The Ultimate Christmas Movie Checklist for Families

A simple Christmas movie checklist to help your family pick the best Christmas movies to watch this holiday season.

This post is all about our ultimate Christmas Movie Checklist!

A Cozy Tradition for the Holiday Season

There is something magical about settling in with a cup of hot chocolate, snuggling under a cozy blanket, and watching your favourite Christmas movies with the people you love. It is the best way to slow down, reset, and reconnect in this busy time of year. Whether your family leans toward animated classics, old black-and-white treasures, family comedies, or the newest original holiday movies from Hallmark Channel or Great American Family, a Christmas movie night brings out the Christmas spirit in a way nothing else can.

This year, our team wanted to make it even easier for families to embrace the holiday spirit without the mental load of having to choose a movie every single time the kids ask for one. So we put together the ultimate Christmas movie checklist. It is a free printable checklist designed to help you enjoy the holiday season with less stress and more fun. It includes classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, family favorites like Home Alone, animated hits like The Grinch, and modern favorites from Hallmark Christmas movies and Great American Family.

Download your printable here:
[Click here to get the free printable Christmas Movie Checklist]

This blog post shares why we love this tradition, the best way to use the checklist with your family, movie suggestions for all ages, and simple ideas for creating a cozy atmosphere that helps your whole family embrace the true meaning of Christmas.

Why a Christmas Movie Checklist Makes the Holiday Season Better

Every family has their own traditions surrounding Christmas eve, decorating the Christmas tree, or baking cookies. But movie nights hold their own special kind of magic. They are easy. They are affordable. And they give your family a chance to slow down and enjoy quality family-friendly programming during a season that can otherwise feel packed and chaotic.

A Christmas movie checklist takes away the question of what to watch. Instead of scrolling endlessly, your family can simply pick a movie from the list, check it off when finished, and move on to the next. It keeps the fun at the center and takes the stress out of the decision.

Here are a few reasons families tell us they love using a checklist:

It helps you make time for the best part of the holidays

This time of year flies by. Between school activities, holiday shopping, decorating, parties, and family gatherings, it is easy to get through December without slowing down to enjoy the simple things. A Christmas movie night forces everyone to slow down, breathe, and create memories.

Kids love marking off their progress

There is something deeply satisfying about checking off a box, especially for kids. It gives them a sense of accomplishment and turns movie watching into a fun holiday countdown.

It encourages watching a variety of movies

Your family might be tempted to rewatch the same few films every year. A checklist nudges you toward classics you might otherwise skip, such as A Christmas Story, The Muppet Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, or Holiday Inn.

It helps build a tradition you can repeat

Every year you can print a new copy, update your favorite picks, and create a keepsake your family looks forward to. The checklist becomes part of the tradition itself.

Family-Friendly Movies to Include on Your Ultimate Christmas Movie Checklist

While your printable includes a carefully balanced list of family favorites, it is always fun to expand your movie options. Here are categories and recommendations to help you build your own ultimate Christmas movie list, along with the classics most families return to year after year.

Classic Christmas Movies

These movies withstand generational changes and continue to be cherished.

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
• A Charlie Brown Christmas
• A Christmas Story
• It’s a Wonderful Life
• Miracle on 34th Street
• White Christmas
• Holiday Inn
• The Muppet Christmas Carol

These films carry nostalgia and charm while highlighting the true meaning of Christmas, making them a beautiful part of long-standing traditions.

Animated Favorites

Perfect for young kids, cozy afternoons, and peaceful mornings.

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
• The Grinch (2018)
• The Polar Express
• Arthur Christmas
• Klaus
• Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas

Animated movies have a softness to them that helps kids feel safe, warm, and in the holiday spirit.

Comedic Family Favorites

These are the movies that get quoted in living rooms all December long.

• Home Alone
• Home Alone 2
• Home Alone 3
• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
• Elf

There is something about watching Kevin McCallister outsmart burglars or Buddy the Elf discover New York City that cracks everyone up no matter how many times you watch it.

