The best Christmas films to watch on Disney Plus in 2024
Our top festive movies to keep the whole family entertained during the Christmas period.
Picture this: It's Christmas Day, the family is all around, lunch is done, and you're completely board-gamed out – what else is there to do other than gather around in front of a cosy Christmas film?
If you're looking for a streaming service to help create these magical movie moments then Disney Plus is a great option.
The platform has over 500 films from the world's of Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and Fox and among them an impressive catalogue of Christmas movies which are suitable for children of all ages.
So, to help you avoid the classic family argument over what to watch, we've picked out our favourite Christmas films to watch on Disney Plus. There's a mixture between those rated U and PG so everyone can enjoy time around the telly.
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Best Disney Plus Christmas films at a glance
Rated U:
- The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
- The Santa Clause (1994)
- Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
- Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
- Noelle (2019)
- A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002)
- Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
- The Small One (1978)
Rated PG:
- Home Alone (1990)
- A Christmas Carol (2009)
- Deck the Halls (2006)
- Frozen (2013)
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
- Godmothered (2020)
What Christmas films are on Disney Plus?
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
- Age Rating: U
- Running time: 1 hour 25 minutes
This rendition of Dickens' holiday tale is great for a family laugh over Christmas. It sees Kermit the Frog takes on the role of Bob Cratchit, working for the stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). As other Muppets like Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, and Sam the Eagle interweave through the story, Scrooge encounters spirits of past, present, and future Christmases. Despite the spirits' efforts to show him the consequences of his selfish behavior, the seemingly irredeemable Scrooge remains resistant to change.
The Santa Clause (1994)
- Age Rating: U
- Running time: 1 hour 47 minutes
This film is best for children who might already know the truth about Father Christmas. It follows Scott Calvin who is disgusted by his ex-wife Laura and her husband Neil's attempt to break the news to their 6-year-old son Charlie that Santa Claus isn't real. In an unexpected turn of events, Scott startles Santa on his roof and finds himself in possession of a magical suit and sleigh. Following the suit's instructions, he becomes Santa and embarks on a gift-delivering journey.
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
- Age Rating: U
- Running time: 1 hour 54 minutes
6-year-old Susan is struggling with her belief in Santa Claus until she meets Kriss Kringle, a department store Santa with something magical about him. The problem is, Kringle soon gets put on trial, with no one but Susan and her mother to help. Can he prove he's the real Father Christmas in time?
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
- Age Rating: U
- Running time: 1 hour 6 minutes
You can't have Disney Plus without Mickey! In this film, the House of Mouse gang are back together for a series of different adventures including Donald and his nephews reliving the same Christmas over and over, Max Goof struggling with his belief in Santa, and Mickey and Minnie working together to make ends meet.
Noelle (2019)
- Age Rating: U
- Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Noelle is a new film starring Pitch Perfect's Anna Kendrick. It follows Kris Kringle's daughter Noelle as she tries to help her brother save Christmas, and prove she can live up to the Kringle name.
Winnie The Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002)
- Age Rating: U
- Running time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Perfect for younger children, this Winnie The Pooh film stars all the beloved characters from the Hundred Acre Wood, including Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore. They come together to celebrate the festive season, reflect on past memories and make New Year's resolutions. The film follows the characters as they discover the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of cherishing moments with loved ones.
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
- Age Rating: U
- Running time: 1 hour 12 minutes
This sequel stars all of the beloved characters from Disney's Beauty and the Beast as they embark on a festive tale set during the holiday season. The story revolves around Belle, Beast, Lumière, Cogsworth, and other enchanted objects as they plan a special Christmas celebration in the castle. However, their plans are thwarted by the scheming Forte, a pipe organ with his own agenda.
The Small One (1978)
- Age Rating: U
- Running time: 26 minutes
This heartwarming short story set outside Nazareth sees a young boy named Aaron faced with the difficult task of parting with his beloved donkey, Small One. As the donkey is no longer able to work and provide for the family, Aaron's father insists that it's time to sell him. Despite the emotional farewell, Small One finds himself in the company of a kind and gentle man who sees the donkey's true worth.
Home Alone (1990)
- Age Rating: PG
- Running time: 1 hour 43 minutes
This classic Christmas-set tale is great for the whole family with pranking and cheekiness galore. It sees Kevin McCallister being left at home by his family when they go on a festive holiday. He lives every child's dream with the whole home to himself before learning two con men want to rob the McCallister home. He must find a way to protect it with a creative mix of traps and tricks.
A Christmas Carol (2009)
- Age Rating: PG
- Running time: 1 hour 36 minutes
This 2009 remake of a classic Christmas story follows the miserable Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) and his famous bah-humbug attitude. When Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his late business partner he is warned that three spirits will visit him at night. The spirits take Scrooge on a journey through his past, present and future in the hope of transforming his bitterness for Christmas.
Deck the Halls (2006)
Follow Steve and his new neighbour, Buddy, try to outdo each other in decorating their houses for Christmas. As always in Christmas films, the competition gets slightly out of hand.
- Age Rating: PG
- Running time: 1 hour 33 minutes
Frozen (2013)
- Age Rating: PG
- Running time: 1 hour 48 minutes
Although not technically a Christmas film, Frozen definitely feels seasonally appropriate. This animated adventure follows the fearless Anna as she teams up with rugged iceman Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven to find her sister, Elsa, whose magical powers have plunged their kingdom into eternal winter. As they navigate mystical trolls, a comedic snowman named Olaf, and face Elsa's icy spell, the duo embarks on an epic journey to save their kingdom from the grip of eternal cold.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- Age Rating: PG
- Running time: 1 hour 16 minutes
Whether you think it's best for Christmas or Halloween, there's no denying that Tim Burton's 1993 stop-motion film is a classic must-see. It follows a pumpkin king who gets bored of scaring people at Halloween and instead opts to steal Santa Claus. There are some scary images throughout so perhaps best for older children.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
- Age Rating: PG
- Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes
This fantasy adventure puts a twist on the classic Nutcracker story. It sees Mr. Stahlbaum fulfil his late wife's wish by giving his children presents. Clara receives an egg-shaped box with a note from her mother. At a Christmas ball, Clara seeks help to unlock the egg, discovering it is a gift from her mother leading her to a parallel world, sparking a journey to restore peace among the fantasy realms she lives.
Godmothered (2020)
- Age Rating: PG
- Running time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Godmothered is a comedy about Eleanor, a young, inexperienced fairy godmother-in-training. When she hears that her chosen profession is facing extinction, Eleanor decides to show the world that people still need fairy godmothers. She finds that a girl who wrote her a letter when she was younger has now grown up and doesn't believe in a 'happily ever after'. Eleanor is on a mission to change this.
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Authors
Finn Byrne is a Digital Writer for Immediate Media. He works across several brands including The Recommended, RadioTimes.com, MadeforMums and BBC Gardeners’ World. Finn has previously written for publications including MyLondon, The Mirror, The Express, and The Star. When not writing Finn enjoys spending time on the football pitch and getting stuck into a book.
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