Top Ten Childhood Christmas Movies for Kids and Adults

I remember when I was a kid. My brother and I used to get into fights every Christmas season about who would get to watch what on television. We only had one TV set, and so the fights were inevitable: my brother wanted to watch sports, while I wanted to watch the Christmas specials. Finally, my mother had to make us alternate nights for who chose what to watch. Well, sometimes that worked and sometimes it didn't, because what if the greatest football game of the year was on my night or The Grinch Who Stole Christmas was on his turn? Luckily, my grandparents came through and bought each of us a small black and white television for our bedrooms. Needless to say, we never argued, at least about that, again. Geniuses my grandparents were, total geniuses.

Now, even as an adult, I look forward to some of the children's Christmas movies that come on each year. Who says you have to be a child to enjoy them? There are some great classics, as well as one or two newcomers each year. Some are animated Christmas cartoons, whereas others feature real actors. Here are my choices for the top ten best children's Christmas movies of all time.

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966). Wow, this children's Christmas movie was made an incredibly long time ago. The Grinch wants to get rid of Christmas, so he sets out from his house on the top of the hill to steal everyone's Christmas gifts, everyone's Christmas trees and decorations, and everyone's holiday cheer in general. Will he achieve his goal, or will he get caught up in the season himself? This is truly one of my favorites.

2. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970). Another one of the original Christmas movies animated for children, this movie is about Chris Kringle trying to get into town to deliver his toys, and how he is stopped along the way. The story features a mailman telling how Chris Kringle and Santa Claus came to be.

3. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964). What child doesn't want to watch this heartfelt child's Christmas movie. This is the story of Santa's most famous reindeer, who helped Santa be able to deliver all of the kids toys on a foggy Christmas eve.

4. Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas (1977). Wow, what an inspirational Christmas movie this is! Emmet Otter and his mother don't have much money. They want to buy each other a special gift for Christmas, so they both enter the local Christmas talent competition. The story is narrated by none other than Kermit the Frog. I have to admit, the story gets me all choked up.

5. Frosty the Snowman (1969). This is a cute holiday tale of a snowman who comes to life after being built by a group of children.

6. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). You can't miss this one, if you are a fan of the Charlie Brown comics. The story is about Charlie Brown directing a Christmas play, fighting against the commercialization of Christmas. However, he soon realizes that the true spirit of Christmas can still be found despite the modernization of it into purchased gifts and elaborate decorating displays.

7. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992). I just love the Muppets. I can't get enough of them. So, this is a favorite of mine from way back. This children's Christmas movie is very similar to A Christmas Carol, and is tells the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge.

8. The Polar Express (2004). This is the story of a small child who wants to believe in Santa Claus, but can't find the proof. So, the Polar Express train pulls up outside of his house, and he is invited to climb aboard and take a trip to the North Pole to find out for sure that Santa exists!

9. A Christmas Story (1983). I think this must be the most aired Christmas movie of all time. Almost every time I turn my television on during the Christmas season, I see this being shown on a channel somewhere. It's the story of a boy who wants a certain toy for Christmas, a child's bee bee gun,and what happens to him and his family during Christmas.

10. Home Alone (1990). Poor kid! He gets left alone on Christmas once his family leaves town to visit relatives. What's a little kid gonna do without his parents? Either get into a lot of trouble or let trouble find him apparently! Macaulay Culkin is the little kid who didn't appreciate his family until he was left home alone without them over Christmas.

Listing all of these movies makes me think that I've now got to watch them all again this Christmas season. I'm about to visit TVGuide.com to find the listings for each one of them!