Looking for the best family Christmas films? Here are our top 10 festive favourites we watch every year — perfect for cosy movie nights with kids.

Ten Family Christmas Films We Watch Every Year

Every December, when the tree goes up and the fairy lights start twinkling, our family settles in for our favourite Christmas movies. These are the films we watch every year — the ones that make the season feel complete.

1️⃣ The Nightmare Before Christmas

We always kick off the season with this perfectly spooky-meets-festive classic. It bridges Halloween and Christmas with clever music and magical animation that never gets old.

2️⃣ The Santa Clause

A nostalgic favourite from my childhood. It captures that cosy, slightly chaotic feeling of family life at Christmas while keeping the Santa magic alive.

3️⃣ Nativity!

Pure joy from start to finish. We sing along every year and it never fails to make us laugh. The kids love the music, and it always feels like the true start of Christmas.

4️⃣ Arthur Christmas

A newer addition that quickly became a favourite. It’s fast-paced, funny and heart-warming — perfect for a cold Sunday afternoon under a blanket.

5️⃣ The Christmas Chronicles

One of the newer additions to our line-up, The Christmas Chronicles has become a firm family favourite. Kurt Russell makes a brilliant Santa — charming, funny, and just the right amount of mischievous. The film’s mix of adventure, comedy, and heartwarming sibling teamwork keeps Lily glued to the screen every year. It’s a modern Christmas classic that reminds kids that belief and courage can make magic happen.

6️⃣ Elf

An absolute must-watch. Elf is one of those films that never loses its charm — Will Ferrell as Buddy brings pure joy from start to finish. The kids love his innocence and silliness, and even adults can’t help but laugh at his candy-coated optimism. It’s also a lovely reminder that being kind, different, and enthusiastic about life are real strengths — perfect messages for little ones at Christmas.

7️⃣ The Polar Express

Hot chocolate, twinkling lights and total stillness — this one feels like a proper event. The kids sit mesmerised every time.

8️⃣ The Muppets Christmas Carol

My personal favourite. I’ve watched it since I was little and still love it just as much. We usually watch it on the 23rd — the perfect mix of humour, music and nostalgia.

9️⃣ Home Alone

Lily’s top pick and our Christmas Day tradition. We’ve watched it so many times we can quote every line, and Home Alone 2 always follows on Boxing Day.

🔟 The Grinch

Noah’s choice and our Christmas Eve-morning ritual. It’s funny, bright and full of festive cheer — the perfect start to the big day.

❤️ Final Thoughts

Christmas films aren’t just entertainment; they’re memory-makers. Watching them as a family brings everyone together, sets the festive tone, and creates the kind of moments children remember for years to come. So grab the hot chocolate, switch on the fairy lights, and press play — your Christmas traditions start here.

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