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- For many Christmas diehards, the music, the tree, and most importantly, the movies come out in November to prepare for the holiday magic of December. The easiest way to celebrate the season is by watching some of the best Christmas movies, which can all be streamed easily on Disney+. The best part about movies on Disney+ is that they're suitable for the whole family. Whether it's a movie that was in theaters or a short that Disney released, there's something for everyone.
Disney is known for its successful themed holiday movies; the same can be said for Christmas. Whether it's a cartoon showing the holiday hopes of Mickey and Minnie Mouse or a mega motion picture starring Tim Allen dressed as Santa Claus, Disney's Christmas movies vary in subject and design.
Disney has added a more modern take to Christmas movies over the years. However, the theme of family, holiday magic, and love always comes through — it's what makes these movies fan-favorites to rewatch every holiday season. Thankfully, those with Disney+ subscriptions can stream these movies and watch them as many times as they want this holiday season.
Updated on November 7, 2022, by Lynn Gibbs:
For many Christmas diehards, the music, the tree, and most importantly, the movies come out in November to prepare for the holiday magic of December. The easiest way to celebrate the season is by watching some of the best Christmas movies, which can all be streamed easily on Disney+. The best part about movies on Disney+ is that they're suitable for the whole family. Whether it's a movie that was in theaters or a short that Disney released, there's something for everyone.
Snow Buddies (2008)
Snow Buddies is a holiday spin-off of the Air Bud franchise. The biggest appeal here is obviously the adorable pupperinos showcased throughout the film.
In the movie, the five golden retriever puppies follow an ice cream transport truck to a plane and end up flying with the ice cream shipment to Alaska, where they end up training to compete as sled dogs for a big race. Will they pull it off with the help of a husky friend? It's an endearing, family-friendly movie for those who love dogs.
Prep & Landing (2009)
In 2009, Disney released the computer-animated special, Prep & Landing. Because of its success, a sequel (Operation: Secret Santa) was released a year later. In the special, a Christmas elf named Wayne was a part of a crew that helped Santa on Christmas Eve — the Prep & Landing organization.
But after Wayne isn’t given the recognition he deserved after working on the force for over 200 years, he gets into some trouble by Christmas. The special was exciting and had a fun storyline with a loving message. Because of the effects and funny characters, Prep & Landing is one of the better Disney movies.
Noelle (2019)
Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader starred in the Disney masterpiece Noelle. When Santa Claus died, his son Nick Kringle trained to take over. But when Nick can’t handle the pressure and takes some time off, his sister Noelle covers for him.
The real storyline kicks in when Nick fails to return to the North Pole and Noelle has to save the day. Noelle has some likable characters, funny puns, and a magical spin on life outside the North Pole.
Godmothered (2020)
A year after Noelle was released, another live-action Christmas movie came to Disney+, Godmothered. With Isla Fisher and Jillian Bell as its stars, the movie centered around family dynamics and the holidays, which hit home for viewers.
After training to be a fairy godmother for years, Eleanor Fay Bloomingbottom finally got her wish when she entered the Earth realm to protect and serve a young girl who wrote to her years prior, Mackenzie Walsh. The only problem was that time was different in the realms and Mackenzie was now an adult who had to juggle having a strange fairy godmother while also being a single mother. The movie had ups and downs, but it also had hope, romance, and understanding.
Beauty And The Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
This Beauty and the Beast spin-off was released in 1997, but it takes place within the timeline of the 1991 film Beauty and the Beast.
The holiday movie started with Belle and Beast planning a big Christmas party at their castle which the entire village was invited to. While planning the party, talks of the castle's last holiday party were mentioned, which spiraled into a look from the past kind of tale. It has winter magic, romantic moments between Belle and Beast, and all the hilarity from Lumiere and Cogsworth. It's one of the better animated Christmas movies out there.
The Santa Clause (1994)
Home Improvement. The movie follows Scott Calvin as he unexpectedly makes the transition from a regular divorcee dad to the next Santa Claus.
The problem, of course, is keeping his new identity a secret from his family — especially his young son who struggled with the realism of Santa and his parent's divorce. has hilarious dialog, and it doesn't matter how much time goes by, this movie is a classic and fun for the whole family.
I'll Be Home For Christmas (1998)
Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Jessica Biel starred in this holiday film, bringing back all the nostalgia from that time period.
Released in 1998, I'll Be Home For Christmas is about a spoiled college student who experiences difficulty getting home for Christmas after being hazed by his friends. At some point during his struggle of self-discovery, he realizes how materialistic and selfish he's been, just in time for the holidays. The coming-of-age movie has common tropes found in Hallmark movies, but it's perfect for homes with teenagers in it.
The Nutcracker And The Four Realms (2018)
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is a retelling of E.T.A. Hoffmann's short story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King and Marius Petipa's The Nutcracker. For those who aren't in the know, it's about a young girl who is gifted a locked egg on Christmas Eve from her deceased mother and sets out in a magical land to retrieve the key.
The movie isn't well-known and didn't have the best reviews when it came out in 2018, but the scene work and special effects make this movie enchanting to watch. Not to mention, The Nutcracker's classic songs and dance sequences are still present.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Despite The Nightmare Before Christmas' dark undertones, it's a Christmas movie that adults can appreciate. It might not be suitable for younger children, but it's a Disney movie that hits home the older viewers get.
Because of its dalliance with both Halloween and Christmas, some view The Nightmare Before Christmas as a Christmas movie over a Halloween movie and vice versa. Nevertheless, in the movie, the pumpkin king of Halloween Town, Jack Skellington, stumbles into Christmas Town and catches the Christmas spirit. Unfortunately, his attempts to make everyone in Halloween Town appreciate and celebrate Christmas are misunderstood and misguided. It's unique, it's weird, and it's definitely something that should be watched every year.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
The Muppet Christmas Carol is a muppet adaptation of A Christmas Carol that includes catchy musical numbers, Gonzo as Charles Dickens, Michael Caine as Scrooge, Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, and Rizzo the rat as... Rizzo the rat. It's funny and heartwarming at the same time.
The Muppet Christmas Carol’s hilarious characters are just part of what made this movie one of the best Christmas movies. Between Scrooge realizing the deeper meaning of Christmas and the importance of love, this movie is heartwarming come the holidays.
