Christmas is just around the corner – and few film studios are more fitting for the holidays than Disney.
Luckily with Disney+ available, we now have access to a whole host of seasonal specials both past and present, from this year’s Home Sweet Home Alone to classics such as The Muppet Christmas Carol.
We’ve narrowed down the list to include the very best – and the most Christmassy – to make all your seasonal streaming choices stress free.
You can sign up to Disney+ now for £7.99 per month or £79.90 a year in the UK. For more information on how to sign up, check out our guide to prices.
S0, without further ado, check out our best picks for festive films on Disney+.
Best Christmas movies on Disney Plus
Godmothered
!["Godmothered"]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2020/11/is_godmothered_ppht_l1_79593f67-84a22da.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"best-christmas-series-movies-disney-plus\"")
This Christmas film stars Jillian Bell (Workaholics, 22 Jump Street) as Eleanor, an unskilled Fairy Godmother-in-training who discovers that her profession is in danger. In a bid to show that fairy godmothers are still needed, Eleanor tries to help Mackenzie (Isla Fisher), a Boston-based news reporter whose wishes were ignored as a child and has since grown disillusioned with finding “happily ever after”.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
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This 2018 reimagining of The Nutcracker follows Clara (Mackenzie Foy), a Victorian child whose mysterious gift, left to her by her late mother, leads her on a journey to four secret magical realms, where she must use her greatest strength to restore peace throughout the land. Starring Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, Richard E. Grant, Matthew Macfadyen, Jake Whitehall and Omid Djalili.
The Santa Clause
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The Santa Clause stars Toy Story’s Tim Allen as Scott Calvin, a divorced dad who discovers that the real Santa has fallen off his roof on Christmas Eve and becomes the next Father Christmas after holding the reigns of the magical sleigh. As he begins to transform into old Saint Nick, Scott is tasked with convincing a world of disbelievers, including himself, that Santa Claus really does exist.
Noelle
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Over at the North Pole, Kris Kringle’s daughter Noelle (Anna Kendrick) is full of Christmas spirit, but wishes she had more responsibilities, like her brother Nick (Bill Hader), who is about to take over for their father at Christmas. But when an overwhelmed Nick flees with the reindeer, Noelle must find him in time for the big day. Starring Shirley MacLaine, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Billy Eichner, Ron Funches and Julie Hagerty.
Santa Clause 2
!["Santa]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2020/11/Screen-Shot-2020-11-18-at-10.25.05-9acb94b.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"best-christmas-series-movies-disney-plus\"")
In this follow-up to Disney’s 1994 Christmas comedy, Tim Allen returns as Scott Calvin, who’s happily been Santa for a successful eight years but now faces a new challenge – if he doesn’t get married by Christmas Eve, he’ll stop being Santa forever. Starring Elizabeth Mitchell, David Krumholtz, Spencer Breslin, Molly Shannon, Kevin Pollak and Aisha Tyler.
Home Alone
!["Joe]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2017/09/Home-Alone-home-alone.jpg?quality=90&crop=23px%2C0px%2C1542px%2C1027px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Home-Alone-home-alone\"")
This Christmas Classic stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old who is accidentally left behind when his family rush off to the airport on a festive holiday. While enjoying his new-found freedom, Kevin soon finds himself dealing with two clueless burglars who’ve targeted the house and have no idea what this booby-trapping child has in store for them. Featuring Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O’Hara and John Heard.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
!["Muppet]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2018/12/muppet-christmas-carol-2422386.jpg?quality=90&resize=618%2C413" "\"Muppet")
Kermit, Miss Piggy and the rest of the Muppet gang put their own unique twist on the Charles Dickens’ classic in The Muppet Christmas Carol, which stars the legendary Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. The cold-hearted money-lender, who orders his employee Bob Cratchit (Kermit the Frog) to work on Christmas day, is taught an important lesson when he’s visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future in this musical comedy extravaganza.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
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Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is back in Home Alone 2 – but this time, he’s lost in New York. After losing his family at the airport and boarding the wrong plane, the tween finds himself sight-seeing by himself in the Big Apple before he bumps into some old enemies – Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), the notorious Wet Bandits. With Catherine O’Hara, John Heard, Tim Curry, Rob Schneider and Dana Ivey.
