Christmas movie nights are one of those family traditions that can change quite a bit as your children get older. When they’re little, it’s often easy enough to put on an animated Christmas favourite, settle everyone under a blanket and enjoy a couple of hours together. Once they’re teenagers, however, finding something that appeals to everyone can become a little more complicated.
With three teenagers in our family, I’ve discovered that our Christmas film choices are now much more varied than they used to be. Lillie and I both love Last Christmas and The Holiday, while the boys have enjoyed Die Hard and Scrooged, which couldn’t be more different from one another. It makes choosing what to watch interesting, but it also means we’ve got a much wider selection of films to enjoy together.
If you’re looking for Christmas films for teenagers that offer something beyond the usual children’s classics, I’ve put together a mixture of romantic comedies, action films, funny favourites and slightly more unusual festive stories. Some are suitable for younger teenagers, while others are better saved for older teens, so it’s worth checking the UK age classifications and content advice before choosing.
Why Christmas Film Nights Change as Children Get Older
One of the things I’ve noticed about parenting teenagers is that family time doesn’t necessarily disappear, but the way you spend it together changes. Activities that everyone once enjoyed might no longer appeal, and teenagers understandably want more independence and a say in how they spend their free time.
Watching a film together can be a lovely way of finding some common ground. Nobody has to make a huge effort or commit to an elaborate activity, and there’s something rather comforting about everyone settling down together when the weather outside is cold and miserable.
The films themselves can become more interesting too. Older children begin to appreciate humour that might previously have gone over their heads, understand more complicated storylines and develop their own opinions about characters and relationships. Sometimes the films you wouldn’t have considered watching together a few years ago turn out to be the ones everyone enjoys most.
Funny Christmas Films That Teenagers Will Actually Enjoy
1. Scrooged (1988)
If your teenagers enjoy sarcastic humour and films that don’t take themselves too seriously, Scrooged is worth considering. Bill Murray plays Frank Cross, a cynical television executive whose obsession with work and success has left him with very little compassion for anyone around him. When he’s visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve, he’s forced to confront the way he’s been treating people.
It’s a modern, darkly comic take on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with plenty of exaggerated characters and wonderfully chaotic moments. The boys enjoyed this one, and I think its appeal lies partly in the fact that it doesn’t feel like a traditional sentimental Christmas film. There are some frightening scenes and mature jokes, so it’s worth checking the content guidance for younger viewers.
2. Spirited (2022)
Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell bring plenty of energy to this musical reimagining of A Christmas Carol, which tells the familiar story from the perspective of the ghosts rather than the person being haunted. It’s a playful approach that allows the film to explore whether people can genuinely change while filling the story with elaborate musical numbers and comedy.
The humour is likely to appeal to teenagers who enjoy the actors’ usual style, although there are also some surprisingly thoughtful moments beneath the jokes. At just over two hours, it’s longer than many Christmas comedies, and the musical format won’t suit everyone, but it’s an interesting alternative to another straightforward adaptation of Dickens’ story.
3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Anyone who has ever tried to organise the perfect family Christmas will probably recognise something of themselves in Clark Griswold, even if his efforts take festive enthusiasm to ridiculous extremes. From troublesome decorations to unexpected visitors and family disagreements, practically everything that could go wrong does.
What makes Christmas Vacation entertaining for older children is its exaggerated portrayal of family life, particularly the way small frustrations can become enormous disasters when everyone is together for the holidays. It’s very much a comedy of its time, with adult jokes and language that parents may want to consider beforehand, but its central message about unrealistic Christmas expectations remains surprisingly relatable.
4. Your Christmas or Mine? (2022)
This British romantic comedy follows a young couple who independently decide to surprise one another at Christmas, only to end up spending the holidays with each other’s families instead. Their well-intentioned plans quickly become complicated as they discover just how different their backgrounds and family Christmas traditions really are.
It’s a lighter option for teenagers who enjoy romance and awkward family situations rather than action or slapstick comedy. The British setting also makes a refreshing change from the American Christmas films that dominate many festive watchlists. Although the misunderstandings are fairly predictable, the film has enough warmth and humour to make it an easy choice for a relaxed evening.
