Movies like The Christmas Light (1995)
The best movies like The Christmas Light (1995) are The Snowman (1982), Olaf's Frozen Adventure (2017) and Once Upon a Snowman (2020). If The Christmas Light hooked you with its adventure and animation, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedThe Snowman (1982)7.6/10 from 375 votes
- NewestVHS Summer Camp (2026)Released 2026
The Snowman (1982)
A young boy makes a snowman one Christmas Eve, which comes to life at midnight and takes him on a magical adventure to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisOlaf's Frozen Adventure (2017)
Olaf is on a mission to harness the best holiday traditions for Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisOnce Upon a Snowman (2020)
The previously untold origins of Olaf, the innocent and insightful, summer-loving snowman are revealed as we follow Olaf’s first steps as he comes to life and searches for his identity in the snowy mountains outside Arendelle.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThat Christmas (2024)
It's an unforgettable Christmas for the townsfolk of Wellington-on-Sea when the worst snowstorm in history alters everyone's plans — including Santa's.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe House of Magic (2013)
Thunder, an abandoned young cat seeking shelter from a storm, stumbles into the strangest house imaginable, owned by an old magician and inhabited by a dazzling array of automatons and gizmos. Not everyone welcomes the new addition to the troupe as Jack Rabbit and Maggie Mouse plot to evict Thunder. The situation gets worse when the magician lands in hospital and his scheming nephew sees his chance to cash in by selling the mansion. Our young hero is determined to earn his place and so he enlists the help of some wacky magician's assistants to protect his magical new home.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both family & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Princess and the Goblin (1991)
The story is about the Princess Irene and a young warrior boy named Curty. Irene must use her magic power to fight off goblins and save the kingdom.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & animation
SnoozefestMovies like thisTrolls Holiday (2017)
When the eternally optimistic Poppy, queen of the Trolls, learns that the Bergens no longer have any holidays on their calendar, she enlists the help of Branch and the rest of the gang on a delightfully quirky mission to fix something that the Bergens don't think is broken.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisWelcome to Smelliville (2021)
The Oggly family arrive at the municipal rubbish dump of Smelliville and must look for a new home, but they never feel really welcome anywhere. They stink and are for most humans just a tad too oggly. When Firebottom, the family dragon, crash-lands on the run-down rubbish tip of the small town of Smelliville, the Ogglies at once feel at home. And it's here they want to stay.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & adventure
Popcorn FlickMovies 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 adventure & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLEGO Frozen Northern Lights (2017)
Elsa, Anna and friends search for the Northern Lights.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies 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 thisPrep & Landing Stocking Stuffer: Operation: Secret Santa (2010)
Wayne and Lanny, now partners, are called by Magee to meet with a secret contact – Mrs. Claus, who sends them on a new mission to retrieve a box from Santa’s secret workshop. Later they sneak into Santa’s office while he is asleep, using their high tech equipment from the previous film. Lanny’s expertise at dressing the tree enables them to enter the hidden workshop where they recover the box and escape just in time. But what is the box for?
