Now that I have young kids, I find myself on the hunt for good holiday movies that I can put on from time to time. I’ve done some research online to find new movies to try, but there are some children’s holiday movies that my kids just go back to each time.

I thought it’d be helpful to share a few of our favorites (two of which saved me on our recent flight to Aspen) that we keep on rotation regularly during the holiday season in case you’re searching for something new. So, here’s a look at our current favorite children’s holiday movies — that you won’t mind watching too.

Frozen

First up on the list is one of the most popular Disney movies to come out in recent years (parents, IYKYK). My kids love the songs in this movie. Plus, Olaf is the second best snowman to hit the big screens (after only Frosty, of course). I wasn’t really sure if Four would like this movie. But any time I turn it on, both he and Blake are mesmerized. And I will walk around singing “Let It Go” for the rest of the day lol.

The Polar Express

I think Four’s love of anything transportation and trains is to credit for his love of The Polar Express. We’ve only seen this a few times, but I really love the story. The scenery of the movie is beautiful (all animated, of course). It also brings back so many memories of my childhood when we’d read this during the holiday season every year. 10/10 recommend reading the book if you have littles, then checking out the movie too!

The Grinch

This is actually the favorite in our household during the holidays. I can’t even tell you how many times we’ve watched it this year alone. The 2018 remake, based on the original 1966 version, is the best in my opinion. The characters are actually funny, and I love the moral of the story. I don’t want to spoil anything for you, but the grinch becomes less… grinchy by the end of the movie.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

My parents would put this on for us every year when I was young, so it gives me a lot of nostalgia. It was made in 1965, so it definitely doesn’t have the quality of animation that a newer movie might. But Four seems to enjoy it the few times I’ve put it on. He’s also a big fan of Snoopy, which helps. I won’t say this is his favorite holiday movie, but it’s a classic that we bust out at least once a year out of tradition.

Frosty the Snowman

Last but certainly not least, we have a true holiday classic that stands the test of time IMO. It had been years since I’d watched Frosty, then we popped it on last year for the first time and I remembered how great it is. (If you haven’t seen it, bring tissues.) It’s only 25 minutes, so it’s a great option to throw on when I’m making dinner to keep the kids distracted temporarily.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

I’m giving this movie honorable mention for nostalgia’s sake. I like t put it on at least once a year just because I remember watching it when I was young. Much like some of the other older movies, the animation isn’t great (and truthfully, the movie is a bit slow). But my kids love the song and I know what to expect when I put it on, so there are no surprises in case I can’t give it my full focus.