Christmas Films With Action, Adventure and Something Different
5. Die Hard (1988)
Is Die Hard really a Christmas film? It’s a debate that seems to return every December, but there’s no denying that Christmas is central to its setting. Bruce Willis plays New York police officer John McClane, who arrives in Los Angeles hoping to reconcile with his estranged wife, only to find himself caught up in a hostage situation during her office Christmas party.
The boys enjoyed this one, and it’s easy to understand why teenagers who love action films might prefer it to a more conventional festive story. The film has memorable characters, plenty of tension and some humour alongside its explosive action sequences. With a UK 15 classification, strong language and violence, it’s one for older teenagers rather than younger children.
6. Red One (2024)
For teenagers who enjoy superhero-style adventures, Red One takes the idea of saving Christmas in a completely different direction. When Father Christmas is kidnapped, the North Pole’s head of security, played by Dwayne Johnson, must work with a reluctant hacker portrayed by Chris Evans to bring him home.
Rather than relying on traditional Christmas sentiment, the film combines action sequences, fantasy creatures and comedy, creating something closer to a festive blockbuster. It’s particularly suited to families who enjoy fast-moving adventure films, although the fantasy violence and occasional language mean parents should check the age guidance. It may not become everyone’s favourite Christmas film, but it offers a welcome change of pace.
7. Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins begins with what seems like a rather sweet Christmas present: an unusual little creature called Gizmo, who comes with three very important rules. Unfortunately, those rules aren’t followed, and the resulting chaos transforms a quiet American town into the setting for a darkly funny creature feature.
Although it’s often remembered fondly by adults who grew up watching it, Gremlins can be considerably scarier than its cute central character suggests. There are unsettling scenes, creature violence and some surprisingly dark Christmas references. For teenagers who enjoy a little horror mixed with comedy, however, it offers something genuinely different from the usual festive films. Sensitive younger viewers may prefer to give this one a miss.
8. Batman Returns (1992)
Tim Burton’s Batman Returns might not immediately spring to mind when you’re choosing Christmas entertainment, but its snowy Gotham City setting gives it a distinctive festive atmosphere. Michael Keaton returns as Batman, facing the Penguin and Catwoman in a story filled with gothic imagery, elaborate costumes and Burton’s characteristic dark humour.
This is a good example of how a Christmas film doesn’t necessarily need Father Christmas, presents or a heartwarming family reunion to feel seasonal. The decorations, winter setting and themes of loneliness help create a surprisingly strong Christmas connection. It’s darker and more unsettling than many modern superhero adventures, making it more appropriate for teenagers comfortable with gothic fantasy and comic-book violence.
Romantic and Heartwarming Christmas Films for Teenagers
9. Last Christmas (2019)
Last Christmas is one of my favourite festive films, and Lillie loves it too. Emilia Clarke plays Kate, a young woman living in London who seems to have lost her direction in life. Working in a Christmas shop while trying to make sense of her relationships and future, she meets Tom, played by Henry Golding, whose outlook gradually encourages her to see things differently.
What I love about this film is that it offers more than a straightforward Christmas romance. There’s humour, plenty of festive London scenery and a soundtrack featuring George Michael’s music, but there’s also an emotional story about family relationships, kindness and finding your way through difficult periods. It’s one of those films that can leave you thinking about it afterwards, and its more mature themes make it particularly appealing for teenagers who enjoy character-driven stories.
10. The Holiday (2006)
Another favourite for Lillie and me is The Holiday, which follows two women who decide to swap homes over Christmas after experiencing difficulties in their love lives. Amanda, played by Cameron Diaz, leaves Los Angeles for a cottage in the English countryside, while Iris, played by Kate Winslet, heads to California for a much-needed change of scenery.
The contrast between the snowy English cottage and the glamorous Californian home gives the film much of its charm, but it’s the characters and their developing relationships that make it such an enjoyable watch. There’s romance, humour and a comforting sense of escapism, alongside some more thoughtful moments about self-worth and friendship. It’s particularly appealing for older teenagers who are beginning to enjoy romantic comedies with more developed characters.
