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TV special · Comedy, Drama, Animated · 1965 · TV-G

A Charlie Brown Christmas: parents' guide

3+our pick

Best for ages 3 and up. Rated TV-G.

A gentle, half-hour animated classic that suits the whole family, preschoolers included. There is no violence, profanity, romance or scary content. The only friction is social: Charlie Brown feels gloomy about the holidays, and the other kids call him names like "blockhead" and laugh at him and his scrawny tree before rallying around him at the end. Linus recites the Nativity story from the Gospel of Luke, so the special carries an openly religious message alongside its jabs at holiday commercialism. The youngest viewers may need help following the talky dialogue, but nothing in it should upset them.

What's in it

Violence

None

No physical violence. The closest it comes is a squabble in which Lucy tells Snoopy she ought to slug him; nothing comes of it and no one is hurt.

Language

None

No profanity. Characters call each other "stupid" a few times and Charlie Brown gets called a "blockhead." That mild name-calling is the only language issue.

Sex and nudity

None

No romance, kissing or sexual content of any kind. The story stays entirely on friendship, the school play and the meaning of Christmas.

Drinking, drugs and smoking

None

No drinking, smoking or drug references appear anywhere in the special. Adults are never even seen on screen, and nothing of this kind is mentioned.

Scary or intense scenes

None

Nothing scary. Charlie Brown is downcast for much of the story and briefly believes he has killed his little tree, but the mood turns warm and happy by the end.

Sensitive topics

  • Bullying

Worth talking about

Why did the other kids laugh at Charlie Brown and his tree, and what changed their minds? It is an easy way into talking about standing up for someone who is being teased.

Where to stream →

On our lists

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Checked October 24th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, movieguide.org, Wikipedia, thetvdb.com, Dove. The age is our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently: read the notes, not just the number. Spotted something we missed? Tell us. How we rate.