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 thisPrep & Landing (2009)
Wayne gets a new rookie partner, Lanny, after his previous partner got the promotion he wanted. Lanny has to remind Wayne of the Spirit of Christmas and the importance of being an elf in Santa's Prep and Landing elite unit.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTom and Jerry: Snowman's Land (2022)
It’s time to chase that holiday spirit with Tom and Jerry! With magic in the air, Jerry and his nephew, Tuffy, make a snow mouse that miraculously comes to life! To keep their new friend, Larry the snow mouse from melting, Tuffy and Jerry must race him to the fabled Snowman’s Village. In hot pursuit, Tom and devious Dr. Doublevay have their own plans for Larry’s magic.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisShrek's Yule Log (2010)
Inside the Shrek home, a fire blazes in the fireplace during a Christmas party. Christmas music plays in the background as Shrek, his family, and his friends, come and go while tending the fire and engaging in various Christmas activities.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Tooth Fairy Tale (2025)
Van, the brave son of a tooth fairy leader, meets the goblins girl Gemma on his first mission. Despite the myths about ancient disputes between fairies and goblins, they share common values. When the greedy Spider Queen threatens both tribes, they must work together.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Absolute CinemaMovies 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 thisTrolls Holiday in Harmony (2021)
Queen Poppy plans the first annual Trolls Kingdom Secret Holiday Gift Swap, but things don't go quite as expected.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPrep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (2011)
Lanny and Wayne are at it again! With the Big 2-5 fast approaching, Wayne and Lanny must race to recover classified North Pole technology which has fallen into the hands of a computer-hacking Naughty Kid! Desperate to prevent Christmas from descending into chaos, Wayne seeks out the foremost Naughty Kid expert to aid in the mission: a bombastic member of the Coal Bucket Brigade who also happens to be his estranged brother, Noel.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & family
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Christmas Brigade (1997)
Lead by the newly-reformed Burton the elf with the aid of young Jennifer and Isaac the elf, the Christmas Brigade sets out to stop the evil Dr. D and to fulfill Santa's mission to bring the magic of Christmas to every single day of the year.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & fantasy
Amanda the Adventurer (TBA)
Plot TBA; based on the indie video game of the same name about a cursed children's television show whose videotapes trap human souls and brainwash viewers.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both fantasy
The Leader: Karl Marx (2019)
A story about Karl Marx and his controversial love for Jenny, his near-lost friendship with Engels, the evolution of philosophy and dialectics, the thought of transforming the world through political economics and his contribution to the revolution of the working classes.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Waterfall Colors (TBA)
A Greek dancer in Canada rents a studio from their friend and discovers a haunted Tamil music video left by the previous tenants who returned to India.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
Ne Pas Projeter (2015)
A movie projectionist finds a mysterious can of film containing the warnings "do not open, do not project", and ends up releasing forces beyond his comprehension.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
Sadako DX (2022)
Ayaka Ichijo is a graduate student with an IQ of 200 who tries to investigate the strange deaths happening nationwide after people supposedly watched a cursed video and her younger sister also did the same out of curiosity.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
SnoozefestMovies like thisPsychic Yuranbon: The Curse of a Woman (2017)
First entry in the "Psychic Yuranbon" film series.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
Sadako 3D (2012)
Akane is a high school teacher who hears a rumor from her students that there is actual footage on the Internet of someone's suicide. The footage is said to drive anyone who sees it to also commit suicide. Akane does not believe the rumor at first, but when one of her female students dies after viewing the footage, she and her boyfriend Takanori are fatefully drawn into the horror that has been created by the man who appears in the suicide footage, Kashiwada. Kashiwada's intention is to create chaos in the world by bringing back Sadako and the power of her curse. Now Akane has to fight against Sadako and Kashiwada to save the lives of herself and Takanori.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
SnoozefestMovies like thisInsidious Rewind (TBA)
Searching for her missing brother, a young woman traces his final signal to an abandoned warehouse, where she discovers a collection of cursed VHS tapes. Captured and forced to watch, she endures four found-footage nightmares that may reveal what happened to him—and what now awaits her.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
VHS Summer Camp (2026)
An independent and original 80s style love letter to the summer camp slashers of the past. When a group of teens are hired to clean up an old summer camp, they soon discover a mysterious VHS tape that reveals glimpses of the future and begin to uncover a dark secret tied to the camps past.
Why it matches: Similar story and style
Like The Christmas Light and something else?
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like The Christmas Light?
The closest matches to The Christmas Light are The Snowman (1982), Olaf's Frozen Adventure (2017) and Once Upon a Snowman (2020). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after The Christmas Light?
Start with The Snowman (1982), the closest match to The Christmas Light.
What is the highest-rated movie like The Christmas Light?
The Snowman (1982), rated 7.6/10 by 375 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like The Christmas Light?
VHS Summer Camp (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like The Christmas Light?
Yes: The Snowman (1982), Olaf's Frozen Adventure (2017) and Once Upon a Snowman (2020).
How are movies similar to The Christmas Light chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside The Christmas Light, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.