Most Popular Christmas Special Movies and TV Shows
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1. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964 TV Movie)
G | 47 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A misfit reindeer and his friends look for a place that will accept them.
Director: Larry Roemer | Stars: Billie Mae Richards, Burl Ives, Larry D. Mann, Paul Soles
Votes: 24,967
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966 TV Short)
G | 26 min | Animation, Short, Family
A grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.
Directors: Chuck Jones, Ben Washam | Stars: Boris Karloff, Thurl Ravenscroft, June Foray, Dal McKennon
Votes: 43,152
3. A Very Murray Christmas (2015 TV Special)
56 min | Comedy, Music, Musical
Bill Murray worries no one will show up to his TV show due to a terrible snowstorm in New York City.
Director: Sofia Coppola | Stars: Bill Murray, Paul Shaffer, Michael Cera, George Clooney
Votes: 13,532
4. Frosty the Snowman (1969 TV Short)
25 min | Animation, Short, Family
A living snowman and a little girl struggle to elude a greedy magician who is after the snowman's magic hat.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Jackie Vernon, Billy De Wolfe, Jimmy Durante, Paul Frees
Votes: 14,702
5. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965 TV Movie)
G | 25 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
Depressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.
Director: Bill Melendez | Stars: Ann Altieri, Chris Doran, Sally Dryer, Bill Melendez
Votes: 30,267
6. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970 TV Movie)
G | 48 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A mailman reveals the origin of Santa Claus.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, Keenan Wynn, Paul Frees
Votes: 11,542
7. Rapsittie Street Kids: Believe in Santa (2002 TV Short)
40 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A boy named Ricky (Walter Emanuel Jones) wants to give his crush Nicole (Paige O'Hara) a gift for Christmas. When he does she angrily rejects it as in her eyes it's "cheap". She later regrets her mistake and decides to find it.
Director: Colin Slater | Stars: Jack Angel, Jodi Benson, Nancy Cartwright, Eddie Driscoll
Votes: 768
8. The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974 TV Movie)
G | 51 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
When a weary and discouraged Santa Claus considers skipping his Christmas Eve run one year, Mrs. Claus and his Elves set out to change his mind.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Shirley Booth, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, George S. Irving
Votes: 7,577
9. Blackadder's Christmas Carol (1988 TV Movie)
43 min | Comedy, History
After a genial spirit shows the benevolent Ebenezer Blackadder visions of his unscrupulous ancestors, he resolves to mend his generous ways.
Director: Richard Boden | Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry
Votes: 11,781
10. Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury (2011 Video)
22 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
As the village of Berk prepares for its winter holiday, the resident dragons all inexplicably fly away.
Director: Tom Owens | Stars: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera
Votes: 6,069
11. Shrek the Halls (2007 TV Short)
21 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
This half-hour animated TV special features the Shrek characters putting their own spin on holiday traditions.
Director: Gary Trousdale | Stars: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas
Votes: 12,321
12. Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979 TV Movie)
G | 97 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Rudolph and Frosty are pitted against Winterbolt, an icy wizard who plots to make the North Pole his evil domain and enlist the help of Jack Frost and others to fight the Winterbolt.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Red Buttons, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Alan Sues
Votes: 1,865
13. Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010 TV Short)
21 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Po is to host the annual winter holiday feast and he struggles to meet his friends' expectations.
Director: Tim Johnson | Stars: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen
Votes: 5,148
14. The Christmas Tree (1991 TV Short)
G | 43 min | Animation, Short, Family
Heartless Mrs. Mavilda runs an orphanage where kids live in miserable conditions because she keeps all the donation money for herself. She hires a new assistant who, along with Santa, helps the kids finally have a merry Christmas.
Director: Flamarion Ferreira | Stars: William Griffin, Elly Drygas, Ayal Kleinman, Karen Drygas
Votes: 612
15. A Primeira Tentação de Cristo (2019 TV Special)
46 min | Short, Comedy
Jesus, who's hitting the big 3-0, brings a surprise guest to meet the family.
