Christmas themed popcorn

A Christmas Lover’s Guide to Festive Family Films for 2022

As the nights draw in, it’s the perfect opportunity to gather the family for some festive viewing. But with the avalanche of Christmas films available, how do you choose which to watch? Making the hard decisions so you don’t have to, we’ve put together a list of the best Christmas movies for the whole family.
Home Alone

We’re launching straight in with an oldie but goodie. Most parents will have seen this before, but introducing the kids to Kevin McCallister is a real Christmas treat. Macaulay Culkin plays 8 year old Kevin who is accidentally left behind at Christmas and has to defend his home from two hapless crooks. Released in 1990, some elements may be slightly dated but the humour (especially the slapstick elements) will have the whole family laughing.
Watch with: pizza and ice cream straight out of the tub.

The Christmas Chronicles

If you want a more modern dose of Christmas cheer, you can’t go wrong with this story of brother and sister Teddy and Kate whose plan to catch Santa on camera leads to an unexpected adventure. Whilst the premise may not be new, the delivery certainly has a fresh feel, thanks primarily to Kurt Russell’s charming Santa Claus. The older members of the family will enjoy the Mrs Claus reveal at the end, although the kids will be oblivious!
Watch with: a big bowl of popcorn.

The Rise of the Guardians

Long before he had us swooning in The Holiday, Jude Law lent his voice to this Christmas cracker. Based on The Guardians of Childhood series of books by William Joyce, the movie gathers together a cast of mythical characters who must defend the children of the world against the menacing Pitch (Law). Led by a tattooed Father Christmas with a heroic Easter bunny (voiced by Hugh Jackman) and sensitive new guy, Jack Frost (Chris Pine), this movie gives a fresh take on the old tropes. There is adventure, fun, and more than a few emotional moments, truly something for everyone!
Watch with: the books on hand; it’s the perfect way to encourage reading!

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol must have been retold hundreds of times, but this is surely the definitive version. Who could have imagined that a cast of puppets would portray the classic tale so well? Throw in Michael Caine giving the performance of his life and you have a winning formula. This is a great way to introduce the story to little ones but has enough silliness and fun to keep older children engaged too. Beware, you’ll find yourself singing the songs long after you’ve stopped watching.
Watch with: bowls full of chocolate coins.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Toymaker, Jeronicus (Forest Whitaker), is a broken man following a betrayal by his assistant. His grief stops him from making toys until his spirited and endearing granddaughter, Journey, comes to visit. At just over 2 hours, this is the longest movie on our list so little ones may struggle to maintain concentration. That being said, it is visually stunning, and sets and costumes should help to keep their interest. There’s little more festive than a Christmas musical and the songs and choreography here don’t disappoint.
Watch with: gingerbread and warm spiced apple juice.

Elf

Forget the creepy guy on the shelf and settle down for some real elf magic. Buddy was raised as an elf but, now an adult, he sets off to New York to find his father, cynical businessman, Walter Hobbs (James Caan). The only trouble is, his dad doesn’t know he exists. Will Ferrell clearly relishes the role of Buddy and brings a joyous sense of silliness and hilarity to this classic movie. You’re bound to find yourself quoting lines of this movie long after the credits have rolled, you cotton-headed ninny muggins!
Watch with: M&Ms, marshmallows and chocolate fudge Pop-Tarts of course!

A Boy Called Christmas

Another adaptation from a book, this time Matt Haig’s novel gets a movie makeover. It follows Nikolas, a young boy on a quest to find his father. There are plenty of big names to look out for; Maggie Smith and Jim Broadbent among them. Much like the book, this movie will leave you with a sense of hope, wonder and warmth; this is one to watch if you want to get your hygge on.
Watch with: a cosy blanket and mug of hot chocolate.

Olaf’s Frozen Adventures

Don’t have time for a full movie but want to get into the Christmas spirit? At just 22 minutes long, this is the perfect choice! When Elsa and Anna realise that they don’t have any Christmas traditions, everyone’s favourite snowman Olaf sets off to find some. Humour, music and a heart-warming message all wrapped up in a neat little package make this a winner for all the family.
Watch with: candy canes and Christmas fruit cake.

So there you have it, our top suggestions for the perfect festive family viewing. These movies will warm the hearts of all the family from toddlers to grandparents and everyone in between. They’ll give you something to talk about and laugh at, the perfect shared experience. Hopefully, we’ve prevented some family arguments, at least until the Monopoly comes out. Did we miss any? Let us know what you think.

If festive books are more your style, don’t forget, you can buy The Mistletoe Mixtape here for a warm fuzzy read once you’ve tucked the kids up in bed.
Written by Marianne Calver

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