A Christmas Carol
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Starring Jim Carrey as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, this computer-animated adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story of the same name follows the bad-tempered businessman as he learns a well-deserved Christmas lesson. With Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright, Cary Elwes and Daryl Sabara in supporting roles.
Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas
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Disney’s favourite mouse Mickey is delivering festive cheer in 1999’s Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas. As Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Pluto get together to reminisce about previous Christmases, the film explores three wonder-filled stories about love, magic and surprises with an appearance from Santa himself. Starring Kelsey Grammer as the Narrator.
Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
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The last instalment in the Santa Clause franchise sees Tim Allen return as Scott Calvin – aka Santa – as he invites his in-laws down to the North Pole for holiday festivities. However, when Scott discovers a way out of his “Santa Clause”, the mischievous Jack Frost (Martin Short) takes the opportunity to put a big freeze over the the North Pole and Scott must find a way to get his job back before Christmas is ruined for everyone. With Elizabeth Mitchell, Alan Arkin, Ann-Margret and Kevin Pollak.
Home Sweet Home Alone
!["Home]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/11/Home-Sweet-Home-Alone-1-ed027e4.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Home")
Many eyebrows were raised when this Home Alone reboot was announced – but fears were alleviated somewhat when it was revealed the cast would include Ellie Kemper, Rob Delaney, Aisling Bea and Jojo Rabbit breakout Archie Yates. Unsurprisingly, Home Sweet Home Alone works in much the same way as the original – mischievous young Max Mercer is accidentally left behind when his parents go on holiday, and soon finds himself protecting his house from trespassers attempting to retrieve a priceless family heirloom.
However unlike the original, Home Sweet Home Alone addresses one of the criticisms of the original by toning down the violence slightly – especially as the robbers are portrayed much more sympathetically and given a reason to target Max’s house in particular.
There’s no cameo from Macaulay Culkin however – but look out for other nods to the first film, including the appearance of another original actor…
The Nightmare Between Christmas
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With the voices of Chris Sarandon as Jack Skellington/Danny Elfman as Jack’s Singing Voice
© Touchstone Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
The debate rages on over whether this is truly a Christmas film or more of a Halloween flick – but it certainly wouldn’t be too out of place over the festive period. Christmas Tim Burton style, the classic stop-motion animation sees Pumpkin King Jack Skellington become enchanted by Christmas Town – but his attempts to emulate Santa Clause don’t quite go to plan.
Lego Star Wars Holiday Special
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So the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special is not quite a feature-length film – but is the closest we’ll get to a Christmas movie in a galaxy far far away. Poking fun at the infamous 1978 TV special, this lego version sees Rey preparing for Life Day with BB-8 – but is soon hurled on a time-travelling adventure that features several nods to earlier films. Heartwarming and hilarious in equal measure.
Frozen
!["Frozen]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2020/07/Frozen-2-Social-d18adf3.jpg?quality=90&crop=105px%2C0px%2C1081px%2C720px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Frozen")
While Frozen is not technically a Christmas film, the movie and its sequel feature just enough snow-covered imagery to make us think of Christmas trees and Santa’s sleigh. Frozen, of course, follows Queen Elsa of Arendelle, who flees after accidentally trapping her kingdom in an endless winter – so it’s up to her sister Anna and a few humourous sidekicks to bring her back.
If you’re a parent who has seen the Frozen films far too many times, then short spin-off Olaf’s Frozen Adventure is also available – and is actually Christmas-themed.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
!["Mickey's]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2020/11/Mickeys-Christmas-Carol-Screenshot-8dca2d2.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C368" "\"Mickey's")
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens has been adapted by everything from The Muppets to Doctor Who – so it was inevitable there would be a Mickey Mouse version. This 1983 short film appropriately features Scrooge McDuck in the place of Ebenezer, with Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit and Goofy as Jacob Marley. Look out for cameos from Jiminy Crickett as well as characters from Robin Hood!
Sign up to Disney+ now for £7.99 a month or £79.90 for a year. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide, or our list of the best movies on Disney Plus UK.