Director: Rodrigo Van Der Put | Stars: Gregório Duvivier, Fábio Porchat, Antonio Tabet, Evelyn Castro
Votes: 2,960
16. Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999 TV Short)
45 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
When Santa cancels his annual flight because of a hurt reindeer, a young Christmas loving dog named Olive is convinced she has what it takes to get Santa's flight off the ground and save Christmas.
Director: Steve Moore | Stars: Drew Barrymore, Dan Castellaneta, Joe Pantoliano, Edward Asner
Votes: 2,069
17. The Little Drummer Boy (1968 TV Movie)
25 min | Animation, Drama, Family
An orphan drummer boy who hated humanity finds his life changed forever when he meets three wise men on route to Bethlehem.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr., Takeya Nakamura | Stars: José Ferrer, Paul Frees, June Foray, Ted Eccles
Votes: 4,323
18. Marvel Super Hero Adventures: Frost Fight! (2015 Video)
PG | 73 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The Marvel Heroes unite to try and stop Loki and the frost giant Ymir from conquering the world as the duo try to steal Santa's powers to do so.
Directors: Eric Radomski, Mitch Schauer | Stars: Mick Wingert, Matthew Mercer, Travis Willingham, Fred Tatasciore
Votes: 624
19. Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse (1988 TV Movie)
49 min | Comedy, Family, Musical
Pee-Wee Herman throws a Christmas party at his playhouse with his friends and some celebrity guests.
Directors: Wayne Orr, Paul Reubens | Stars: Kevin Carlson, Laurence Fishburne, Aaron Fletcher, Ric Heitzman
Votes: 1,169
20. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (2000 Video)
51 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
A youth embarks on a journey to find his missing grandmother and prove that Santa Claus is real
Director: Phil Roman | Stars: Elmo Shropshire, Michele Lee, Susan Blu, Alex Doduk
Votes: 1,498
21. Jack Frost (1979 TV Movie)
48 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The Groundhog tells the story of how, for once, Jack Frost became human, and helped a knight win his lady love.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Buddy Hackett, Robert Morse, Paul Frees, Larry Storch
Votes: 3,072
22. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974 TV Short)
25 min | Animation, Short, Family
When a town learns that Santa Claus has struck it off his delivery schedule due to an insulting letter, a way must be found to change his mind.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Joel Grey, Tammy Grimes, John McGiver, George Gobel
Votes: 2,546
23. Prep & Landing (2009 TV Short)
G | 22 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Wayne gets a new rookie partner, Lanny, after his previous partner got the promotion he wanted. Lanny has to remind Wayne of the Spirit of Christmas and the importance of being an elf in Santa's Prep and Landing elite unit.
Directors: Kevin Deters, Stevie Wermers | Stars: Dave Foley, Sarah Chalke, Mason Vale Cotton, David DeLuise
Votes: 2,440
24. Frosty Returns (1992 TV Short)
24 min | Animation, Short, Family
The continuing exploits of the famous snowman as he goes up against a more powerful force which threatens all of Christmas.
Directors: Evert Brown, Bill Melendez | Stars: Jonathan Winters, Jan Hooks, Andrea Martin, Brian Doyle-Murray
Votes: 2,906
25. Jack Whitehall: Christmas with My Father (2019 TV Special)
64 min | Documentary, Comedy
Director: Richard van't Riet | Stars: Jack Whitehall, Michael Whitehall, Hugh Bonneville, Graham Norton
Votes: 530
26. Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978 TV Movie)
60 min | Comedy, Family, Music
Big Bird worries when Oscar tells him that if Santa Claus can't fit down the chimney on Christmas Eve, nobody would get presents.
Director: Jon Stone | Stars: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt
Votes: 785
27. A Flintstones Christmas Carol (1994 TV Movie)
69 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
Fred is cast as Ebenezer Scrooge in a stage adaption of the story, but is acting a bit stingy in real-life.
