We're in the midst of the December holiday season with Hanukkah in full sway and Christmas and Kwanzaa coming up very soon. Many families will have virtual celebrations or stay at home as a health and safety precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For those who wish to celebrate the holidays with a film/television show or just want to get into a festive spirit from the comforts of your couch, here's a list of 22 suggested movies and television specials to borrow for free from the New York Public Library. Related book links are included, as well as articles from other library staffers with more holiday  reading suggestions.

Animated Films and TV Shows

An American Tail

This musical mouse tale opens on the first night of Hanukkah as the Mousekewitzes family emigrates from Russia to New York City in the 1880s.

 

 

 

 

 

Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas

Belle and the Beast have a musical holiday adventure while they debate celebrating Christmas.

 

 

 

 

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang learn the true meaning of the holidays in this timeless, classic television special. Also available as a picture book. Other animation holiday specials  include Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales and I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown.

 

 

 

Elena of Avalor: Celebrations to Remember

Join Princess Elena of Avalor and her family and friends as they prepare to celebrate Navidad, Carnaval and Dia de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead.

 

 

 

 

Frosty the Snowman

Based on a holiday song, this television special follows an animated Frosty as he and the group of school children who made him try to help the snowman make it to the North Pole to escape melting.  Frosty can be found in several picture books, too.

 

 

 

 

Frozen

While this blockbuster reinterpretation of "The Snow Queen" fairytale technically isn't a Christmas movie, it does have lots of snow, family conflict, a reindeer and a snowman.  Also available in junior novelization format, various children's books and the sequel film, Frozen II.  

 

 

 

The Grinch

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch, yet somehow we seem to adore you so much that in addition to the television special there's a full-length animated film, a live-action film, a junior novelization and picture books in multiple languages, including English, Spanish/Español,  French/ Français, and Italian/ Italiano. You  really are a loveable heel .

 

 

 

The Polar Express

This beloved  children's picture book about taking a train to the North Pole gets the computer animation treatment.

 

 

 

 

 

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Yet another television special based on a Christmas tune, this time the stop animation show follows Santa's very special reindeer. Available in various picture books as well.

 

 

 

 

The Star

This animated twist on the Nativity story is told from the perspective of a donkey and his other animal friends.

 

 

 

 

Teen Titans Go! Holiday Collection

Join DC teen crime-fighters Robin, Beast Boy, Cyborg, Raven and Starfire in their various holiday misadventures in this compilation of Christmas and Halloween specials.

 

 

 

 

Trolls Holiday

The Trolls try to get into the holiday spirit in this made for television special.

 

 

 

 

 

Live-Action Films and TV Specials

A Miracle on 34th Street

Is that Macys' department store Kris Kringle the real Santa Claus? This timeless children's tale is also available as a picture book.

 

 

 

 

A Christmas Story

This series of misadventures in 1940s Indiana follows nine-year-old Ralphie Parker as he tries to convince his parents to buy him a BB gun for Christmas.

 

 

 

 

Elf

Buddy, a human adopted by elves, spreads holiday cheer wherever he goes as he wanders around New York City in search of his real father. This charming modern film was adapted into a Broadway musical.

 

 

 

 

Eloise at Christmastime

Eloise, the memorable six-year-old who lives in the Plaza Hotel, and her nanny prepare for Christmas in the children's picture book. In the film, Eloise tries to reunite the hotel owner's daughter with a room service waiter while learning the true meaning of the holiday.

 

 

 

 

Happy Holidays from Sesame Street!

Join Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster and the rest of the Sesame Street characters—humans and puppets—as they celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

 

 

 

 

Home Alone

Mischievous Chicago suburbs kid Kevin McCallister protects his home from neighborhood burglars when the eight-year-old accidently gets left home alone during the Christmas holidays. The story has been adapted to a picture book.

 

 

 

 

How to Celebrate the African American holiday Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa  is celebrated annually from December 26 to January 1. This educational film highlights the importance of community-building, African American historical achievements and the holiday's symbols, foods and guidelines.

 

 

 

Kwanzaa

Learn the basics and seven principles of the African American celebration with this educational film.

 

 

 

 

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie the Bear and many other Muppets join the cast in this comedic take on Charles Dickens' holiday story with Ebenezer Scrooge portrayed by Michael Caine. There are several book versions of A Christmas Carol for children and teens to borrow, and another Christmas-themed Muppet film,  It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie.

 

 

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

The popular holiday short story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," which is also a ballet, gets the live-action fantasy adventure reinterpretation in this film. For those who prefer the more traditional version, there are multiple children's books, which include spin-off such as Nutcracker in Harlem, Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite, and a version in Spanish/ Español:  El cascanueces = The Nutcracker and French/ Français: Casse-Noisette : un ballet de Petr Tchaïkovsky d'après le conte d'E.T.A. Hoffmann.

 

 

For more holiday reading recommendations for children, try these other NYPL blog posts:

• Cultural Passport: Kwanzaa Books for Children, Adults & Families by Troy Belle
• Nine New Christmas Classics for Kids by Gwen Glazer
• Kids Books to Celebrate Chanukah and Christmas by Gwen GlazerCozy Chanukkah Picture Books by Gwen Glazer
• A World Languages Holiday Read Celebration for Children by Alexandra Gomez