A guide to streaming classic Christmas movies on Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ – USA TODAY
Amy Haneline
USA TODAY
Published 7:00 AM EST Dec 5, 2019
It doesn’t get much better than cozying up on the couch during the holidays and forcing your children to watch your favorite Christmas movies.
Hopefully, they enjoy them too.
If you have cable, you can catch many kids’ Christmas classics with air times on the major networks. But kids don’t like to watch a movie just once. Or maybe you have cut cable and depend on streaming services.
We made a handy guide to some of the top family Christmas movies and how to stream them on Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu or Netflix.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
The 1964 classic movie follows the tale of a reindeer with a red, glowing nose who saves Christmas. Rated: G.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $9.99.
Hulu: Watch it with a live TV subscription during TV air times or by recording it, but you will be subjected to commercials.
Netflix: No.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Charlie Brown learns what the season is really all about from his friend Linus and a Christmas tree made of a tiny, bare sapling. Rated: G.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $9.99.
Hulu: Watch it with a live TV subscription during TV air times or by recording it, but you will be subjected to commercials.
Netflix: No.
Frosty the Snowman
The 1969 classic movie follows a snowman who comes to life one day and begins to dance around … you know, just like the song. Rated: G.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $9.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Hulu: Watch it with a live TV subscription during TV air times or by recording it, but you will be subjected to commercials.
Netflix: No.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1996)
The 1996 animated special is a bit tougher to find than the newer remakes. As the story goes, a hairy, green Grinch steals all the presents from Whoville before he learns the true meaning of Christmas. Not rated.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $7.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Hulu: Watch it with a live TV subscription during TV air times or by recording it, but you will be subjected to commercials.
Netflix: No.
More streaming: The best kids’ movies to stream on Disney+, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime in December
‘Elf on the Shelf’ vs. ‘Reindeer in Here: Here’s everything parents need to know
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Jim Carrey shines in this hilarious version of the tale. Rated: PG.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $14.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Hulu: Watch it with a live TV subscription during TV air times or by recording it, but you will be subjected to commercials.
Netflix: Yes.
Illumination Presents: Dr. Suess’ The Grinch (2018)
A refreshing animated remake narrated by Pharrell Williams with the Grinch’s voice coming to life through Benedict Cumberbatch. Rated: PG.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $14.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Hulu: No.
Netflix: Yes.
Elf
Funny Will Ferrell made this Christmas movie an instant classic. He stars as an elf raised in the North Pole then trying to find his way in New York. Rated: PG.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $9.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Hulu: No.
Netflix: No.
The Santa Clause
When a divorced dad (Tim Allen) accidentally knocks Santa off the roof, he becomes the new Clause. Rated: PG. “Santa Clause 2” and “Santa Clause 3” are also available.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $9.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Disney+: Yes.
Hulu: Yes.
Netflix: No.
Home Alone
“KEVIN!” A young boy (Macaulay Culkin) gets left home alone while his family travels to Paris for the holiday. When burglars plan to rob his home, he protects it. Rated: PG. “Home Alone 2” and “Home Alone 3” are also available.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $9.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Disney+: Yes.
Hulu: Watch it with a live TV subscription during TV air times or by recording it, but you will be subjected to commercials.
Netflix: No.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
The Griswolds host the whole quirky family for Christmas and hilarity ensues. “Where’s the Tylenol?” Rated: PG-13.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $9.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Hulu: No.
Netflix: No.
Christmas with the Kranks
A couple (Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis) decides to skip Christmas for a cruise, but the neighborhood isn’t having it. Rated: PG.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $9.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Hulu: No.
Netflix: Yes.
A Christmas Story
The 1983 holiday classic where a young boy named Ralphie dreams of getting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. But, “you’ll shoot your eye out, kid.” Rated: PG.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $9.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Hulu: Yes.
Netflix: No.
It’s A Wonderful Life
George Bailey (James Stewart) learns how lives would be different if he wasn’t on Earth in this 1946 classic. Rated: PG.
Amazon Prime: Yes.
Hulu: Yes.
Netflix: No.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
A man named Kris Kringle fills in for Santa at the Macy’s department store, and his authenticity causes a stir. Rated: PG.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $7.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Disney+: Yes.
Hulu: No.
Netflix: No.
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
A remake of the 1947 classic. Rated: PG.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $7.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Hulu: No.
Netflix: No.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
If you’re in the camp that this Disney cult classic is a Christmas movie (its composer says it’s, in fact, a Halloween movie), then you can follow Pumpkin King Jack Skellington as he stumbles through a portal to Christmas Town and decides to celebrate the holiday. Rated: PG.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $9.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Disney+: Yes.
Hulu: Watch it with a live TV subscription during TV air times or by recording it, but you will be subjected to commercials.
Netflix: No.
The Polar Express
A boy who questions if Santa is real boards a train to the North Pole and adventures begin. Can you hear the bells jingle? Rated: G.
Amazon Prime: Buy it for $9.99 or rent it for $3.99.
Hulu: No.
Netflix: No.
Follow the latest from USA TODAY Parenting at usatoday.com/life/parenting.
Let’s block ads! (Why?)
