With the holiday season fast approaching, it is almost time to revisit beloved Christmas films, and plenty of people may find themselves turning to Disney to scratch that itch. Many of the best Christmas films are nostalgic and timeless,reminding us of family traditions, past holiday memories, and lessons of goodwill. Whether Christmas or not, Disney is a studio that excels at making movies with these themes.
The studio, one of the oldest and most prevalent in Hollywood, has created several popular holiday films, fromclassic holiday movies likeMiracle on 34th Streetto newer projects likeNoelle, with its delightful cast.At times, they have even used the holiday season to bring back well-loved Disney characters for Christmas specials, whether it be full-length films orDisney’s great holiday and winter shorts. However, some of the studio’s best holiday projects have a few things in common: beloved characters, important life lessons, and a touch of that classic Disney magic.
Miracle on 34th Street
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The Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street follows a department store Santa Claus who claims to be the actual St. Nicholas and a lawyer who defends him in court. Released in 1947, the original movie was later remade in 1994 by John Hughes.
Miracle on 34th Streetis a quintessential Christmas classic that many people will recognize. The film stars a young Natalie Wood playing Susan Walker, the daughter of a single-mother, Doris Walker. Despite Doris’s attempts to deny Santa’s existence to her young daughter,she is challenged by the appearance of a man claiming to be the real Kris Kringle.
This classic has remained a holiday favorite for a reason. With a heartwarming storyline inMiracle on 34th Streetand well-written characters, it is hard not to fall in love with Edmund Gwen’s portrayal of Kris Kringle, as well as Doris and her daughter.
According toMiracle on 34th Street,it is never foolish to believe in the Christmas spirit.
The film is much more than a simple story about the holiday spirit; it teaches audiences theimportance of protecting a child’s gift for whimsy and magic and defending one’s beliefs even in the face of scrutiny. According toMiracle on 34th Street,it is never foolish to believe in the Christmas spirit.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Henry Selick directs The Nightmare Before Christmas, a stop-motion fairytale from the mind of Tim Burton. Jack Skellington is the king of Halloween and one of Halloweentown’s most beloved citizens, but he longs for something more. When he stumbles across a magical door that leads him to discover Christmas, he makes it his mission to replace Santa Claus and bring festive cheer to his perpetually spooky hamlet.
Tim Burton’sThe Nightmare Before Christmasis not only a great Halloween film to check out, but it also translates to the Christmas season that follows. This stop-motion film tells the story of Jack the Pumpkin King (Chris Sarandon),who devises a plan to take over Santa’s role for one year and take charge of Christmas. Of course, things do not go according to plan, but Jack Skellington eventually redeems himself, saving Christmas.
The Nightmare Before Christmasquickly became a classic after its release. The stop-motion, animated format of the film makes the world of Christmas town and Halloween town light up. Not to mention, it is easy to root for theromance betweenNightmare Before Christmas' beloved characters of Sally (Catherine O’Hara) and Jack. Overall,The Nightmare Before Christmasis a uniquely dark interpretation of a holiday film,but great for anyone craving an unconventional Christmas movie night. It teaches viewers that it is always worth it to give something new a try, even if you fail in the end.
The Santa Clause
Disney’s The Santa Clause follows Scott Calvin (Tim Allen), a marketing director for a toy company, who, after a recent divorce, is spending Christmas with his young son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd). When he startles an intruder off of his roof on Christmas Eve, Scott accidentally volunteers to be the new Santa, then spends the following year undergoing a magical transformation into jolly old St. Nick.
The Santa Clauseis another classic 90s Disney Christmas hit. In fact, the film was so successful that it was later given two sequels, making it a trilogy. The first film followsScott Calvin, a workaholic businessman who becomes the next Santa Clauswhen the Santa before him has an accident. Despite the challenges of his new role,Scott’s holiday transformation brings him closer to his young son.
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The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
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This Disney classic is hilariously executed. From Scott’s physical changes to interactions with his magical home in the North Pole, it is hard not to have a laugh. However, despite being a comedy, the film explores the relationship between Scott and his son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd),as he learns what it means to be a supportive father and put family first. Setting-wise,The Santa Clausemasterfully crafts a magical version of the North Pole that is exciting to witness from an audience standpoint. In the end, Scott’s story advocates the importance of maintaining faith and belief even into adulthood.
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
I’ll Be Home for Christmas follows college student Jake, who attempts to travel home to New York for the holidays to claim a classic Porsche promised by his estranged father. After being abandoned in the desert, without identification or funds, Jake faces various obstacles while trying to reunite with his girlfriend, Allie.
For those looking for more holiday comedies, Disney’sI’ll Be Home For Christmasis a great option. Unlike many holiday films,this is made for a teen and young adult audience.I’ll Be Home For Christmasis about Jake (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), a college student who is eager to receive his Christmas gift of a Porsche from his family in New York. Instead, he finds himself stranded in the desert after a prank is pulled.
Jake’s father in the film has just remarried someone new after his mother’s passing. This blended family is something he struggles to come to terms with as he heads home for the holidays.
The unique premise ofI’ll Be Home For Christmasmakes it stand out against other holiday films. There is no element of magic, but rather,the comedy stems from real-life struggles(travel challenges, teenage drama, and sneaky pranks). The teenage flick is a great reminder that Christmas is about much more than the act of receiving gifts, but instead of appreciating the presence of family and loved ones, something Jake figures out by the end of the film.
The Little Match Girlis a Disney short film based on the original Hans Christian Anderson story. Though it is roughly only six minutes long, the story is sure to tug at heartstrings. Set to the classical piece, “String Quartet #2 In D Major”, this short follows the Little Match Girl,an orphan who tries to sell her matchsticks on the streets of St. Petersburg, but is ignored by passers-by.
