This list of the 31 best Christian Christmas movies will help you remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.
The holiday season is almost here! With the colder weather comes the urge to curl up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate in hand, a roaring fire in the fireplace, and a feel-good Christmas movie. While we certainly enjoy all the classic childhood holiday movies, we’re also drawn to more religious Christmas movies that prompt us to remember the reason for the season.
That’s where this ultimate list of Christian Christmas movies comes in. Some are more religious-themed than others, but all of them portray an underlying message of faith and the true meaning of Christmas. These festive films are perfect for sprinkling in throughout the next few weeks and maybe even watching together with the whole family. It’s one of our favorite holiday traditions.
After all, the Christmas season really isn’t about all the pretty gifts and glittering lights… it’s about celebrating our Savior’s birth, finding ways to give and bless others, and treasuring the people around us. It’s truly the best time of year!
31 Best Christian Christmas Movies
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1. It’s a Wonderful Life
With the endearing message that ‘no one is a failure who has friends,’ Frank Capra’s heartwarming masterpiece continues to endure, and after over 70 years, this beloved classic still remains as powerful and moving as the day it was made. Quite possibly one of the best Christmas movies of all time! It truly is a wonderful and meaningful life. Starring George Bailey.
2. Miracle on 34th Street
3. Charlie Brown Christmas
Grab your hot cocoa — Christmastime is here! Happiness and cheer. And for Peanuts fans everywhere, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without this classic holiday delight. Christmas lights may be twinkling red and green, but Charlie Brown has the Yuletide blues. To get in the holiday spirit, he takes Lucy’s advice and directs the Christmas play. And what’s a Christmas play without a Christmas tree? But everyone makes fun of the short, spindly nevergreen Charlie Brown brings back – until the real meaning of Christmas works its magic!
4. The Ultimate Gift
When his wealthy grandfather dies, trust fund baby Jason Stevens inherits his grandfather’s crash course on life: 12 tasks-or-gifts-designed to challenge Jason in improbable ways. The “course” sends Jason on a journey of self-discovery that forces him to reevaluate his priorities and determine what he thinks the most important things in life really are. Christian films like this one are true gems.
5. The Heart of Christmas
Austin and Julie Locke are devastated when they learn that their young son, Dax, has been diagnosed with cancer. But with courage, determination and faith, they decide to give Dax a one last Christmas, even if it has to be in October. When the community sees the holiday decorations and learns the heartbreaking truth, what happens next is a miraculous outpouring of caring and support. Starring Candace Cameron Bure.
6. The Farmer and The Belle – Saving Santaland
7. 
Christmas at Water’s Edge
For spoiled, wealthy college girl Layla Turner (Keshia Knight Pulliam, from TV’s The Cosby Show), Christmas usually means designer wrapping paper and holiday gift bags from Bloomingdale’s. But this year, Layla will learn the true meaning of the season when an unlikely angel in disguise arrives with a very special mission: to turn this pampered brat into a caring young woman! Don’t miss this unforgettable modern-day Christmas Carol – a coming-of-age story full of heart and soul.
8. VeggieTales: The Best Christmas Gift
Bob and Larry are preparing for their first Christmas show in Mr. Nezzer’s theater and the show seems to be headed for disaster. Bob begins to wonder how to celebrate Christmas when everything is going wrong. It’s when the Veggie Tales crew goes back to the very first Christmas, where times were tough and things didn’t seem to be working out, that they all learn the promise of Christmas – God is with us. It’s a timeless story of hope that every family will enjoy!
9. 
The Little Drummer Boy
Celebrate the true spirit of Christmas in the original holiday special, The Little Drummer Boy. Frustrated with the world, the lonely orphan Aaron finds solace in his animal friends and playing the drum. After traveling through the desert to Bethlehem, he finds himself witnessing the birth of baby Jesus.
10. Homeless for the Holidays
11. The Family Man
Jack Campbell (Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage) is a single, wealthy Wall Street trader living the high life in New York City. All that magically changes one winter morning when he wakes up in suburban New Jersey next to Kate (Téa Leoni), the girlfriend he left 13 years ago. He’s now got two kids, he’s traded in his Ferrari for a minivan, and he’s trying not to lose his mind. Find out what it takes for a single-minded businessman to become The Family Man in this heartwarming holiday comedy about second thoughts and second chances.
12. The Note
The Note is vaguely reminiscent of the 1999 Kevin Costner film Message in a Bottle–in which a newspaper reporter finds a letter in a bottle and tracks down the author. A tragic story which shows grace, compassion and redemption. This is a touching movie and perfect for the Christmas holiday!
13. The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe
C.S. Lewis wrote this story to explain the elements of good and evil, sacrifice and resurrection, and faith, which are the elements of the Christ story, to children. In other words, be like the older brother who can make mistakes but is caring of his family and brave, and not like the younger sinful brother who was selfish and deceitful and betrayed his siblings in both innocuous and serious matters and for whom the “king” (lion) had to sacrifice himself. It even has females as the only witnesses to the risen king. The younger brother is both redeemed and forgiven.
