But it stars Andrew McCarthey, Jami Gertz, James Spader, and my all-time favorite Robert Downey, Jr. Plus, it introduced the song Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC. Hello 80’s, I want my teenage years back! And finally, Elf. Could Will Ferrell BE any cuter and more excited about Christmas?

As I was writing this blog post, our dinnertime conversation around our favorite holiday movies was definitely as entertaining as the movies themselves.

***

Hubby: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. But it’s not really a Christmas movie. It’s more for Thanksgiving.

Stepson: I think it counts. Plus Stepmom reminds you of Del Griffith.

Me: (eyeroll)

Me: So what are my favorite movies?

Hubby: Miracle on 34th Street.

Me: ????? (eyeroll)

Me: Seriously? Die Hard.

Hubby: That’s not a Christmas movie.

Stepson: Yes it is! It takes place over Christmas.

Hubby: But that’s your favorite Christmas movie?

Stepson: DAD! She has to watch it every year. You obviously don’t know your wife very well.

***

Just curious… how well do you know your family’s favorite holiday movies?

 

 

Imagine… celebrating the beauty of the season with this FREE Advent Calendar Printable and Bible verses! Click below…

 

 

40+ Best Family Christmas Movies

 

When I created this list, I realized that the 1980s was THE BEST decade for Christmas movies. Oh and all of the movies from “back in the day”. So forgive the nostalgia and no judgment allowed. I stand firm in my recommendations.

I’ve divided these movies into the following categories so that you can easily choose appropriately for your family:

• G-rated
• PG/PG-13 rated
• R-rated

Plus, I’ve included non-traditional Christmas movies, classic Christmas movies, and war-time Christmas movies. Yep. They are ALL here! These are the best Christmas movies for kids of all ages!

 

 

 

 

Best G-Rated Christmas Movies

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

A Very Brady Christmas (1988 – unrated)

Frosty the Snowman (1974)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

March of the Wooden Soldiers – Babes in Toyland (1934)

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Prancer (1989)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Santa Buddies (2009)

Sound of Music (1965)

The Polar Express (2004)

White Christmas (1954)

 

 

Psst… want to teach gratitude to the kids this holiday season? Click below for your FREE Elf on the Shelf Gratitude Printable…

 

 

Best PG/PG-13 Rated Christmas Movies

A Christmas Carol (various)

A Christmas Story (1983)

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Elf (2003)

Gremlins (1984)

Home Alone (1990)

Jingle All the Way (1996)

Joyeux Noel (2005)

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Silent Night (2002)

Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)

Scrooged (1988)

The Santa Clause (1994)

 

 

Imagine… celebrating the beauty of the season with this FREE Advent Calendar Printable and Bible verses! Click below…

 

 

Best R-Rated Christmas Movies

Bad Santa (2003)

Christmas in South Park (2000)

Die Hard (1988)

Jarhead (2005)

Less Than Zero (1987)

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Love Actually (2003)

Planes Trains and Automobiles (1987)

Silent Night Deadly Night (1984)

Trading Places (1983)

 

More Christmas Resources You Will Love

Advent Scripture + Gratitude Printables

More Christmas Recipes and Resources

 

 

Are you Inspired?

Get Your FREE Elf Gratitude Printable!

 

 

 

Love, hugs, and settling in for a long winter’s night.

 

 

 

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