Heartwarming Modern Movies

These bring fresh storytelling and feel-good energy.

• The Christmas Chronicles
• The Christmas Chronicles 2
• Jingle Jangle
• Noel
• The Princess Switch
• A Christmas Prince

With meaningful love stories, second chance arcs, and cheerful soundtracks, these movies add variety to your viewing list.

Hallmark and Great American Family Picks

Hallmark movies and Great American Family originals have built a true fan community. Viewers tune in every year to watch new Christmas movies starring familiar actors like Candace Cameron Bure, Lacey Chabert, and others. Their stories typically feature cozy small towns, charming meet-cutes, and messages about love, hope, and community.

These channels deliver quality family-friendly programming and original holiday movies that make perfect background entertainment while decorating Christmas trees or wrapping presents.

Some beloved titles and themes include:

• Merry Little Ex-Mas
• New Christmas Movie Premieres
• Best Friend Love Stories
• Single Mom Heroine Stories
• Charming New York City Settings
• Second Chance Romance Themes

Their gentle storytelling embodies the spirit of Christmas beautifully.

Unexpected Picks for Families

Some movies are not traditionally labeled as Christmas movies but are still set during the season.

• Die Hard
• Daddy’s Home 2 (with Mark Wahlberg)
• Rise of the Guardians

While every family chooses based on what fits their comfort level, including unexpected favorites can keep your checklist fun and flexible.

How to Turn Your Checklist into a Family Tradition

A printable Christmas movie checklist is more than a list. It becomes a memory-making tool. Here are a few ways to use it with your family this year.

1. Display it in your main living area

Place it near the TV, attach it to the fridge, or keep it in a holiday binder with your other December printables.

2. Let the kids choose the next movie

Rotate between family members so everyone gets a turn.

3. Pair it with a themed snack

Cookies for A Christmas Story, hot chocolate for The Polar Express, popcorn for The Grinch, or a simple charcuterie-style snack board for movies you watch with friends.

4. Make movie nights intentional

Turn off the lights, light candles, and let the Christmas tree glow. Pause the hustle, turn your phone on silent, and embrace the holiday spirit.

5. Invite extended family or friends

A Christmas movie night is one of the best ways to include neighbors, cousins, grandparents, or your best friend. The pressure is low, the cost is minimal, and the memories are long lasting.

6. Keep notes

Kids love remembering which films they liked best. You can write quick notes next to each title or even rate them with stars. It becomes fun to compare from year to year.

Why Families Love Christmas Movie Nights

The holiday season often brings overwhelming schedules, busy evenings, and not enough downtime. A Christmas movie night creates a pause in the chaos and brings the focus back to being together. Families have told us:

• It gives them a reason to slow down
• It creates built-in connection
• It brings comfort during a hard time
• It helps them feel grounded
• It creates a shared experience
• It helps reinforce the true meaning of Christmas

Small traditions like this go a long way, especially when life feels busy or heavy.

Grab Your Free Printable Checklist

We made the free printable checklist easy to download so you can begin the tradition right away.

[Click here to download the Christmas Movie Checklist]

You can print it at home, frame it, laminate it, or add it to your December binder. If you enjoy printables like this, you can also look at our other seasonal checklists and holiday planners. This time of year is all about creating joy, simplifying the chaos, and making room for memories that matter.

Final Thoughts

Whether you are watching Home Alone for the hundredth time, tearing up at The Polar Express, laughing at the Grinch’s antics, cheering for the heroes in Jingle Jangle, or diving into new Hallmark movies with the fan-favorite series of leading ladies like Candace Cameron Bure and Lacey Chabert, having a Christmas movie checklist turns the whole thing into a special tradition your family looks forward to every December.

Our hope is that this printable makes your holiday season feel a little more organized, a little more magical, and a whole lot more connected.

As always, thank you for following along with me in my creative journey. Be sure to tag me and use #meagannicholedotcom when sharing your DIY! Thanks for stopping by MeaganNichole.com

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