Looking for the best Christmas movies for tweens? Once children reach around 8–12 years old, finding something festive to watch together can get surprisingly tricky.
They’re starting to outgrow some of the Christmas films they loved when they were little, but they’re not necessarily ready for the more grown-up festive comedies either.
Fortunately, there’s plenty in between.
From Christmas classics and laugh-out-loud comedies to slightly darker adventures and a few less obvious choices, these are some of the best Christmas movies to watch with older kids.
This list includes a mixture of films that are ideal for children aged 8+ and others that are better suited to older tweens aged 12+. I’ve included suggested ages and content notes throughout to help you decide what’s appropriate for your family. These are my recommendations rather than official film classifications.
One important warning before we start: Gremlins is a brilliant Christmas film for older tweens, but it comes with an important caveat for families trying to preserve the magic of Christmas. I’ve explained a little more in its entry below.
The best Christmas movies for tweens at a glance
If you’re looking for something to put on tonight, these are some of my top recommendations:
- Home Alone
- Elf
- The Christmas Chronicles
- Klaus
- Arthur Christmas
- That Christmas
- The Santa Clause
- Jingle All the Way
- Nativity!
- The Muppet Christmas Carol
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- A Boy Called Christmas
- Gremlins
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- Scrooged
For older tweens, films like Gremlins, Scrooged and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation are particularly good choices if they’re ready for slightly more grown-up humour.
1. Home Alone (1990)
There aren’t many Christmas films that have remained quite as popular with children as Home Alone.
Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister is accidentally left behind when his family flies to Paris for Christmas, leaving him to defend the house against two spectacularly incompetent burglars.
It’s funny, chaotic and full of the kind of slapstick violence that children find absolutely hilarious.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Comic violence, mild bad language and some frightening moments.
2. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Essentially the same premise as the original, only this time Kevin finds himself alone in New York.
The traps are even more ridiculous, the hotel scenes are brilliant and there’s something wonderfully Christmassy about New York in December.
It’s not quite as good as the original, but it’s still one of the strongest Christmas sequels.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Frequent slapstick violence, mild language and some threatening scenes.
3. Elf (2003)
Will Ferrell plays Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole who travels to New York to find his biological father.
If you’ve got tweens who haven’t seen Elf yet, what are you waiting for? It’s practically the perfect Christmas comedy for this age group. The humour is silly, ridiculous and endlessly quotable, with plenty of jokes that adults will enjoy just as much as the kids.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Mild language, some rude humour and brief fighting.
4. The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
Kurt Russell makes a surprisingly excellent Santa Claus in this Netflix Christmas adventure.
Two siblings accidentally interfere with Santa’s Christmas Eve deliveries and end up helping him save Christmas.
There’s plenty of action, some good comedy and enough adventure to appeal to children who are starting to find traditional Christmas films a little too childish.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Mild peril, bereavement themes and some frightening moments.
5. The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020)
The sequel brings Goldie Hawn’s Mrs Claus into a much bigger role and introduces a disgruntled former elf determined to ruin Christmas.
It’s more fantastical than the first film, with plenty of North Pole action.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Fantasy peril, mild violence and some frightening scenes.
6. Klaus (2019)
One of the best animated Christmas films of recent years.
A selfish young postman is sent to a remote, miserable town, where he befriends a reclusive toymaker and inadvertently helps create the traditions associated with Santa Claus.
It’s beautifully animated, genuinely funny and has a surprisingly emotional story.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Bullying, feuding families, mild peril and emotional themes.
7. That Christmas (2024)
Based on the children’s books by Richard Curtis, That Christmas follows several families in a small English coastal town as a snowstorm disrupts their Christmas plans.
It’s a charming, very British animated Christmas film, with interconnected stories about friendship, family and all the things that can go wrong at Christmas.
There’s plenty of humour, but also some surprisingly touching moments. A particularly good choice for children who are starting to outgrow the more straightforward Santa-focused Christmas films.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Family separation, loneliness, mild peril and some emotional scenes.
8. Arthur Christmas (2011)
Have you ever wondered how Santa manages to deliver presents to every child in the world in one night?
Arthur Christmas imagines an enormous, high-tech operation run by generations of the Claus family.
When one child is accidentally missed, Santa’s youngest son Arthur sets out to deliver her present himself.
It’s clever, funny and deserves to be mentioned alongside the better-known Christmas classics.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Mild peril and some family conflict.
9. The Santa Clause (1994)
Tim Allen accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall from his roof and discovers that he’s now contractually obliged to take over the job.
It’s one of those films that feels completely normal when you watch it as a child and increasingly bizarre when you think about the actual premise as an adult.
Still, it’s a Christmas classic.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Santa’s apparent death, divorce and family conflict, plus some mild language.
10. The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
Scott Calvin discovers that he needs to find a wife before Christmas or he’ll lose his position as Santa Claus.
It’s sillier than the original, but the North Pole setting and magical elements make it an easy family watch.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Mild peril and romantic themes.
11. Jingle All the Way (1996)
Arnold Schwarzenegger spends Christmas Eve desperately trying to find the year’s most sought-after action figure for his son.
