11 Christmas Movies to Stream on Disney+

It’s late Christmas Eve and up on the roof there arose such a clatter that Scott Calvin and his son Charlie awake just in time to be swept up in a magical fantasy aboard Santa’s sleigh in THE SANTA CLAUSE. Tim Allen is a divorced dad trying to salvage his relationship with his young son when he experiences an abrupt career change involving a big red suit and weight gain. If you explain to your children the difference between fantasy and the Truth, then they can enjoy this truly delightful adventure fantasy which is definitely an uplifting experience.

Ted Baehr’s discernment point: THE SANTA CLAUSE is fun, lightweight fare which does not teach magical thinking or New Age beliefs. However, Christians do not want their children confusing the Truth of Jesus Christ with the myth of Santa Claus, nor do we want Christmas held hostage by pagan mythology. Therefore, although this movie is innocuous, it is important to explain to our children the difference between fantasy, which can teach some good moral lessons, and the Truth, which sets them free from the bondage to the corruption of our age — including the inherited corruption of sin, the penultimate disease afflicting mankind. Helping our children understand the Truth, will give the discernment they need to see and enjoy THE SANTA CLAUSE without conforming to the mindset of the fallen world.
THE SANTA CLAUSE poses the question: Is there anything really wrong with little children enjoying a movie about Santa Claus? No more so than them enjoying a book about talking animals (THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA), if parents have taught them the deeper Truth of Jesus Christ.

HOME SWEET HOME ALONE is an unofficial remake of HOME ALONE, but it updates the story by having a boy with an English accent defending his home from a married American couple who think the boy stole a valuable antique doll that could get their family out of debt. HOME SWEET HOME ALONE has its share of laughs and warmth and extols family, Christmas, Jesus, and overcoming conflict, but there’s a lot of slapstick violence and three or four problematic lines of dialogue.

The new animated DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a magnificent adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens story about Ebenezer Scrooge, an old black-hearted miser, who changes his sinful ways when three spirits take him on a nightmarish, frightening, life-changing journey through scenes of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet-To-Come. A CHRISTMAS CAROL brilliantly captures this masterful tale, with redemptive references to Jesus Christ and the Bible. Even so, A CHRISTMAS CAROL is too frightening for young children and susceptible adults.

In THE SANTA CLAUSE 2, Tim Allen reprises his role as Scott Calvin, a divorced man who was forced to become Santa Claus and now has to find himself a Mrs. Claus, or lose his magical powers. As long as SANTA CLAUSE 2 focuses on the problems of Tim Allen’s character, the movie is an enjoyable romp appropriate for the whole family, but there are non-Christian elements that may confuse children, especially younger ones.

In IRON MAN 3, billionaire Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, stranded in a small Tennessee town, with only a young boy and an unreliable Iron Man prototype to help him defeat two new villains and save his girlfriend and the President of the United States. Besides the exciting non-stop action and witty dialogue, IRON MAN 3 also has lots of heartfelt, morally uplifting content, but caution is advised for some of the off-color content and intense action violence.

JINGLE ALL THE WAY, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, shows a workaholic father who ventures out on Christmas Eve to buy a popular action figure, Turbo Man. The movie extols parental responsibility, and in the film, fatherly love triumphs over adulterous advances. Regrettably, it has some foul language and sexual innuendo as well as a mocking, mean slapstick humor.

THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL is a live-action musical that re-tells the classic Dickens story with all our Muppet favorites and actor Michael Caine as Scrooge. Of course, the story is a biblical allegory depicting a depraved man who repents of his selfishness and proceeds to show kindness to everyone. THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL is fun for the whole family with finger-snapping musical numbers, and breathtaking costumes and scenery.

Based loosely on the famous ballet, Disney’s THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS is about a teenage girl named Clara who must go into another world to return a stolen key to help the people of that world. THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS has a strong Christian, redemptive, biblical, moral worldview with very little questionable content, though younger children may get scared.

THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE stars comedian Tim Allen, who reprises his role as Santa Claus, who must deal with a greedy Jack Frost and a pregnant wife. THE SANTA CLAUSE 3 is a somewhat lackluster slapstick comedy made for children and families, with some positive moral elements, but it makes no mention of Jesus Christ, the real reason for the Christmas season.

In HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK, Kevin McCallister (Macauley Culkin) separates from his vacation-bound family for a wild adventure that involves defending his favorite toy store against crooks. The movie tries to outdo its predecessor with an added dose of slapstick violence, at the expense of original’s most endearing qualities. Of course, HOME ALONE 2 affirms man’s need for fellowship; however, the Christmas sentiments–such as good will and friendship–regrettably melt into a muddled humanism. For many, it was not the Kevin-vs-crooks showdown that made the original a success, but the storyline that affirmed Christian values, such as family, responsibility, repentance, and reconciliation.