10 Best Disney Christmas Movies

With the holiday season quickly approaching, it’s almost time to revisit beloved Christmas movies, and many people may turn to Disney to scratch that itch. Many of the best Christmas movies are nostalgic and timeless, reminding us of family traditions, memories of holidays past, and lessons in goodwill. Whether Christmas or not, Disney is a studio that stands out in making films with these themes.

The studio, one of Hollywood’s oldest and most predominant, has created several popular holiday films, from classic holiday movies like Miracle on 34th Street for newer projects like Noellewith its charming cast. Sometimes they even take advantage of the holiday season to bring back beloved Disney characters for Christmas specials, whether full-length feature films or great Disney holiday and winter shorts. However, some of the studio’s best holiday projects have a few things in common: beloved characters, important life lessons, and a touch of classic Disney magic.

10

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Directed by George Seaton

Miracle on 34th Street is a quintessential Christmas classic that many people will recognize. The film stars young Natalie Wood as Susan Walker, daughter of a single mother, Doris Walker. Despite Doris’ attempts to deny the existence of Santa Claus to her daughter, she is challenged by the appearance of a man who claims to be the real Kris Kringle.

This classic remains a holiday favorite for a reason. With a moving plot in Miracle on 34th Street and well-written characters, it’s hard not to fall in love with Edmund Gwen’s portrayal of Kris Kringle, as well as Doris and her daughter.

The film is much more than just a story about the Christmas spirit; teaches the public importance of protecting a child’s gift for whimsy and magic and defending one’s beliefs even in the face of scrutiny. According to Miracle on 34th Street, It’s never foolish to believe in the Christmas spirit.

9

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Directed by Tim Burton

Tim Burton The Nightmare Before Christmas Not only is it a great Halloween movie to check out, but it also translates into the Christmas season that follows. This stop-motion film tells the story of Jack the Pumpkin King (Chris Sarandon), who devises a plan to take on the role of Santa Claus for a year and take care of Christmas. Of course, things don’t go as planned, but Jack Skellington ends up redeeming himself by saving Christmas.

The Nightmare Before Christmas it quickly became a classic upon its release. The film’s animated, stop-motion format makes the world of Christmas Town and Halloween Town light up. Not to mention, it’s easy to root for the romance between Nightmare before Christmas‘ beloved characters of Sally (Catherine O’Hara) and Jack. General, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a uniquely dark interpretation of a holiday movie, but great for anyone wanting an unconventional Christmas movie night. It teaches viewers that it’s always worth trying something new, even if you fail in the end.

8

Santa Claus (1994)

Directed by John Pasquin

Santa Claus is another classic Disney Christmas hit from the 90s. In fact, the film was so successful that it later received two sequels, forming a trilogy. The first film follows Scott Calvin, a workaholic businessman who becomes the next Santa Claus when the Santa Claus before him has an accident. Despite the challenges of his new role, Scott’s Holiday Makeover Brings Him Closer to His Son.

This Disney classic is hilariously executed. From Scott’s physical changes to his interactions with his magical home at the North Pole, it’s hard not to laugh. However, despite being a comedy, the film explores the relationship between Scott and his son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), as he learns what it means to be a supportive father and put family first. In terms of configuration, Santa Claus masterfully creates a magical version of the North Pole that is thrilling to witness from the audience’s perspective. In the end, Scott’s story argues for the importance of maintaining faith and belief even into adulthood.

7

I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1998)

Directed by Arlene Sanford

For those looking for more holiday comedies, Disney’s I’ll be home for Christmas is a great option. Unlike many holiday films, This is made for a teen and young adult audience. I’ll be home for Christmas is about Jake (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), a college student who is eager to receive his Christmas gift, a Porsche, from his family in New York. Instead, he is stranded in the desert after a prank is pulled.

The unique premise of I’ll be home for Christmas makes it stand out from other holiday films. There is no element of magic, but rather, comedy stems from real-life struggles (travel challenges, teen drama and sneaky pranks). The teen film is a great reminder that Christmas is so much more than the act of receiving gifts, but rather about valuing the presence of family and loved ones, something Jake discovers at the end of the film.

6

The Match Girl (2006)

Directed by Roger Allers

The little match girl is a Disney short film based on the original story by Hans Christian Anderson. Although it is about six minutes long, the story is sure to touch the heart. Featuring the classic piece “String Quartet #2 In D Major”, this short follows Little Match Girl, an orphan who tries to sell her matchsticks on the streets of Saint Petersburg, but is ignored by passers-by.

