The Christmas movie guide
55 Christmas movies and specials, each sorted by the youngest age we'd watch it with: from the half-hour specials a three-year-old can sit through to the films to save for after bedtime. Tap any title for its parents' guide: what's in it for violence, language, sex, drinking and scary scenes.
Youngest watching
Ages 3 and 4 8
The TV specials most families watch every year: short, gentle and over by bedtime.
3+
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Violence: none, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: none, Scary or intense scenes: none
3+
Frosty the Snowman
Violence: none, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: none, Scary or intense scenes: mild
3+
The Snowman
Violence: none, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: mild
4+
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Violence: mild, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: none, Scary or intense scenes: mild
4+
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Violence: mild, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: none, Scary or intense scenes: mild
4+
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
Violence: mild, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: none, Scary or intense scenes: mild
4+
The Year Without a Santa Claus
Violence: none, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: none, Scary or intense scenes: mild
4+
Prep & Landing
Violence: mild, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: none, Scary or intense scenes: mild
Ages 5 and 6 10
The first full-length films, for kids who can sit still for an hour and a half.
5+
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Violence: mild, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
5+
The Grinch
Violence: mild, Language: none, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: none, Scary or intense scenes: mild
5+
Noelle
Violence: mild, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: mild
6+
Miracle on 34th Street
Violence: mild, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: mild
6+
White Christmas
Violence: mild, Language: none, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: mild
6+
The Santa Clause
Violence: mild, Language: mild, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: mild
6+
Elf
Violence: mild, Language: mild, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: mild
6+
The Polar Express
Violence: none, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: none, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
6+
Arthur Christmas
Violence: mild, Language: mild, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: mild
6+
The Star
Violence: mild, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: none, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
Ages 7 and 8 13
More peril and slapstick, sadder stories, and the odd swear word.
7+
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Violence: mild, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: none, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
7+
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Violence: mild, Language: mild, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
7+
Klaus
Violence: mild, Language: none, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
7+
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Violence: mild, Language: none, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
7+
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Violence: mild, Language: mild, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: mild
8+
A Christmas Story
Violence: moderate, Language: mild, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: mild
8+
Home Alone
Violence: moderate, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
8+
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Violence: moderate, Language: mild, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
8+
Jingle All the Way
Violence: moderate, Language: mild, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: mild
8+
The Man Who Invented Christmas
Violence: mild, Language: mild, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: mild
8+
The Christmas Chronicles
Violence: mild, Language: mild, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
8+
The Princess Switch
Violence: mild, Language: mild, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: none
8+
A Boy Called Christmas
Violence: moderate, Language: none, Sex and nudity: none, Drinking, drugs and smoking: none, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
Ages 9 to 12 6
Where it gets scarier, heavier or saltier: real ghosts, real monsters, and It's a Wonderful Life.
9+
A Christmas Carol (2009)
Violence: mild, Language: mild, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: strong
9+
Candy Cane Lane
Violence: mild, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
10+
It's a Wonderful Life
Violence: moderate, Language: mild, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
12+
Gremlins
Violence: strong, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
12+
Edward Scissorhands
Violence: moderate, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
12+
Red One
Violence: moderate, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
Ages 13 to 15 14
Comedies, romances and Christmas horror for teenagers.
13+
Scrooged
Violence: moderate, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: strong, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
13+
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Violence: mild, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: mild
13+
The Holiday
Violence: mild, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: mild
13+
Four Christmases
Violence: mild, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: mild
13+
Krampus
Violence: moderate, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: strong
13+
Last Christmas
Violence: mild, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
13+
Dash & Lily
Violence: mild, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: mild
13+
Happiest Season
Violence: mild, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: mild
13+
Spirited
Violence: moderate, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
14+
Batman Returns
Violence: strong, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: strong
14+
The Family Stone
Violence: moderate, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: strong, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
15+
Love Actually
Violence: mild, Language: strong, Sex and nudity: strong, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: mild
15+
Anna and the Apocalypse
Violence: strong, Language: strong, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: mild, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
15+
The Holdovers
Violence: mild, Language: strong, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: strong, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
16 and up 4
For after bedtime.
16+
Black Christmas
Violence: moderate, Language: strong, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: strong
16+
Die Hard
Violence: strong, Language: strong, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: strong, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
16+
Carol
Violence: mild, Language: moderate, Sex and nudity: moderate, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: mild
16+
Violent Night
Violence: strong, Language: strong, Sex and nudity: mild, Drinking, drugs and smoking: moderate, Scary or intense scenes: moderate
Christmas lists
The same films, sorted by who's watching or by kind, with a note on each saying who it suits and what to know before you press play.
By who's watching
With the family · 22 picks
Family Christmas Movies
A Charlie Brown ChristmasThe SnowmanRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
With little kids · 15 picksChristmas Movies and Specials for Little Kids
A Charlie Brown ChristmasHow the Grinch Stole Christmas!The Muppet Christmas Carol
With tweens and teens · 15 picksChristmas Movies for Tweens and Teens
GremlinsNational Lampoon's Christmas VacationDash & Lily
For grown-ups · 15 picksChristmas Movies for Grown-Ups
The HoldoversDie HardLove Actually
By kind
The classics · 15 picks
Classic Christmas Movies and Specials
It's a Wonderful LifeMiracle on 34th StreetWhite Christmas
For a laugh · 13 picksFunny Christmas Movies
Prep & LandingThe Santa ClauseElf
Love stories · 10 picksChristmas Romance Movies
White ChristmasThe Princess SwitchEdward Scissorhands
The ages are our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently. How we rate.