Movies like What Is Christmas? (1973)
The best movies like What Is Christmas? (1973) are Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys (2001), Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999) and Barbie in 'A Christmas Carol' (2008). If What Is Christmas? hooked you with its animation and family, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
What Is Christmas?
Quick picks
- Highest ratedMickey's Christmas Carol (1983)7.7/10 from 1,023 votes
- NewestIneffable (2025)Released 2025
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys (2001)
When the mysterious Toy Taker grabs all of Santa's toys, it looks like the children will miss out on Christmas. But everyone's favorite reindeer, Rudolph, comes to the rescue with his lovable friends: Hermey the elf, Yukon Cornelius the grizzly prospector, the abominable snow monster Bumbles and Rudolph's very special friend Clarice. Together, they promise Santa they'll track down Toy Taker and rescue Santa's toy. Their incredible quest takes them on a wild adventure with Rudolph's red nose leading the way!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
SnoozefestMovies like thisOlive, the Other Reindeer (1999)
After mis-hearing a radio broadcast about Santa canceling his Christmas trip due to an injured reindeer, Olive the dog decides to travel to the North Pole and volunteer to be a replacement. Unfortunately, Olive must deal with an evil postman who's tired of handling all the extra Christmas mail. Will Martini the penguin be able to help Olive realize her dream?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBarbie in 'A Christmas Carol' (2008)
On Christmas Eve, Kelly is reluctant to go to a Christmas Eve ball, so Barbie tells her the story of Eden Starling, a glamorous singing diva in the Victorian England and the owner of a theatre house. However, Eden is self-centered and loves only herself. She is frequently accompanied by her snooty cat, Chuzzlewit. She does not believe in Christmas and orders all her employees to work on Christmas.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Smurfs: A Christmas Carol (2011)
When Grouchy Smurf behaves badly to everyone and refuses to celebrate Christmas, the Smurfs of Christmas Past, Present and Future teach him to appreciate Christmas.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMickey Saves Christmas (2022)
Mickey, Minnie and their pals attempt to celebrate the perfect Christmas at their snowy cabin. However, when Pluto causes Santa to lose all the presents on his sleigh, the friends travel to the North Pole on a quest to save Christmas.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBarbie: A Perfect Christmas (2011)
The vacation plans of Barbie and her sisters take a turn due to a snowstorm. Stranded in Tannenbaum town, they find themselves amidst a holiday venture where they learn a heartwarming lesson.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Boss Baby: Christmas Bonus (2022)
Christmas Eve takes a twisty turn when the Boss Baby accidentally swaps places with one of Santa's elves and gets stranded at the North Pole.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Garfield Christmas (1987)
Garfield, Jon and Odie go to Jon's family farm for Christmas, where Garfield finds a present for Grandma.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001)
When a huge snowstorm leaves everyone stranded, Mickey and all of his guests at the House of Mouse, including Pooh, Belle, Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel and many more of his old and new friends, break out the cookies and hot chocolate to help Donald mend his tattered Christmas spirit.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPAW Patrol: Jet to the Rescue (2020)
A royal relative steals a gem with the power to make things fly, the Paw Patrol takes to the skies to stop him and save Barkingburg.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
Ebenezer Scrooge is far too greedy to understand that Christmas is a time for kindness and generosity. But with the guidance of some new found friends, Scrooge learns to embrace the spirit of the season. A retelling of the classic Dickens tale with Disney's classic characters.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisWinnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002)
It's Christmastime in the Hundred Acre Wood and all of the gang is getting ready with presents and decorations. The gang makes a list of what they want for Christmas and send it to Santa Claus - except that Pooh forgot to ask for something. So he heads out to retrieve the letter and get it to Santa by Christmas...which happens to be tomorrow!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Small One (1978)
Ordered by his father to sell an old mule called Small One, a Hebrew boy in the ancient Holy Land takes the donkey to the Jerusalem market. Finding no buyers there, the boy is about to give up when he meets a kind man named Joseph, who buys Small One and uses the steed to take his pregnant wife Mary to Bethlehem.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisKung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll (2016)
As Po looks for his lost action figures, the story of how the panda inadvertently helped create the Furious Five is told.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisToy Story That Time Forgot (2014)
During a post-Christmas play date, the gang find themselves in uncharted territory when the coolest set of action figures ever turn out to be dangerously delusional. It's all up to Trixie, the triceratops, if the gang hopes to return to Bonnie's room in this Toy Story That Time Forgot.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Nutcracker Prince (1990)
After young Clara receives a wooden nutcracker as a Christmas gift, she dreams about a fantastical battle between her Nutcracker Prince and the evil Mouse King. At stake is the Nutcracker's freedom - and Clara's future happiness.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
When Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees amongst everyone during the Christmas season, Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown accepts, but it is a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, he needs Linus' help to learn the meaning of Christmas.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLight of the World (2025)
It's 30 AD and everyone is expectantly awaiting the coming Messiah. While Jesus isn't exactly what they imagined, there is something special about this man. Soon, John, James, Andrew, Peter, and others begin to follow Jesus on an unexpected adventure. This beautifully animated story of Jesus is told through the eyes of his beloved young friend, the Apostle John.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisIt's a SpongeBob Christmas! (2012)
At Christmastime in Bikini Bottom, everyone's excited except Plankton, who always gets a lump of coal from Santa. But he vows this year he'll finally get his wish – the Krabby Patty formula! And it won't be by being good. He's gonna make everyone in Bikini Bottom bad!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisShrek the Halls (2007)
The Christmas tree isn't the only thing green in this new holiday classic. Shrek is back and trying to get into the spirit of the season. After promising Fiona and the kids a Christmas they'll remember, he is forced to take a crash course in the holiday. But just when he thinks he has everything for their quiet family Christmas just right, there is a knock at the door.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Action Pack Saves Christmas (2022)
The Action Pack teams up with Santa Claus to save the day when greedy Teddy Von Taker plots to steal all of the Christmas cheer from Hope Springs.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & family
The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday (2023)
To keep their annual Holiday Heist-tacular afloat, Mr. Wolf and his crew of animal outlaws will have to restore the whole city's Christmas spirit — fast!