The film is moving and leans into the darker ending of the original story, with the young woman’s death in the freezing cold. However, Allers’ animated version of the story is one of Disney’s strongest holiday films because of its Beautiful soundtrack and animated designs, which contribute to the powerful emotional effect of the story. The film’s meaning is also maintained, reminding audiences of the importance of human generosity and charity, especially during the holiday season.

5

Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Disney’s Christmas Carol is another animated version of a traditional Christmas tale. The original story, by Charles Dickinson, leans into its darker side in this version of the story. Jim Carey gives one of the best performances as Ebenezer Scrooge, the grumpy old man who learns to be kind after experiencing a night of hauntings by three Christmas spirits.

For fans of the original story, Disney’s Christmas Carol The adaptation is worth checking out. The Disney film has an impressive cast of voice actors who bring the characters to life, such as Jim Carey, Gary Oldman and Colin Firth with strong performances. In addition to the characters, the film is animated with a hyper-realistic style that was unique for the time and made the film’s horror elements even more terrifying. However, the film The message remains hopeful and happy when Scrooge decides to be kind on Christmas Day.

4

Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017)

Directed by Stevie Wermers, Kevin Deters

Olaf’s Frozen Adventure is a charming return to the world of Disney’s hit film, Frozen. This holiday featurette is one of many Disney has created using beloved characters from existing films. Olaf’s Frozen Adventure stars the lovable snowman, Olaf (Josh Gad), who embarks on a quest to learn more about holiday traditions so she can bring one home to her friends, Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel).

While this featurette may only last about twenty minutes, it’s fun and easy to watch for fans of the original film. This time around, fan-favorite Olaf gets more screen time, with pop-ins of familiar faces like the princesses, their love interests, and other notable supporting characters. The animation in this film is another strong point, and it’s fun to see the wintry world of Arendelle transform for the holidays, along with Olaf’s frozen adventurenew batch of Disney songs. Of course, Olaf’s journey includes the poignant lesson that The best holiday tradition is simply being present with friends and family.

3

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)

Directed by Lasse Hallström, Joe Johnston

Disney’s magical twist on the classic story of The Nutcracker, in your film, THE The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, is a visually stunning and immersive reimagining of the world of Candy Land. This film follows Clara (Mackenzie Foy), a young girl who is transported to the Land of Sweets, where she is enlisted to help the Sugarplum Fairy (Keira Knightley) destroy evil in the kingdom.

This film is unique for several reasons and beautifully pays homage to the original ballet and story. In addition to its impressive world-building, elaborate visual effects, and detailed costumes, the film has a number of great performances from well-known stars like Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren, and Morgan Freeman. Not to mention that world-renowned prima ballerina, Misty Copeland, makes a cameo appearance as one of the film’s dancers when there are excerpts from the ballet. For Clara, her journey in the film leads to her discovering a new sense of courage within yourself and an ability to stand up for your beliefs.

2

Noelle (2019)

Directed by Marc Lawrence

Noelle is one of Disney’s newest Christmas hits. This holiday film is a hilarious comedy about Kris Kringle’s two children, Noelle Kringle (Anna Kendrick) and Nick Kringle (Bill Hader), who struggle with the challenge of taking the reins after their father decides to stop being Santa Claus.

This hidden gem in Disney’s holiday film archive is another fun take on the origins of Santa Claus himself. Both lead actors bring their charmingly naive characters to life, and it’s fun to witness their interactions with members of the real world outside the North Pole. The script itself is witty and intelligent, playing on the trope of two fighting brothers who must help each other mature until the end deserve the role of Santa Claus. Noelle teaches viewers to take care of their family and think about the well-being of others during the holidays.

1

Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

Directed by James Gunn

Star-Lord and his iconic comic book team return for this Marvel Christmas short, Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas Special. Although the film is still quite recent, it has already become a classic among fans of the franchise. In Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas SpecialDrax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff), decides to cheer up a depressed Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) by bringing him the perfect Christmas gift.

There’s no doubt why this Christmas movie is so popular with audiences. From appearances by the beloved Guardians to the hilariously written dialogue between Drax and Mantis, this Christmas special is not to be missed. Not to mention that the surprise appearance of actor Kevin Bacon (who plays himself) is absurdly fun when things don’t go according to plan. In addition to fan service, the holiday special is also a notable addition to the franchise’s historywhen it is revealed that Mantis is Star-Lord’s sister. This is a perfect revelation that really makes clear what Guardian of the Galaxy franchise themes of families, both found and born.