5 Family-Friendly Christmas Movies for the Holidays

Wish (2023)

When a movie comes from the creators of Frozen, you can guarantee it’ll be fun for all the family at Christmas — and probably have you singing along before you know it. Opening 21 December at MOViE MOViE, Wish is the latest musical fantasy from Walt Disney Animation Studios, and follows a young girl called Asha from the kingdom of Rosas who makes a plea to the stars.

To her surprise, a hilarious trouble-making star joins her, so together they take on King Magnifico to save the kingdom’s people and prove that a brave person’s dreams and wishes can be realised — especially when combined with a little magic.

Wonka (2023)

Everybody’s favourite chocolate maker returns in this fun-filled back story of the beloved Willy Wonka we know today. Based on the extraordinary character central to Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wonka features stars sure to delight kids and adults alike including Timothee Chalamet, Olivia Colman and a hilarious Hugh Grant playing an Oompa Loompa.

Wonka opens at MOViE MOViE on 7 December, so grab a big box of chocolates and settle in for two hours of dazzling imagery, eccentric creations and plenty of festive laughs guaranteed.

Home Alone (1990)

One of the most beloved Christmas movies of all time, Home Alone may be 33 years old, but it’s lost none of its seasonal charm or laugh-out-loud hilarity. Macaulay Culkin plays eight-year-old Kevin McCallister, who is accidentally left behind by his family on their Christmas vacation to Paris and has to defend his Chicago home from two brilliantly stupid robbers.

Filled with booby traps and stunts, Christmas carols and Santa Claus, this is one movie where everyone knows the most popular lines — but even first-time little viewers will love every minute.

The Polar Express (2004)

There are few better movies to get you into the Christmas spirit than this animated musical fantasy. Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks is the voice of the conductor on board a mysterious train called The Polar Express as it makes its way to the North Pole with passengers including a young boy called Billy. Once they arrive, they’re taken through a gift sorting office run by elves before they meet Santa Claus himself — along with his reindeer — as Santa gives him the very first Christmas present, and he finds belief in the magic of the season.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Finally, to what is surely the greatest adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol — thanks to the legendary Muppets! British icon Michael Caine plays cold-hearted money lender Ebenezer Scrooge, who meanly dismisses everything about Christmas. But visits from Christmas ghosts show him the error of his ways, while the lovable Muppets including Kermit, Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear steal the show before Scrooge learns to love Christmas and share his wealth with those less fortunate.

Watching at home? Set the mood and cosy up on the couch with our picks of movie night essentials!