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Scrooge (1951)
8.1/10on IMDb
Released
86 minutes. Alastair Sim's Scrooge gets an unusually broad look at how he became the man the ghosts have to visit. Save the 1951 version for a family that would enjoy deep shadows and a heavier ghost story before the relief of Christmas morning.
More about Scrooge23
One Magic Christmas (1985)
6.4/10on IMDb
Released
88 minutes. This Disney story takes a mother's money worries and grief seriously before getting to the magic. Choose it when the family wants Santa-season fantasy with real stakes and the kids can sit through a darker stretch.
More about One Magic Christmas24
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
7.9/10on IMDb
Released
76 minutes. Jack Skellington treats Santa's job as a production problem and brings his Halloween crew in to help. Choose this stop-motion feature for a family that likes its holiday songs with spooky creatures and a few sharp edges.
More about The Nightmare Before Christmas25
The Swan Princess Christmas (2012)
3.8/10on IMDb
Released
84 minutes. Odette and Derek have a kingdom to get ready for Christmas when Rothbart returns. Try it for brightly colored fantasy with songs, palace preparations and a familiar fairy-tale villain.
More about The Swan Princess Christmas26
Santa Buddies (2009)
4.6/10on IMDb
Released
88 minutes. This one puts a litter of pups on the job of understanding why Christmas matters. There is enough North Pole business to keep the story moving, with a very young animal-loving audience in mind.
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Barbie in 'A Christmas Carol' (2008)
6.3/10on IMDb
Released
76 minutes. The Scrooge figure is a singer who wants the rest of her theater company to rehearse on Christmas Day. The theater and backstage friendships give children a clear way into the lesson even if they've never seen another Dickens adaptation.
More about Barbie in 'A Christmas Carol'28
Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer (2018)
5.0/10on IMDb
Released
89 minutes. A miniature horse enters the contest for a place on Santa's team. Good for kids who like training and underdog competitions, with an entry point that works even for viewers who don't know reindeer lore.
More about Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer29
Niko and the Way to the Stars (2008)
6.1/10on IMDb
Released
80 minutes. A little reindeer practices flying because he means to join Santa's team and find his father. Look for the full-length animated movie, also called The Flight Before Christmas, if you want the original forest journey before the sequel.
More about Niko and the Way to the Stars30
Niko 2: Little Brother, Big Trouble (2012)
5.6/10on IMDb
Released
76 minutes. Flying reindeer Niko faces a big-brother problem that becomes a rescue adventure. Under the English release title Little Brother, Big Trouble: A Christmas Adventure, this is an easy pick for siblings who like a little danger on holiday movie night.
More about Niko 2: Little Brother, Big Trouble31
Saving Santa (2013)
5.4/10on IMDb
Released
84 minutes. An elf uses time travel to try to keep the North Pole safe. The repeated attempts give a holiday adventure an extra puzzle for kids who like figuring out what a character can change the next time around.
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The Magic Snowflake (2013)
6.3/10on IMDb
Released
72 minutes. Nicholas has only just become Santa when a threat to Christmas sends him to his predecessors for help. Choose this for gentle hand-drawn fantasy and a child who has to figure out how to handle a very grown-up job.
More about The Magic Snowflake33
Frosty the Snowman (1969)
7.3/10on IMDb
Released
25 minutes. In the 1969 hand-drawn special, children have to help Frosty stay cold long enough to get to safety. The familiar song and simple rescue plot make it easy for younger viewers to follow, with a brief sad turn before the ending.
More about Frosty the Snowman34
Niko: Beyond the Northern Lights (2024)
Released
85 minutes in the 2024 festival listing. In the third animated Niko story, the young flying reindeer has to rescue Christmas after the sleigh goes missing. It has more action than a short special and works for kids who like a clear quest.
More about Niko: Beyond the Northern Lights35
Prep & Landing (2009)
7.6/10on IMDb
Released
23 minutes on Disney+. Santa’s advance team treats every house as a mission site before the sleigh arrives. Pick this if the kids like gadgets and the adults can enjoy the idea of a tired elf taking one more holiday shift.
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Santa's Apprentice (2010)
6.3/10on IMDb
Released
77 minutes in Screen Australia’s listing. Santa has to find an apprentice, and Nicholas must learn what the job actually asks of him. It works well as the first film before The Magic Snowflake, when the same young Santa has to carry Christmas himself.
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Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (2011)
6.4/10on IMDb
Released
24 minutes on Disney+. Sid tries to put things right after upsetting the herd’s holiday plans. This standalone Ice Age adventure is for families who want a short trip north with more slapstick than a quiet bedtime story.
More about Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas38
The Tangerine Bear: Home in Time for Christmas! (2000)
7.2/10on IMDb
Released
49 minutes in the digital release. A teddy bear with an upside-down smile wants a home before Christmas. It makes a gentle holiday choice if children enjoy watching toys become unlikely friends.
More about The Tangerine Bear: Home in Time for Christmas!39
The Small One (1978)
7.5/10on IMDb
Released
25 minutes on Disney+. The 1978 animated short follows a boy trying to find the right home for his gentle old donkey. Its Nativity connection comes late. Pick this for younger viewers who want a tender story and can handle a little sadness.
More about The Small One40
The Snowman (1982)
8.2/10on IMDb
Released
26 minutes in the separately classified cut. Raymond Briggs’s snowy story lets its animation and score do nearly all the talking. A boy and his snowman share a flight, with a tender ending that gives the evening a quieter mood.
More about The Snowman41
Arthur's Perfect Christmas (2000)
7.8/10on IMDb
Released
54 minutes in the PBS video. Arthur’s holiday plans collide with what his family and friends need. The special makes room for different celebrations, which works well for families who want Christmas at the center of a story with a wider neighborhood around it.
More about Arthur's Perfect Christmas42
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie (1998)
5.8/10on IMDb
Released
83 minutes in the digital release. The 1998 animated feature gives Rudolph a longer adventure and adds a storm-making villain. Choose this version for a full movie with songs and a little peril about the famous reindeer.
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