It’s a gloriously chaotic satire of Christmas shopping, although I’m not sure the filmmakers entirely anticipated how relatable it would become to parents.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Comic violence, mild language and some rude humour.
12. Nativity! (2009)
A primary-school teacher accidentally promises that a Hollywood producer will attend his school’s Christmas nativity play, setting off an increasingly ridiculous chain of events.
It’s chaotic, funny and very British, with plenty of familiar school Christmas concert moments that parents will recognise.
Martin Freeman is excellent as the increasingly exasperated teacher, and Mr Poppy is exactly the kind of character children find hilarious.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Mild language, some rude humour and emotional themes around relationships.
13. A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
Based on Matt Haig’s novel, A Boy Called Christmas tells the story of Nikolas, a young boy who sets off on an adventure to find his missing father and discovers a magical world of elves, trolls and reindeer along the way.
It’s a lovely alternative to the usual Santa Claus origin stories, with a distinctly British feel and a cast including Maggie Smith, Jim Broadbent and Kristen Wiig.
There’s plenty of magic and adventure, but it also has a darker side than some Christmas films aimed at younger children.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Bereavement, parental separation, threatening characters and some frightening scenes.
14. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
One of the best adaptations of A Christmas Carol, and I’m prepared to stand by that.
Michael Caine plays Ebenezer Scrooge with complete seriousness while surrounded by Muppets, which somehow makes the whole thing work even better.
The songs are excellent, the humour is brilliant and there’s enough of Dickens’ darker story to keep older children interested.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Ghosts, death and some frightening imagery, particularly the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
15. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Is it a Halloween film or a Christmas film? Fortunately, you can watch it for both.
Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, becomes fascinated with Christmas and decides to take over Santa’s job.
The stop-motion animation is wonderful, the songs are brilliant and the whole thing is just strange enough to appeal to tweens.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Creepy imagery, monsters, peril and some frightening scenes.
16. The Polar Express (2004)
A boy boards a mysterious train travelling to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
It’s visually ambitious and has become a Christmas tradition for many families, although the animation does have that slightly unsettling early-motion-capture look.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Several intense sequences involving heights, danger and a mysterious ghostly character.
17. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Jim Carrey’s version of the Grinch is loud, weird and completely committed to the character.
The production design is fantastic and the humour is particularly well suited to older children who enjoy something a little more chaotic.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Some crude humour, mild innuendo and frightening expressions.
18. The Grinch (2018)
The animated version is gentler and more straightforward than Jim Carrey’s film, with Benedict Cumberbatch voicing the Grinch.
It’s probably better suited to younger tweens, although there’s still plenty for older children to enjoy.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Very mild peril and rude humour.
19. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
A department-store Santa insists he’s the real Father Christmas, leading to a courtroom battle over whether he’s telling the truth.
It’s slower and more sentimental than many modern Christmas films, but there’s something lovely about its old-fashioned approach to Christmas magic.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Mild family conflict and themes around belief in Santa.
20. A Christmas Carol (2009)
Disney’s animated adaptation starring Jim Carrey is considerably darker than you might expect.
The motion-capture animation creates some genuinely creepy scenes, particularly when Scrooge is visited by the ghosts.
It’s a good choice for older tweens who enjoy spooky stories, but I’d approach it cautiously with more sensitive children.
Best for: 10+
Content note: Frightening ghosts, death, disturbing imagery and intense sequences.
21. Scrooged (1988)
Bill Murray plays a cynical television executive who receives his own supernatural Christmas intervention.
It’s a very funny, darkly comic take on A Christmas Carol, and one I’d save for older tweens who are ready for more adult humour.
Best for: 12+
Content note: Stronger language, sexual references, drinking, smoking and frightening ghostly scenes.
22. Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins might be the ultimate Christmas film for children who are starting to enjoy horror.
A teenager receives an unusual pet for Christmas, with three very important rules. Naturally, things go horribly wrong.
It’s funny, mischievous and genuinely quite frightening in places.
Best for: 11–12+
Content note: Creature violence, frightening scenes, deaths and some strong language.
Important Christmas caveat: Gremlins contains an explicit conversation that will spoil some of the magic of Christmas in your household. If that’s something you’re keen to preserve, I’d definitely save this film for another year.
23. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Clark Griswold is determined to give his family the perfect Christmas, despite absolutely everything going wrong.
This is one for the older end of the tween age range, particularly children who enjoy watching adults behave like complete idiots.
Best for: 12+
Content note: Strong language, sexual innuendo, crude humour and some comic violence.
24. Deck the Halls (2006)
Two neighbours become locked in an increasingly ridiculous competition over Christmas decorations.
It’s not exactly high cinema, but the escalating chaos and neighbourhood rivalry make it an entertaining Christmas comedy.
Best for: 10+
Content note: Sexual innuendo, crude humour and mild language.
25. Fred Claus (2007)
Vince Vaughn plays Santa’s bitter older brother, who ends up working at the North Pole.
It’s an interesting premise, with plenty of sibling rivalry and some funny moments, although it gets rather sentimental towards the end.
Best for: 9+
Content note: Mild language, fighting and family conflict.
26. Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
A couple decide to skip Christmas entirely when their daughter goes away for the holidays, much to the horror of their extremely festive neighbours.
It’s a ridiculous concept, but the increasingly aggressive neighbourhood Christmas spirit is entertaining.
Best for: 9+
Content note: Mild language, innuendo and some rude humour.
27. The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
This one is a little different.
Rather than adapting A Christmas Carol, it imagines Charles Dickens struggling to write the story, with his characters gradually coming to life around him.
It’s a good choice for older children who already know the story of Scrooge, particularly if they enjoy books and history.
Best for: 10+
Content note: Family conflict, poverty, death and some darker emotional themes.
28. Noelle (2019)
Anna Kendrick plays Santa’s daughter, who must take matters into her own hands when her brother disappears shortly before Christmas.
It’s light, funny and an easy choice for a family film night.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Very mild peril and family conflict.
29. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
Disney’s fantasy adventure takes inspiration from The Nutcracker, with a young girl entering a magical world divided into four realms.
It’s visually spectacular, with beautiful costumes and elaborate sets, although the story is rather more complicated than you might expect.
Best for: 9+
Content note: Fantasy battles, frightening creatures, bereavement and some intense scenes.
30. Rise of the Guardians (2012)
Not strictly a Christmas film, but Santa Claus is one of the main characters, so I’m including it.
Jack Frost joins forces with Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the Sandman to protect children’s hopes and dreams from the villainous Pitch Black.
It’s a particularly good choice for tweens who prefer action and fantasy to traditional Christmas sentimentality.
Best for: 8+
Content note: Fantasy violence, frightening imagery and themes of loneliness and death.
31. The Snowman and the Snowdog (2012)
A sequel to the original The Snowman, following a young boy who builds a snowman and a snowdog that come to life.
It’s short, beautifully animated and rather emotional.
Although it’s suitable for much younger children, there’s something about these films that still works at any age.
Best for: All ages
Content note: Bereavement and emotional scenes.
32. Spirited (2022)
Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell star in this musical reimagining of A Christmas Carol, told partly from the perspective of the ghosts.
The songs are catchy, the humour is sharp and it’s a good option for older tweens who enjoy musicals.
Best for: 12+
Content note: Strong language, sexual references, drinking and mature themes including suicide.
33. 8-Bit Christmas (2021)
Set in the late 1980s, 8-Bit Christmas follows a boy determined to get his hands on a Nintendo Entertainment System.
It’s essentially a Christmas toy-hunting adventure with a strong dose of nostalgia, and particularly good for children who enjoy gaming.
Best for: 9+
Content note: Mild language, bullying and some rude humour.
More Christmas movies worth watching with tweens
If you’ve already worked through the main list, here are a few more to consider:
- The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
- Get Santa
- Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger
- The Star
- The Christmas Dragon
- Prancer
- Jack Frost
- The Christmas Project
- Unaccompanied Minors
- The Naughty Nine
What are the best Christmas movies for 8–10 year olds?
For younger tweens, I’d start with Home Alone, Elf, Arthur Christmas, Klaus, The Christmas Chronicles, That Christmas, Nativity!, The Santa Clause and Jingle All the Way.
They’re funny, adventurous and festive without being too grown-up.
The Muppet Christmas Carol is also an excellent choice, particularly if your children enjoy slightly spooky stories.
What are the best Christmas movies for older tweens?
For 11 and 12-year-olds, the Christmas movie options get considerably more interesting.
Gremlins is an obvious choice for children beginning to enjoy horror, while Scrooged and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation offer more grown-up comedy.
Spirited is also worth trying if your child enjoys musicals, although it contains more mature content than many Christmas films.
As always, it’s worth checking the content notes before choosing, particularly for films at the older end of the age range.
Christmas movies for tweens who think they’re too old for Christmas films
If your tween has reached the stage where anything involving Santa Claus is automatically dismissed as babyish, there are still plenty of Christmas films that might win them over.
Home Alone and Jingle All the Way are great choices for children who prefer comedy and chaos over Christmas magic, while 8-Bit Christmas is particularly good for gaming fans.
For older tweens, Spirited offers a more grown-up musical comedy, while Gremlins combines Christmas with a genuinely entertaining dose of horror (although do read my Christmas caveat above before putting that one on).
And if all else fails, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation might convince them that watching adults make complete fools of themselves is a perfectly acceptable way to spend Christmas.
Are there any scary Christmas movies for tweens?
Christmas and horror make a surprisingly good combination.
For children who enjoy something spooky without going straight into adult horror films, I’d recommend The Nightmare Before Christmas, A Christmas Carol (2009) and Gremlins.
All three have genuinely frightening moments, so they’re worth checking beforehand if your child is easily scared. And remember the Christmas caveat for Gremlins if you don’t want to spoil the magic of Christmas.
Looking for more movies to watch with tweens?
If you’ve exhausted the Christmas films, I’ve also put together our favourite best comedy movies for tweens, best action and adventure movies for tweens and best musical movies for tweens.
All three lists include recommendations for children around 8–12, with plenty of films that adults will enjoy watching too.
