Christmas is but a sleigh-ride away and we're turning our mind to eggnog, hot chocolate recipes, Elf on the Shelf and meeting Santa. Oh and Christmas movies and advent calendars. So, you know what we've done? We've combined the last two and come up with a festive list of 24 fam-friendly Christmas movies to countdown to Chrimbo with! Did your favourite make the list?
Day 1: Nativity
Kickstart the nativity, well, with Nativity. The whole fam will love this comedy about a primary school class who think that the big shots from Hollywood are coming to see their nativity play. Feel goods guaranteed.
Day 2: The Search for Santa Paws
Magic dogs and elves? Say no more. Christmas cuteness overload.
Day 3: The Holiday
It's not Christmas at all without at least one obligatory watch of Jude Law falling in love with Cameron Diaz, and Kate Winslet with Jack Black.
Day 4: Santa Buddies
More cute puppies and plenty of warm and fuzzies when Santa Paws teaches his son, Puppy Paws, the true meaning of Christmas.
Day 5: Jack Frost
Throw it back to 1998 on day 5 with a dad who gets reincarnated as a snowman. Chuckles galore.
Day 6: Shrek the Halls
A quickie for day 6: join Shrek and the gang in a half hour festive special that will definitely have you decking the halls.
Day 7: Miracle on 34th Street
Is that old man really Santa, or is he just a mad, fool? An all-time classic that despite being over 70 years old, still packs one of the best festive punches ever.
Day 8: Love Actually
Another Christmas essential for older kids: Hugh Grant, Martine McCutchen and the late, great Alan Rickman star in an Xmas rom-com that remains one of our fave festive movies of all time.
Day 9: The Snowman
The Snowman IS Christmas happiness in this short movie adaptation of Raymond Brigg's story of a snowman who comes to life. Not to be mixed up with the 2017 horror film of the same name!
Day 10: The Christmas Chronicles
This Netflix blockbuster will have everyone believing in the magic of Xmas, for sure, and tells the tale of sibs, Kate and Teddy, who set out to catch Santa on video. Needless to say, they end up with a whole heap more adventure than they bargained for.
Day 11: The Christmas Chronicles 2
If you loved the first one (you will) then why not catch the second instalment of Kurt Russell as Santa, and Goldie Hawn as Mrs Claus? Not quite as good but still lovely.
Day 12: Jingle All the Way
We've all been there... the kids are asking for the sold-out toy of the year, and we do whatever we can to get it for them. And Arnie Schwarzenegger is a dad just like us, only his capers are probably a tad more far-fetched and hilarious than our own.
Day 13: The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
A young girl is transported into a magical world of gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice in this magical Christmas movie starring Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and lovely Jack Whitehall.
Day 14: The Muppet Xmas Carol
Our love for The Muppets has stayed with us since our own childhoods, and we can't wait to introduce the kiddos to Miss Piggy, Kermit et al in this festive adventure starring Michael Cain.
Day 15: The Grinch
Whether you plump for the 2000 Jim Carrey version, or the 2018 Benedict Cumberband one, either way The Grinch will have us all feeling a whole lot less grinchy about this shocker of a year.
Day 16: The Santa Claus
When Tim Allen inadvertently makes Santa fall off of his roof on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place. Always a hit in our house.
Day 17: Rise of the Guardians
When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world. Excellent stuff.
Day 18: The Star
A small but brave donkey and his animal friends become the unsung heroes of the first Christmas. Christmas is all about the actual nativity, after all, so, whether you believe or not, this is a lovely, animated telling of that all-important tale.
Day 19: Home Alone 1
We KNOW Xmas is getting close when we break out Home Alone. It's always going to be one of the funniest, best Xmas movies EVER. But, just to make you feel old, can you believe it's over 30 years since Kevin burst onto the silver screen tackling robbers and setting up booby traps?
Day 20: Home Alone 2, Lost in New York
Not content with putting his poor mother through the mill the previous Xmas, Kevin is at it again, but this time getting lost in New York instead. A worthy second instalment. There are more but they're all dire in our opinon.
Day 21: Elf
After discovering he is a human, a man raised as an elf (Will Ferrell) leaves the North Pole and heads to New York to find his dad. Belly laughs by the bucket load, guaranteed.
Day 22: The Polar Express
All aboard The Polar Express for a magical adventure to the North Pole that you and your small elves will adore.
Day 23: A Christmas Carol
The 2009 CGI version starring Jim Carrey is absolutely epic when it comes to the retelling of the Charles Dickens classic. Swap it out for Mickey's Christmas Carol if you think it might be a tad scary for your little ones: it does get quite dark!
Day 24: Arthur Christmas
Santa's clumsy but adorable son Arthur sets out on a mission with Grandsanta to give out a present they misplaced, and so the fun-packed capers begin. We think Arthur Christmas is about as Christmas feel-good as it gets, so it's our pick for a Christmas Eve movie to get us all in a suitably festive mood.
Happy ho-ho-holidays, everyone!
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