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMy Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Sleuth Christmas Movie (2007)
Pooh and his friends work together to rescue Santa's lost reindeer-trainee, Holly.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & family
Elf Pets: A Fox Cub's Christmas Tale (2019)
How does Santa Claus travel the whole world in one night? In this musical adventure, set against the backdrop of the Northern Lights, Scout Elf Newsey Noel investigates the mystery of Santa's once-a-year flight. Join her, a little boy named Michael, The Elf on the Shelf Scout Elves, and loads of adorable Arctic Fox Elf Pets as they find out the top-secret answer and discover for themselves that there is nothing more powerful than hope -not even Santa.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & family
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
The Grinch decides to rob Whoville of Christmas - but a dash of kindness from little Cindy Lou Who and her family may be enough to melt his heart...
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Santa Clause 2 (2002)
Better watch out! The big guy in red is coming to town once again. This time, Scott Calvin -- also known as Santa Claus -- finds out there's an obscure clause in his contract requiring him to take on a wife. He has to leave the North Pole to fulfill his obligations, or else he'll be forced to give up his Yuletide gig.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
Popcorn FlickMovies like this31 Minutes: One Hot Christmas (2025)
Puppeton, the town of 31 Minutes, faces such an infernally hot Christmas that Santa Claus cancels his visit! Bodoque the rabbit heroically volunteers to rescue the presents from the North Pole, while his friends improvise a disastrous Christmas show. But what they don't expect is Bodoque giving in to some irresistible temptations along the way.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both family
TETE (2025)
Tete is a cat fascinated by art, skateboarding, and her city, Rio de Janeiro. On a late summer afternoon, bored with the monotony of her room, she hits the streets for an adventure on wheels. Rolling past various tourist spots, dribbling around cars, and riding down hills, the kitten finds her peace. However, Tete didn't expect a mysterious portal right in the middle of the skatepark. Distracted while doing a trick, she falls into the hole and travels through different dimensions of animation. Confused and scared of losing the trace of her identity, a new adventure begins for Tete: finding her way back home.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
The Lord of the Rings (1978)
Young Hobbit Frodo Baggins is thrown into an amazing adventure when he's tasked with destroying the One Ring, created by the dark lord Sauron. Frodo must travel in a small fellowship of nine warriors and accomplices. But it won't be an easy journey for the Fellowship of the Ring, on the ultimate quest to rid Middle-earth of evil.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisIneffable (2025)
Before time, before the world, there were only two—one made of fire, the other of ice. Lost in the void, they were never meant to meet, until the wind, in its fury, brought them together for an instant. In the clash of light and shadow, an impossible love was born—one as burning as it was destructive. But the universe does not forgive those who defy its order, condemning them to spin forever, always close, never together. Yet, in rare moments, when fate falls asleep, Sun and Moon touch—and the sky, in reverence, darkens to watch.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like What Is Christmas??
The closest matches to What Is Christmas? are Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys (2001), Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999) and Barbie in 'A Christmas Carol' (2008). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after What Is Christmas??
Start with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys (2001), the closest match to What Is Christmas?.
What is the highest-rated movie like What Is Christmas??
Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983), rated 7.7/10 by 1,023 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like What Is Christmas??
Ineffable (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like What Is Christmas??
Yes: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys (2001), Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999) and Barbie in 'A Christmas Carol' (2008).
How are movies similar to What Is Christmas? chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside What Is Christmas?, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.