Parents

5 best Christmas movies on Netflix for kids

“Tis the season for Netflix and… learn?”. Christmas is filling the air, and we understand that it would make parents even more busier: there are so many gifts to wrap, Christmas cookies to bake, and Christmas playlists to make. In these times, you can drum up some Christmas cheer — and have a productive hour — by throwing on one of the Christmas movies for your kids. Kids today have the luxury of having all their holiday favorites at their disposal whenever they need it — if you’re a Netflix subscriber.

Watching English movies is also a great way for your child to improve English while enjoying stories and music! And what can get us into the holiday spirit better than a Christmas movie?

Whether you’re looking for a Christmas classic or a festive animated film for your kids to watch this holiday season, this article will suggest some of the best Christmas movies for children, regardless of age, currently available to stream on Netflix. Depending on the amount of time you have (and your kid’s attention span), you’ll find plenty of options to meet your needs. There are half-hour specials for the little kids and full-length movies for those who want to cuddle up on the couch for the long haul. Check out these favorite kids’ Christmas movies on Netflix and make the most wonderful time of the year even more so!

1. Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022)

Parents need to know that Scrooge: A Christmas Carol is an energetic and positively skewed animated retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic novel with a cast including Olivia Colman and Jonathan Pryce. The character of Scrooge (voiced by Luke Evans) is made a little less scary and more sympathetic than usual. However, the scenes involving the ghosts — who visit Scrooge in attempts to change his ways — may still frighten younger kids. Strong positive messages and racial diversity within the cast, combined with energetic songs and colorful sets and characters, make this a fun adaptation ideal for kids and families.

There’s always room for another adaptation of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, isn’t there? This animated one features re-imagined songs by composer Leslie Bricusse, who has received Oscar nominations for her songs from Home Alone (“Somewhere in My Memory”), Hook (“When You’re Alone”) and Dr. Doolittle (“Talk to the Animals,” which brought home the award). It was released on Netflix on December 2.

>> Watch the trailer here

2. Klaus (2019)

Have you ever wondered how it all began, the arrangement by which a jolly old toymaker based somewhere near the North Pole makes the rounds each Christmas to bring presents to all the good little boys and girls?

This strange tale begins in a fictional Scandanavian country. A spoiled brat named Jesper is enjoying his privileged existence as the son of the man who runs the Royal Mail Academy. But Jesper’s life of luxury comes to a sudden end when daddy announces that it’s time for his large adult son to work for a living and banishes the boy to the miserable island of Smeerensburg near the Arctic Circle. If Jesper can deliver 6,000 letters that year, he’ll be allowed to return home; if not, he’ll be cut off forever.

Just when Jesper is about to give up all hope, he meets reclusive carpenter Klaus who lives alone in a cabin in the woods, filled with handmade toys. Jesper hatches a plan to use those toys and the Smeerensburg children to hit that 6,000-letter target. Little does Jesper know that his scheme will end up having a massive impact on the town and the lives of Klaus, himself, and the children around the world…

“Klaus,” a story of how Santa came to be, is Netflix’s first original animated film and part of an effort to build a library of family programming.

“Klaus” was released on 8 November 2019 and received positive reviews for its animation, story, and vocal performances. The movie won seven awards at the 47th Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature, and won Best Animated Film at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards. Beautiful hand-drawn animation and a humorous, heartwarming narrative make Klaus an instant candidate for classic holiday status.

>> Watch the trailer here

3. Angela’s Christmas (2018)

Based on the beloved children’s book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt, Angela’s Christmas is the kids’ animated Christmas movie that will warm the whole family’s heart. This 30-minute special follows a Christmas Eve in the life of 6-year-old girl Angela, whose desire to make sure everyone is safe and warm during the Christmas season.

The premise of “Angela’s Christmas” is as straightforward as it gets: The doll of baby Jesus lays in the cot, and Angela declares that he needs a blanket because he will get cold. This forces Angela to use her initiative, stealing baby Jesus, much to the community’s dismay that someone would take a doll from the Church. The rest of Angela’s Christmas sees the little girl protecting the baby Jesus, making sure he is safe and warm while trying to prevent anyone from finding him.

