6 Best Family Christmas Movies

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Every December, my family loves to snuggle on the couch and watch Christmas movies. This tradition is pretty versatile. It can be done in just about any location if you have a DVD player or an internet connection. 

It also grows with children as they grow up. This is one tradition they won’t outgrow! One of our favorite tween Advent activities is to have a Christmas movie marathon slumber party in our living room. It helps me to have a few movie suggestions during our movie marathon, so I compiled this list of the best family Christmas movies.

Pop some popcorn, grab your comfiest blankets, and snuggle up with your family to relax while watching the best family Christmas movies.

Most of these movies are rated PG, but there is one PG-13. I have felt comfortable with my children watching these movies for a few years now, but every family has different levels of acceptance.

Check out Common Sense Media for more information about the movies.

Best Family Christmas Movies

Home Alone

Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

My kids love watching Kevin McCallister battle burglars every holiday season. Actually, they watch this movie year-round. For some reason, they always choose to watch this movie on the van DVD player on the long drive to Grandma’s house.

I’m not sure if they love it because they can’t imagine being left home alone while the rest of the family dashes off to France or if they get a kick out of the 1990 fashion and technology (fighting over a pay phone?). Either way, it is a family favorite.

Rating – PG

Elf

Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

I first watched this movie 16 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter, and I’m pretty sure we have watched it every single Christmas since. If you have never seen this movie, it is a cute movie about an ‘elf’ who goes to New York City in search of his birth father. Buddy the elf’s antics are hilarious for kids of all ages.

Rating – PG

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

There are many versions of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but the Jim Carrey version is my favorite. I loved the book and had my doubts that a short picture book could be successfully made into an hour-and-a-half film, but was very happy with the result.

This is an easy movie to make into a theme night. Make Grinch popcorn, drink green juice, and snack on Grinch kabobs – you could even make it a Grinch party!

Rating – PG

Related: Last Minute Advent Activities that Require Almost No Planning

A Christmas Story

Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

A Christmas Story takes place in the 1940s, so it feels like it has been around forever, but it was actually filmed in 1983. We started watching this movie years ago, back when we had cable. One station played it on a loop for 24 hours leading up to Christmas, so it was nearly impossible to miss. It is a Christmas classic in my house.

My kids always want things that I refuse to buy, so they really identify with Ralphie wanting a Red Rider BB gun.

Rating – PG

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This Christmas classic is full of hilarious mishaps. My kids laugh hysterically throughout the entire movie. It seems like nothing is going right, but at least the family is together.

This movie is PG-13, but I started watching it with my kids before they were 13. It is all fairly mild, and my kids had no problems. I think that PG-13 in the 80s was different than PG-13 standards now.

Rating – PG-13

The Santa Clause

Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

In The Santa Clause, Scott Calvin discovers Santa lying in his snowy front yard after he tumbles off Scott’s roof while delivering presents on Christmas Eve. A bit of Christmas magic (and the fine print of a business card) transforms Scott into Santa. We love watching the transformation into Santa. It is nice to believe that maybe there is a bit of Santa Claus in all of us.

Rating – PG

If you prefer reading books to watching movies, check out these family-friendly Christmas chapter books.

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