One of the greatest experiences in parenthood is sharing magical movies together, and there’s no better time to do so in the lead up to Christmas. So, grab some snacks, snuggle up on the sofa and chill out for a few hours with some of the best family-friendly festive movies:
The Muppet Christmas Carol
An array of favourite Muppet characters, dressed as Charles Dickens characters, and Michael Caine as Scrooge- what’s not to like? It also gets bonus points for the perfect casting of Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, the earnest Scrooge employee.
Elf
This one is a no-brainer. Who wouldn’t enjoy a childlike adult elf running wild around New York city? Kids find Elf hilarious (particularly the snowball fight) but it’s got plenty of laughs for the adults too.
The Polar Express
One of the most magical Christmas movies in existence, and perfect for watching while in pyjamas. It’s the best thing to get the kids excited for the big day- the anticipation of seeing Father Christmas at the end of the movie will fill their minds with the magic of the season. We also recommend serving up hot chocolate to the kids at the same time as the hot chocolate song starts in the movie!
The Christmas Chronicles
On Netflix you’ll find this gem, plus it’s sequel too. Kurt Russell is perfect as Santa in these fun adventure movies, featuring exciting sleigh rides and a trip to the North Pole.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
One for watching with the teens, this madcap Christmas comedy follows Chevy Chase and family while they experience the ultimate holiday season where everything goes wrong.
Scrooged
Another one for older kids, this fun movie is the Christmas Carol reimagined with Bill Murray starring as selfish tv executive Scrooge, suffering a number of of ghosts visiting him.
Jingle all the Way
Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in this hilarious romp that follows one man desperately trying to get his hands on the Christmas present of his child’s dreams.
Home Alone
The ultimate Christmas movie? Perhaps. It’s certainly one of the most beloved films of recent years and it’s not hard to see why. The comedy moments please both adults and kids alike, and children will adore the idea of a kid beating two thieves. Our pick for the best moment? Joe Pesci’s head being on fire.
Home Alone 2
All the fun of the first movie but with the added magic of being set in New York. Tim Curry as the head butler from hell and Kevin’s escapades in the Plaza are some of the highlights, but Daniel Stern being electrocuted must seal the win.