The question asked is, what would you do if your kid brought home the Baby Jesus? Angela’s intentions are honest, yet her actions questionable. And this is where the film finds its heart, connecting threads that honestly make this a rather emotional experience, culminating in the right message of courage and hope.

Inspiring and funny, with gentle but important messages, the movie is highly recommended for all but the youngest or most sensitive kids, who might find even the mild suspense unsettling.

>> Watch the trailer here

4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is an imaginative version of Dr. Seuss’ beloved classic picture book. This text tells the story of the hateful and bitter Grinch, a Christmas-hating creature who lives in a cave above a small town. Seuss describes the Grinch as having a heart that is “two sizes too small” and incapable of loving anyone. In contrast, Seuss then introduces the “Whos,” kind-hearted creatures who absolutely love Christmas. The festive season is their favorite time of year, and they have vast and noisy celebrations in their town, Whoville. As the Grinch becomes more and more annoyed with the noise, he devises a plan to “steal” Christmas. In the middle of his scheme, he meets a little girl called Cindy Lou Who, who shows the Grinch compassion and kindness. Due to her warmth, the Grinch reconsiders his views on Christmas and concludes that Christmas deserves more credit than he gave it. At the end of the story, the Grinch sees the error of his ways and celebrates along with the Whos.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a classic for kids and adults alike that should not be missed. The movie teaches us that Christmas gifts should come straight from the heart and be received with an open heart. True love does not come with a price tag, so don’t try to buy love with expensive gifts. The film grossed over $345 million worldwide, becoming the sixth-highest grossing film of 2000.

It was initially the second highest-grossing holiday film of all-time behind Home Alone (1990), until both films were surpassed in 2018 by the third film adaptation of the story. It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and got nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.

>> Watch the trailer here

5. Dreamworks Holiday Classics (2011)

This is the set of Dreamworks movies about Christmas, includes five Christmas-themed shorts, including “Shrek the Halls,” “The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper,” “Merry Madagascar,” “Donkey’s Christmas Shrektacular,” and “Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury”. They’re each 5-20 minutes, featuring Shrek and Donkey, Hiccup and Toothless, and Madagascar’s wacky animals – all children’s animated favorites from the DreamWorks portfolio show up for an anthology of short holiday films.

Here’s is the line up:

– “Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury”: The Dragons are back in the exciting next chapter to the Academy Award-nominated film, “How to Train Your Dragon.” The epic story of Hiccup and Toothless continues as they take flight in a thrilling adventure to discover an island of never-before-seen dragons.

– “Merry Madagascar”: When Santa and his reindeer crash onto the island of Madagascar, it’s up to Alex, Marty, Gloria, Melman, and those wacky Penguins to save Christmas. Get ready for a sleigh full of laughs in this hilarious holiday classic. It also includes “The Penguins of Madagascar in a Christmas Caper.”

– “Shrek the Halls”: After promising Fiona and the kids a Christmas they’ll remember, Shrek is forced to take a crash course in the holiday. But just when he thinks he has everything for a quiet family Christmas just right, Donkey, Puss in Boots, Gingy, and the rest of the gang decide to crash the party.

“Shrek the Halls” is the most extraordinary holiday tale that’s never been told until now. It also includes “Donkey’s Caroling Christmas-tacular.”

This combination is definitely the one your kid will love – when they can see all their favorite characters on the same series. There’s humor for all ages in them, and the best part is that all the shorts are entertaining! These Dreamworks shorts really bring the Christmas spirit and are just downright right. However, because different Netflix countries have different availability for episodes, parents will need to check the episode listing below to see which are available in Vietnam.

>> Watch the trailer here

Should you have any concerns or any topics you want us to cover, please leave your comments below. You can subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates delivered straight to your inbox, and find more parenting coverage HERE.