Director: Joanna Romersa | Stars: Henry Corden, Jean Vander Pyl, Frank Welker, B.J. Ward
Votes: 1,114
28. Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976 TV Short)
25 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Frosty's kind of lonely, so the kids think of making him a wife, Crystal. But will Jack Frost let them be happy?
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Andy Griffith, Shelley Winters, Dennis Day, Paul Frees
Votes: 2,537
29. Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977 TV Movie)
24 min | Animation, Family, Fantasy
An outcast donkey in Roman era Judea with overlong ears finds his destiny on the way to Bethlehem.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Roger Miller, Brenda Vaccaro, Paul Frees, Don Messick
Votes: 1,741
30. A Flintstone Christmas (1977 TV Movie)
60 min | Animation, Family
When Santa has an accident at Fred's house on Christmas Eve, Fred and Barney have to continue his run for him.
Directors: Sid Marcus, Charles A. Nichols, Alex Lovy, Gerry Chiniquy, Hawley Pratt | Stars: Mel Blanc, Lucille Bliss, Henry Corden, Virginia Gregg
Votes: 573
31. A Garfield Christmas Special (1987 TV Short)
G | 30 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Garfield, Jon, and Odie go to Jon's grandmother's house for Christmas, where Garfield finds a present for Grandma.
Directors: Phil Roman, George Singer | Stars: Lorenzo Music, Thom Huge, Gregg Berger, Pat Carroll
Votes: 2,493
32. Santa and the Three Bears (1970)
46 min | Animation, Family, Fantasy
When a park ranger tells two bear cubs about Christmas and Santa Claus, they want to skip hibernation to celebrate, but their mother doesn't believe in Saint Nick and wants them to sleep.
Directors: Tony Benedict, Barry Mahon | Stars: Hal Smith, Jean Vander Pyl, Chris Gilmore, Bobby Riha
Votes: 559
33. Arthur's Perfect Christmas (2000 TV Movie)
60 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
Arthur, D.W., and their family and friends prepare to make the best Christmas ever in Elwood City - but obstacles get in their way.
Director: Greg Bailey | Stars: Michael Yarmush, Oliver Grainger, Bruce Dinsmore, Daniel Brochu
Votes: 418
34. Edición Especial Coleccionista (2010–2015)
9 min | Comedy, History
A Special Collector's Edition.
Stars: David Díaz, Luis Rodrigo, Gabriel Fernández-Gil, Daniel Retuerta
Votes: 66
35. He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985 TV Movie)
51 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
He-Man and She-Ra join together to stop Horde Prime from ruining Christmas for some Earth children stranded on Eternia.
Directors: Bill Reed, Ernie Schmidt | Stars: John Erwin, Alan Oppenheimer, Linda Gary, Lana Beeson
Votes: 1,216
36. The Town Santa Forgot (1993 TV Short)
23 min | Animation, Short, Family
A spoiled brat sends a very long list to Santa Claus who misdelivers the gifts to a town with the same name as the boy, who learns it's better to give than receive.
Director: Robert Alvarez | Stars: Dick Van Dyke, Miko Hughes, Troy Davidson, Julie McWhirter
Votes: 211
37. My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas (2005 Video)
44 min | Animation, Short, Family
When Minty breaks a magic candy cane, she must make it right by going to the north pole so that Christmas can come to Ponyville. But is the magic of Christmas in Ponyville already?
Directors: Victor Dal Chele, Paul Sabella | Stars: Chiara Zanni, Tabitha St. Germain, Kelly Sheridan, Kathleen Barr
Votes: 219
38. Yes, Virginia (2009 TV Short)
22 min | Animation, Short
An eight-year-old girl living in New York City in 1897 learns about belief and Christmas when her classmates question if Santa is even real.
Director: Pete Circuitt | Stars: Neil Patrick Harris, Bea Miller, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alfred Molina
Votes: 490
39. A Flintstone Family Christmas (1993 TV Short)
23 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Fred and Wilma try to teach a wayward boy about values.
