With the holidays approaching, it’s time to break out the tree from the attic and the Festivus pole from the crawlspace. And what better way to get Christmas enthusiasts in the holiday spirit than the selection of Christmas favorites from Disney+?
Ever prepared in their oh-so-magical way, Disney has gone right ahead and stuffed their streaming service with a selection of films and specials to sweeten the holiday season. For those looking for an extra dose of Christmas magic, look no further than Disney+’s suggestions.
Updated on November 29th, 2022, by Lynn Gibbs: Although holiday lovers will stand by networks and the spirited movies and specials they play day in and day out, there’s no better streaming service come the holiday season than Disney+. From live-action to animation, there’s something special about the films on Disney+. Not only are the projects family-friendly, but there’s usually some kind of life-altering message that viewers can walk away with. And because of those messages, these are some of the best of the best on Disney+.
Babes In Toyland (1961)
Disney Parks typically have an army of toy soldiers parading down Main Street USA during the holiday season. They are the most prominent feature from Walt Disney’s Babes in Toyland, a wonderfully whimsical and musical film perfect for watching after opening that mountain of gifts.
Through a series of comical events, villainous schemes, and various song and dance numbers, the world of nursery rhyme characters and a wacky toy maker collide in this marvelous musical adventure. It’s not Disney’s best soundtrack but it does feature many Disney alum such as Ed Wynn, Tommy Kirk, and Annette Funicello, it’s a great piece of festive Disney history.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe (2005)
Though it’s not exactly holly and ivy, it does feature beautiful wintery scenes, magic, and gifts from Father Christmas. Based on the beloved novel by C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is one of the most impressive fantasy films to grace the media.
Essentially Disney’s Lord of the Rings, it’s got everything a swords-and-sorcery-loving heart could want. While a darker adventure than most holiday movies on this list, the winter theme gets viewers in the festive spirit.
Ernst Saves Christmas (1988)
Ernst Saves Christmas wasn’t created by Disney but it can be found on Disney+. It follows the popular fictional character, Ernst P. Worrell, as he tries to save Christmas by finding a replacement for Santa.
If Ernst doesn’t find a Santa replacement, there will be no Christmas. Ernst Saves Christmas is a cheesy Christmas movie, but it’s a fun one to watch if it’s never been seen before. The fun adventure did well in the box offices and can now be binged year after year on Disney+.
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)
What Christmas season would be complete without seeing the annual retelling of Scrooge’s salvation in Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol? Though many versions of the immortal classic are currently available for viewing pleasure, including a few others on this list, it’s Disney’s feature-film version that sticks remarkably close to the original novel.
If viewers can get past the motion capture animation from ImageMovers, then the rendition is just as festive as it is frightening. It’s a dark adaptation of A Christmas Carol, and Disney is the only studio to make a version that’s a ghost story first and a Christmas story second. It’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely for true fans of the book.
Noelle (2019)
One of the bigger pictures on this list, Noelle released on Disney+ in 2019 and starred Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader. The modern and festive movie showed what happened when Nick Kringle takes over for his dad, Santa.
But when becoming Santa is too stressful for Nick, he escapes the North Pole for the West Coast to get away from responsibilities. Luckily for Nick, his sister Noelle is the perfect person to find him in a large city and save Christmas. It’s the perfect family film for all ages and mixes childlike whimsy with adult themes.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
This classic Christmas tale is one with a little more fur and felt than thrills and chills. It’s the Jim Henson classic, The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Muppet Christmas Carol is full of the best characters, like Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and Rizzo the Rat. They all do their part to bring us a rowdy retelling of the familiar tale. Featuring the magnificent Michael Caine as Ebeneezer Scrooge, this film has plenty of gags and jokes but more than enough heart and emotion to make it a standout—though strange—version of the story.
Home Alone (1990)
Though not owned by Disney originally, the film does make an appearance in Disney+’s impressive library. Chris Colombus knocked it out of the park with this smash hit of the ’90s. Home Alone has become a household favorite come the holiday season because of Kevin McCallister.
Home Alone has become as classic as Christmas Vacation or A Christmas Story. Visions of gaudy Christmas lights, snow, and wishes coming true dance in fans’ heads whenever they start the movie. The art of magic and mischief through a child’s eyes makes Home Alone one of the best Christmas movies on Disney+.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)
Yet another movie adaptation of A Christmas Carol, the length of this version is significantly shorter for Disney. Nevertheless, it’s one of the best holiday movies to watch on Disney+.
Just as the Muppet version featured Kermit and Miss Piggy, this version sees Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy backing up the aptly named Scrooge McDuck in the principal lead. This special features a lot of Disney milestones such as Ray Allwine’s first appearance as Mickey. If Disney fans haven’t seen this one, it’s never too late.
A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002)
There’s not a lot of complexity with this entry, but it’s Winnie the Pooh. He relishes the simple things in life. Essentially, this little movie is Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too bookended by a Christmas and New Years’ plot. That being said, it’s still Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too.
When it comes to warm and fuzzy Christmas specials, Disney+ viewers can’t go wrong with a certain silly-old bear. Though the animation styles might clash when it flashes back to the ’90s Christmas special between the modern framing device, it’s a Christmas classic with Christopher Robin and his friends inside Hundred Acre Woods writing a letter to Santa.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas brings a merry Christmas to a scary Christmas with this alternative festive favorite. Few Christmas movie binges are complete without a session with Tim Burton’s twisted holiday tale. With two holidays for the price of one, fans can’t exclude Jack Skellington’s Christmas caper.
Watch what happens when two contrasting holidays combine in this stop-motion masterpiece. Disney+ users would be surprised how wonderful candy canes and Christmas Trees work with tricks and treats. It’s Disney’s biggest cult classic and shouldn’t be missed on either holiday. The more fans watch The Nightmare Before Christmas, the more Easter eggs they’ll notice.
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas is not complex or thought-provoking, nor is it deep-fried and dipped in Christmas lights. But it’s simply a trio of stories featuring Mickey and friends around the holiday season.
The anthology in question features a Huey, Duey, and Louie-focused adventure with Christmas on repeat, a story where Goofy and Max explore the existence of Santa Claus, and O. Henry’s Gift of the Magi starring Mickey and Minnie. It’s one of the best animated Christmas movies and it can be binged countless times on Disney+
Miracle On 34th Street (1947)
Miracle on 34th Street is one of the most essential Christmas flicks in existence and it’s currently streaming on Disney+. Because of its importance to the Christmas spirit and the message it shares, it’s number one on this list.
The film is more than just about the existence of Santa Claus, but deals with questioning faith, the power of belief, and the importance of a good deed in a dreary world. Miracle on 34th Street has heartwarming quotes and is a touching film that should be at the top of anyone’s list if they’re looking for a film to kickstart their holiday spirit.
