It’s that time of the year when the nights are darker and colder; you might not be feeling “Christmasy” yet, but what’s a better way to spend a cosy evening than cuddled up on the couch, watching your favourite holiday movies?

So grab your favourite blanket and a bowl of popcorn, and let’s dive into the magical world of Christmas on Disney+, with my top ten films to watch during the holidays on Disney+:

Note: The availability of some of these titles may vary between countries.

An Almost Christmas Story

This original brand-new for 2024 short film follows Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. In his attempts to escape the bustling city, Moon befriends a lost young girl named Luna. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, discovering the magic of the holiday season and forming an unlikely bond as they journey back home to their parents. It’s a heartwarming tale and a must-watch this holiday season if you’re a Disney+ subscriber.

Guardians Of The Galaxy: Holiday Special

With the expansion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Disney+, they tried to so something a little different with the first holiday special, which sees the Guardians set out on a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Peter “Starlord” Quill and they head to Earth in search of the perfect present, Kevin Bacon! If you’re in the mood for some Marvel Christmas adventures, you can’t go wrong with this one, plus there’s a couple of original songs in here that got stuck in my head for most of last Christmas.

Home Alone

One of my all-time favourite Christmas movies, this classic 20th Century Fox movie has everything I’d want from a Christmas film. It has mischief and mayhem as an eight-year-old Kevin McCallister makes the most of the situation after his family unwittingly leaves him behind when they go on Christmas vacation. But when a pair of bungling burglars set their sights on Kevin’s house, the plucky kid stands ready to defend his territory. By planting booby traps galore, adorably mischievous Kevin stands his ground as his frantic mother attempts to race home before Christmas Day.

Nightmare Before Christmas

Tired of scaring humans every October 31 with the same old bag of tricks, Jack Skellington, the spindly king of Halloween Town, kidnaps Santa Claus and plans to deliver shrunken heads and other ghoulish gifts to children on Christmas morning. But as Christmas approaches, Jack’s rag-doll girlfriend, Sally, tries to foil his misguided plans. Perfect holiday viewing if you skipped it at Halloween or just want a second excuse to watch this excellent Tim Burton movie.

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Christmas Cabin Fever

Disney has released three animated movies featuring characters from the best selling book series, but the latest installment, “Cabin Fever”, is a fun Christmas adventure for younger audiences.  After getting stuck with his family in the snow during his winter vacation, Greg worries about getting the new console.   I thought this was a fun little caper that might be a good inclusion into your Christmas playlist.

Christmas Again

Ro isn’t handling her parents’ divorce well because she wants her life back the way it was—her parents back together, her dad’s new girlfriend and son out of the picture, and their family traditions to remain the same. After a disappointing celebration with her family, including her sister Gabriela “Gabby,” Abuela Sofia and Abuelo Hector, she makes a wish to a neighbourhood Santa for a “do-over” and unexpectedly finds herself reliving Christmas day over and over … and over again. Now, in order to break the strange magical loop, Ro must learn to appreciate her loving family as it is, as well as the true meaning of Christmas.

I enjoyed this cheesy Disney Channel Original Movie much more than I thought I would do, its a bit cheesy but it’s a nice easy going family film, especially if you’re looking for something new.

Noelle

This Disney+ Original movie sees Kris Kringle’s daughter is full of Christmas spirit and holiday fun, but wishes she could do something “important” like her beloved brother Nick, who will take over for their father this Christmas. When Nick is about to crumble like a gingerbread cookie from all the pressure, Noelle suggests he take a break and get away…but when he doesn’t return, Noelle must find her brother and bring him back in time to save Christmas. It’s a great, fun family film that new subscribers should certainly go and check out.

Godmothered

This is another Disney+ Original that is set at Christmas time and is a comedy about Eleanor, a young, inexperienced fairy godmother-in-training (Jillian Bell), who, upon hearing that her chosen profession is facing extinction, decides to show the world that people still need fairy godmothers. Finding a mislaid letter from a 10-year-old girl in distress, Eleanor tracks her down and discovers that the girl, Mackenzie, is now a 40-year-old single mom (Isla Fisher) working at a news station in Boston. Having lost her husband several years earlier, Mackenzie has all but given up on the idea of “happily ever after,” but Eleanor is bound and determined to give Mackenzie a happiness makeover, whether she likes it or not. I really enjoyed this film. It has some funny moments in it, but more importantly, it’s just a nice family-friendly film for this time of the year.

The Santa Clause

Without doubt, one of my favourite Disney Christmas movies is “The Santa Clause”, which tells the story of Scott, who unknowingly agrees to become the next Santa Claus. Now, he has to deal with a suspicious former wife while trying to keep his secret safe.  This film has gone on to spawn two sequels plus a two-season Disney+ Original series, so if you haven’t seen it, it’s an easy recommendation, and if you have seen it (and who hasn’t?), you know just how good it is!

Die Hard

Shifting the tone a little, this one is for the grownups, “Die Hard”, tells the story of NYPD cop John McClane, whose plan to reconcile with his estranged wife is thrown for a serious loop when, minutes after he arrives at her office, the entire building is overtaken by a group of terrorists. With little help from the LAPD, wisecracking McClane sets out to single-handedly rescue the hostages and bring the bad guys down. This is on my Christmas watchlist every year as something of a palette cleanser from all the cute family films!

You’ll find all of these movies available within the Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas Collection on Disney+, which can be found on the All Collections page within the Search section of the streaming service.

What are you planning on watching over Christmas on Disney+? Let me know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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