14. The Star
In this adorable movie, a small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free and teams up with Ruth the loveable sheep and Dave the hilarious dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star of Christmas on the adventure of their dreams, filled with lots of laughter – and become part of the greatest story ever told.
15. The Least of These: A Christmas Story
16. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Five-time Emmy nominee and Golden Globe winner Henry Winkler stars in The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, the story of what happens when you open your heart to the power of Christmas. Disenchanted single mom Jennifer Cullen (Brooke Burns) is a Scroogette when it comes to anything Christmas. In fact, even her six-year-old son, Brian, is having trouble believing in Santa Claus. But when her Uncle Ralph (Henry Winkler) visits and brings a fellow passenger from his flight named Morgan Derby (Warren Christie), Jennifers dubious heart awakens to the possibility that perhaps Christmas really does hold miracles.
17. By God’s Grace
18. Wish For Christmas
19. Christmas in the Smokies
20. The Perfect Gift
Max is a young girl who just happens to have a birthday on the same day that Jesus was born, but she does not like it. She also is not happy that her school assignment is to write about Christmas. As Jes helps Max with her essay, he also helps the community, her mother and the assistant minister see how important God’s perfect gift to us was, the gift of love. It also takes a look at what is happening in the world today at this very special holiday season. That Christmas is a time for kindness and love, not gifts and shopping. And that people need to stand up for what they believe in and not let others that do not believe bully us in hiding the real reason we celebrate Christmas. An overlooked gem!
21. Christmas Grace
22. Christmas for a Dollar
Inspired by a true story, Christmas for a Dollar is a holiday classic about a family that finds out what truly brings joy and love at Christmas. In the midst of the Great Depression, the Kamp family has struggled since Mrs. Kamp’s untimely death. The older children do their best to take care of the family, but the younger children struggle the most with a bleak-looking future. With mounting debt, the siblings fully expect a Christmas without presents. However, when Father scrapes together a dollar in coins, everything changes. As each child comes up with a special gift to give another member of the family, they soon begin to discover that the spirit of Christmas is priceless.
23. Christmas Manger
Fleeing an abusive relationship, Jessica is reunited with her estranged foster father, “Chap”, a rough-around-the-edges rancher. With the help of a handsome neighbor, the group learns to trust again and discovers that there is hope and healing at the manger.
24. The Nativity Story
It was the cruelest of times. Under Herod’s torturous reign, families struggled to survive and yet, in the midst of utter turmoil, a young woman’s faith is put to the test. Join Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) and Joseph (Oscar Isaac) on an incredible journey of hope and discovery in this biblical account of the birth of Jesus. Epic in its scope, yet intimate in it’s portrayal of this historical family, this wonderful film is a family feature that will be cherished for years to come!
25. Chasing the Star
26. Christmas on Salvation Street
A pastor and his two daughters move into a new but troubling town, which he needs to lead back to the Lord. We also find a troubled teenage boy whose grandmother passes away and leaves him and his younger brother in the care of the pastor, but is not willing to submit to him and let him help him. It’s a good movie, about persistence and faith in the Lord against all odds.
27. The Preacher’s Wife
Starring Academy Award(R)-winner Denzel Washington and multi-talented Whitney Houston, here’s a delightful romantic comedy to send spirits soaring! Washington plays a charming angel named Dudley who’s sent to earth to help a young minister and his beautiful wife revive their marriage, but things take a hilarious twist when Dudley accidentally falls in love with the preacher’s wife.
28. The Bishop’s Wife
Recently re-made as “The Preacher’s Wife” starring Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston, this Christmas time movie original was nominated for 5 Academy Awards! Cary Grant stars as an angel come to earth in answer to the prayers of a struggling young bishop.
29. Angels In the Snow
It’s not often one comes across a made for television Christmas show that really hits home, but Angels in the Snow manages to do just that. When nothing short of a miracle can hold a deteriorating family together, a Christmas getaway sets the stage for a miracle to occur. A heartwarming family story of love, loss and rediscovery.
30. The Christmas Candle
31. The Bells of St. Mary’s
The Bells of St. Mary’s is a wonderful film that stars Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman as two people at odds with each other, but who learn from each other as time goes on. The message of the film is the spirit of giving, and how that heals and helps the soul. Considered a Christmas film, there’s very little Christmas in it, but the overall message (benevolence) makes it a popular choice around the holiday season.
Honorable Mentions. Other family friendly Christmas movies with a good message are Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, White Christmas, Home Alone, and Polar Express.
You might also like these posts:
- Awesome Advent Calendars for Teenagers
- How to be Content this Christmas
- Christ-Centered Christmas Books to Read as a Family
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