The Best Disney+ Christmas Movies to Watch This Holiday Season
Christmas is the perfect time to gather with your family, sip on hot cocoa, and enjoy holiday movies that bring the magic of the season alive. Disney+ offers an incredible collection of Christmas movies, making it an ideal streaming platform for holiday fun. For those looking for animated classics or hidden gems, this list has something for everyone.
1. Animated Classics
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
This timeless adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol features Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit and Scrooge McDuck in the title role. The plot follows Scrooge as he is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, each showing him the impact of his greed and lack of compassion on his life and the lives of others. Through these encounters, Scrooge learns valuable lessons about generosity, kindness, and the true meaning of Christmas. The film wraps up with a heartwarming conclusion where Scrooge, transformed by his experiences, becomes a kinder, more giving person, ensuring a brighter future for Bob Cratchit and his family. It’s a short, sweet, and nostalgic pick that perfectly captures the spirit of the season.
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
Step back into the enchanted world of Beauty and the Beast with this holiday tale. The story explores how the Beast’s castle residents bring Christmas back to their lives, delivering a magical and heartfelt experience.
Frozen
While not exclusively a Christmas movie, Frozen embodies the winter wonderland vibe and teaches the importance of love and family. Kids and adults alike will enjoy singing along to its iconic soundtrack.
2. Live-Action Favorites
The Santa Clause Trilogy
Tim Allen’s portrayal of Scott Calvin, an ordinary man who accidentally becomes Santa Claus, has made The Santa Clause series a beloved holiday staples and the most popular Disney+ Christmas movies to watch. Packed with humor, heart, and festive fun, all three films follow Scott’s journey from a reluctant Santa to a full-fledged symbol of holiday spirit.
In the first film, Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall off his roof on Christmas Eve. When he and his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) discover that Santa is gone, Scott is magically transformed into the new Santa. Initially skeptical, Scott gradually embraces his new role, gaining weight, growing a white beard, and even taking on the responsibilities of the North Pole. Along the way, he learns the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of family.
In The Santa Clause 2, Scott is now happily settled into his role as Santa, but he faces a new challenge: he must find a wife before Christmas Eve, or he will lose his position as Santa forever. While also dealing with his rebellious son, who is struggling with the pressures of being the son of Santa, Scott seeks out a Mrs. Claus and eventually finds love. Meanwhile, a rogue “toy Santa” is causing chaos at the North Pole, and Scott must save Christmas again.
In the final installment, Scott is juggling his duties as Santa with planning a Christmas celebration for his in-laws. Things take a turn when Scott’s mischievous ex-elf, Jack Frost (Martin Short), schemes to take over Christmas and the North Pole. Jack manipulates Scott into triggering “The Escape Clause,” which rewinds time and removes Scott from being Santa. Scott must race against time to reverse the effects, restore the magic of Christmas, and reclaim his role as Santa Claus.
Noelle
Noelle is a Disney+ original Christmas movie that stars Anna Kendrick as Noelle Kringle, the spirited and cheerful daughter of Santa Claus. Set in the magical North Pole, Noelle has always been content with her life helping her father prepare for Christmas. However, when her brother Nick (played by Bill Hader), the heir to the Santa legacy, becomes overwhelmed by the pressure of taking over the family business, he suddenly disappears.
With Christmas on the line, Noelle must step up and take charge. After a series of silly misadventures, she ventures to the outside world to find her brother and bring him back before it’s too late. Along the way, she learns important lessons about believing in herself and embracing her unique talents, proving to everyone and herself that she’s more than capable of saving Christmas.
Godmothered
Set during the holiday season, Godmothered follows a fairy godmother-in-training who sets out to prove that the world still needs fairy godmothers. The film introduces Eleanor (played by Jillian Bell), a young and optimistic fairy godmother-in-training from the Motherland, where fairy godmothers are taught to fulfill dreams and create happy endings. However, Eleanor learns that the Motherland is at risk of shutting down because people have stopped believing in fairy godmothers. Determined to prove that fairy godmothers are still needed, Eleanor takes matters into her own hands.
3. Holiday-Themed Specials
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure features Olaf on a mission to discover holiday traditions for Anna and Elsa. When the sisters realize that their kingdom doesn’t have established holiday customs, Olaf takes it upon himself to explore the townsfolk’s traditions and find the perfect ones for his friends. His journey is filled with comical mishaps and touching discoveries as he learns about various festive practices. Packed with catchy songs like “That Time of Year” and heartfelt moments that highlight the importance of family and community, it’s a great addition to your Christmas lineup.
LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special
This animated special takes place after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and follows Rey as she prepares to celebrate Life Day, a holiday similar to Christmas in the Star Wars universe. Rey is determined to make the holiday perfect for her friends, but things take an unexpected turn when she uses the Force to travel to different moments in Star Wars history.
Throughout her journey, Rey encounters iconic figures like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa, and Darth Vader, as well as fun LEGO versions of famous scenes from the Star Wars movies. She learns valuable lessons about the importance of family, tradition, and togetherness, ultimately bringing her back to her friends in time for a memorable Life Day celebration.
The special features an all-star cast, with characters like Rey (voiced by Helen Sadler), Finn (voiced by Omar Miller), Poe Dameron (voiced by Tony Hale), and Chewbacca (voiced by Joonas Suotamo). The holiday humor and classic Star Wars action make it a great fit for fans of all ages.
Prep & Landing
Prep & Landing is a charming animated short that takes a humorous and creative look at the behind-the-scenes workings of Santa’s North Pole operation. The story follows two elite elves, Wayne (voiced by Dave Foley) and Lanny (voiced by Derek Richardson), who are part of an elite team responsible for preparing homes for Santa’s arrival on Christmas Eve.
Wayne, the veteran of the team, is experienced and takes pride in his work, but he’s getting a bit worn out by the job. Lanny, his rookie partner, is eager to prove himself, but his enthusiasm sometimes causes more trouble than it’s worth. Together, they work to ensure every home is ready for Santa: from setting up Christmas trees and turning on lights to making sure the chimney is clear and the milk and cookies are perfectly placed.
The plot takes an exciting turn when the team faces a technical glitch that threatens to delay Santa’s big night. Wayne and Lanny must use tquick thinking and teamwork to ensure that everything is in order before Santa makes his rounds.
Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Mantis and Drax the Destroyer embark on a time-sensitive mission to give Peter a merrier holiday memory. However, the Earth is a strange, complicated place and the two get into hilarious hijinx while trying to do a good deed. Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is a fun holiday short to watch with Marvel fans.
4. Hidden Gems
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is on this list of best Disney+ Christmas movies becaise it reimagines the classic Nutcracker tale with a magical twist. A young girl named Clara ventures into an enchanting realm, and meets unforgettable characters like the Sugar Plum Fairy (played by Keira Knightley) along the way. While the movie starts off really strong the ending could be better but the added performances from famous ballet star Misty Copeland make this film worth at least once watch.
Togo
While not a traditional Christmas movie, Togo is a wintery tale of perseverance and loyalty that’s perfect for the holiday season. It stars Willem Dafoe as a sled dog trainer navigating harsh Alaskan terrain.