The original Hans Christian Anderson tale was written as a commentary on the high levels of poverty in the mid-1800s, and how children were forced into the labor field at a young age. Her death at the end was supposed to expose the dangers of this maltreatment of children.
The film is a heartbreaking watch and leans into the darker ending of the original story, with the death of the young girl in the freezing cold. However, Allers' animated rendition of the story is one of Disney’s stronger holiday films because of itsbeautiful score and animated designs, which add to the powerful emotional effect of the story. The meaning of the film is retained as well, reminding audiences of the importance of human generosity and charity, especially during the holiday season.
Disney’s A Christmas Carolis another animated retelling of a traditional Christmas tale. The original story, by Charles Dickinson,leans into its darker side in this version of the tale.Jim Carey delivers one of thebest performances of Ebenezer Scrooge, the grumpy old man who learns to be kind after experiencing a night of hauntings by three Christmas spirits.
For fans of the original story,Disney’s A Christmas Caroladaptationis worth checking out. The Disney film has an impressive cast of voice actors who bring the characters to life, such as Jim Carey, Gary Oldman, and Colin Firth giving strong performances. Besides its characters, the film is animated with a hyper-realistic style that was unique for its time and made elements of horror in the film all the more terrifying. However, the film’smessage remains hopeful and happy when Scrooge decides to become kind come Christmas day.
Olafs Frozen Adventure
Olaf’s Frozen Adventureis a charming return to the world of the hit Disney film,Frozen. This holiday featurette is one of many that Disney has created using beloved characters from existing films.Olaf’s Frozen Adventurestars theadorable snowman, Olaf (Josh Gad), whoembarks on a quest to learn more about holiday traditions so he can bring one back for his friends, Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel).
Although this featurette may only be around twenty minutes, it’s a fun and easy watch for fans of the original film. This time, the fan-favorite Olaf gets more screen time, with pop-ins from familiar faces like the princesses, their love interests, and other notable side characters. Animation in this film is another strength, and it is fun to watch the winter world of Arendelle transform for the holidays,paired withOlaf’s Frozen Adventure’s new batch of Disney songs. Of course, Olaf’s journey includes the touching lesson thatthe best holiday tradition is simply being present with friends and family.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is a 2018 fantasy film starring Mackenzie Foy as a young girl who is transported to a magical realm filled with a mice army and gingerbread soldiers. The film is based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, as well as the 1892 ballet The Nutcracker.
Disney’s magical twist on the classic story ofThe Nutcracker,in their film,TheNutcracker and the Four Realms,is avisually-stunning and immersive reimagining of the world of the Land of the Sweets. This film follows Clara (Mackenzie Foy), a young girl who is transported to the Land of the Sweets, where she is enlisted to help the Sugarplum Fairy (Keira Knightley) destroy evil in the kingdom.
This film is unique for a variety of reasons, and pays homage to the original ballet and story beautifully. Beyond its impressive world-building, elaborate VFX, and detailed costumes, the film has a series of great performances by familiar stars like Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren, and Morgan Freeman. Not to mention, the world-renowned prima ballerina, Misty Copeland, makes a cameo as one of the dancers in the film when there are excerpts from the ballet. For Clara, her journey in the film leads to herdiscovering a newfound sense of courage within herself and an ability to stand up for her beliefs.
Noelle
Noelle is a Disney-made holiday comedy film that follows Anna Kendrick as Noelle, the daughter of Santa Claus. Preparing to take over the family business, Noelle’s brother, Nick, begins to crumble thanks to the pressure of filling in the holly-jolly boots of his father. After taking his sister’s advice to take a breather, he runs away, tasking Noelle with finding him to save Christmas.
Noelleis one of Disney’s newest Christmas hits. This holiday film is a hilarious comedy about Kris Kringle’s two children, Noelle Kringle (Anna Kendrick) and Nick Kringle (Bill Hader), whostruggle with the challenge of taking over the reins after their father decides to retire from being Santa Claus.
This hidden gem in the archive of Disney’s holiday films is another amusing spin on the origins of Santa himself. Both leading actors bring their charmingly naive characters to life, and it is fun to witness their interactions with members of the real world outside the North Pole. The script itself is witty and clever, playing on the trope of thetwo fighting siblings who must help one another mature by the endto deserve the role of Santa Claus.Noelleteaches viewers to look out for their family and think of the welfare of others during the holidays.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is a festive feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Released in 2022, it follows the quirky group of intergalactic heroes led by Star-Lord as they embark on an adventure during the holiday season. Directed by James Gunn, the special features familiar characters played by Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, and others, encapsulating the blend of humor and action typical of the Guardians franchise.
Star-Lord and his iconic team from the comicsreturn for this Marvel Christmas short,The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Although the film is still fairly recent, it has already become a classic among fans of the franchise. InThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff),decide to cheer up a depressed Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) by bringing him the perfect Christmas present.
8 Biggest Reveals In The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is far from a side story. These details show why fans’ knowledge of the MCU has just increased.
There is no question why this holiday film is so popular with audiences. From the appearances of the beloved Guardians to the hilariously written dialogue between Drax and Mantis, this Christmas special is a must-see. Not to mention, the surprise cameo of actor Kevin Bacon (who plays himself) is absurdly fun when things do not go according to plan. Beyond fan service,the holiday special also makes a notable addition to the lore of the franchise, when it is revealed thatMantis is Star-Lord’s sister. This is a perfect reveal that really drives home theGuardian of the Galaxyfranchise themes of families, both found and born.