Director: Ray Patterson | Stars: Henry Corden, Jean Vander Pyl, Frank Welker, B.J. Ward
Votes: 266
40. Sonic Christmas Blast (1996 TV Short)
30 min | Animation, Short, Action
Sonic the Hedgehog must stop the evil Dr. Robotnik from ruining Christmas after Santa Clause disappears.
Director: Blair Peters | Stars: Jaleel White, Long John Baldry, Philip Maurice Hayes, Garry Chalk
Votes: 127
41. The Wish That Changed Christmas (1991 TV Short)
30 min | Animation, Short, Family
Ivy, an orphan wants a grandmother and a doll for Christmas. She mistakes a sign greeting her into a town, she jumps off a bus and shouts, "It's me, Ivy!". In the cold she looks for a ... See full summary »
Director: Catherine Margerin | Stars: Jonathan Winters, Paul Winfield, Brittany Thornton, Lea Floden
Votes: 87
42. Yogi Bear's All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper (1982 TV Short)
24 min | Animation, Short
In this Christmas Special, Yogi escapes from Jellystone and hides out in a department store, posing as the Store's Santa. He helps a little girl to rediscover her faith in Christmas.
Director: Steve Lumley | Stars: Daws Butler, Mel Blanc, Henry Corden, Georgi Irene
Votes: 161
43. The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus (1985 TV Movie)
50 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
At a council convened by The Great Ak, the forest being tells the story of Santa Claus to explain why he deserves to be made immortal.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Earl Hammond, Earle Hyman, Larry Kenney, Lynne Lipton
Votes: 943
44. Yogi's First Christmas (1980 TV Movie)
G | 98 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
Yogi, Boo Boo and Cindy are awakened from hibernation and join their friends' Christmas activities while interfering with two villains' efforts to ruin the holiday.
Directors: Gerry Chiniquy, Ray Patterson, Hawley Pratt, Alex Lovy, Gerard Baldwin | Stars: Sue Allen, John Richard Bolks, Daws Butler, Paul DeKorte
Votes: 772
45. The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold (1981 TV Short)
25 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
An Irish sailor is stranded on an island full of Leprechauns and soon finds himself aiding them in protecting their gold from a greedy Hag.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Art Carney, Peggy Cass, Bob McFadden, Ken Jennings
Votes: 468
46. Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales (2002 TV Movie)
18 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The Peanuts gang have more misadventures at Christmas time.
Director: Larry Leichliter | Stars: Wesley Singerman, Serena Berman, Corey Padnos, Megan Taylor Harvey
Votes: 1,118
47. Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas (1992 TV Short)
22 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Inspector Gadget is off to the North Pole to stop Dr. Claw from taking over Santa's elves and workshop.
Director: Chuck Patton | Stars: Don Adams, Frank Welker, Maurice LaMarche, Erica Horn
Votes: 204
48. The Smurfs Christmas Special (1982 TV Short)
23 min | Animation, Short, Family
At Christmas, the Smurfs and Gargamel cross paths with two children and a stranger out to kidnap them. Can the magic of Christmas prevail?
Director: Gerard Baldwin | Stars: Rene Auberjonois, Michael Bell, Lucille Bliss, William Callaway
Votes: 169
49. A Special Sesame Street Christmas (1978 TV Movie)
60 min | Comedy, Family, Music
Leslie Uggams is celebrating Christmas on Sesame Street. But since Oscar the Grouch is being a right old Scrooge, she decides to teach him a lesson by imploring Anne Murray, Imogene Coca ... See full summary »
Director: Russ Petranto | Stars: Leslie Uggams, Ethel Merman, Anne Murray, Imogene Coca
Votes: 108
50. Cabbage Patch Kids: First Christmas (1984 TV Movie)
23 min | Animation, Family
The Cabbage Patch Kids go to the big city so that they can find the Christmas Spirit.
Director: Charles A. Nichols | Stars: Hal Smith, Tress MacNeille, Arthur Burghardt, Neil Ross
Votes: 72