11. The Holdovers (2023)
Set at an American boarding school during the Christmas holidays of 1970, The Holdovers follows a strict teacher who is forced to remain on campus with students who have nowhere else to go. As the holidays unfold, an unlikely friendship develops between the teacher, a troubled teenage boy and the school’s cook, who is dealing with a personal loss.
This isn’t a cheerful, brightly decorated Christmas comedy. Instead, it’s a thoughtful story about loneliness, grief and the unexpected connections people can make when life doesn’t turn out as planned. Paul Giamatti gives a memorable performance, and the film’s emotional depth makes it an interesting option for older teenagers who appreciate more serious storytelling. Its UK 15 classification and mature content make it unsuitable as a general recommendation for younger teens.
12. Little Women (2019)
Although Little Women isn’t exclusively a Christmas film, the festive scenes and winter atmosphere make Greta Gerwig’s adaptation a lovely choice for this time of year. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel, it follows the four March sisters as they navigate family relationships, love, ambition and the challenges of growing up.
For teenagers, particularly those beginning to think about their own futures, the film offers plenty to reflect on. Each sister has different hopes and priorities, and the story explores how difficult it can be to balance personal dreams with family expectations. The performances and beautiful period setting give it a warmth that works especially well during the Christmas holidays, even though the story extends far beyond the festive season.
Christmas Films That Are a Little Less Traditional
13. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands tells the story of an artificial young man who has scissors instead of hands and struggles to find acceptance in an ordinary suburban community. Although Christmas isn’t the central focus of the film, its winter scenes and bittersweet atmosphere make it feel surprisingly appropriate for the festive season.
Beneath the unusual premise is a moving story about kindness, difference, prejudice and the importance of looking beyond appearances. Those themes can resonate particularly strongly with teenagers, who are often navigating questions about identity and belonging themselves. It’s a beautiful but occasionally unsettling film, with a sadness that distinguishes it from more cheerful Christmas favourites.
14. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
With its distinctive stop-motion animation and memorable songs, The Nightmare Before Christmas has developed a following among viewers who enjoy something a little darker and more imaginative. Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, becomes fascinated by Christmas and decides that he should take charge of the celebrations himself.
The result is a wonderfully strange mixture of Halloween and Christmas imagery, combining gothic humour with a story about identity and appreciating what makes you different. Although younger children can enjoy it too, teenagers may particularly appreciate its unusual visual style and darker jokes. It’s also a good reminder that growing older doesn’t necessarily mean leaving animated films behind.
Christmas Classics That Are Still Worth Revisiting
15. Klaus (2019)
Klaus offers a beautifully animated interpretation of how the legend of Father Christmas might have begun. The story follows Jesper, a selfish young postman sent to a miserable, isolated town where two feuding communities have forgotten how to treat one another with kindness. His unlikely friendship with a mysterious toymaker gradually begins to change things.
Although it’s an animated film, the storytelling has enough emotional depth and clever humour to appeal well beyond younger children. Its themes of generosity, friendship and the way small acts of kindness can influence others make it particularly suitable for a family Christmas evening. It’s a reminder that a film doesn’t need complicated action or adult humour to hold a teenager’s attention.
16. Arthur Christmas (2011)
This British animated comedy takes viewers behind the scenes of Father Christmas’s enormous, high-tech present-delivery operation. When one child’s gift is accidentally overlooked, Santa’s enthusiastic but rather clumsy son Arthur becomes determined to make sure nobody is forgotten.
The film’s humour works on several levels, with enough visual comedy for younger viewers and plenty of jokes about family expectations, technology and workplace chaos for adults and teenagers. It’s also surprisingly touching in places, particularly when it explores the difference between doing something efficiently and doing it with genuine care. For families who still enjoy the occasional animated Christmas classic, Arthur Christmas is well worth revisiting.
17. Elf (2003)
Will Ferrell’s performance as Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole, has made Elf one of the most recognisable modern Christmas comedies. When Buddy travels to New York to find his biological father, his innocent enthusiasm for everything festive creates plenty of awkward and ridiculous situations.
Teenagers who watched it when they were younger may find themselves appreciating different jokes now, particularly those involving Buddy’s interactions with cynical adults. The humour is deliberately silly, so it won’t appeal to everyone, but there’s something rather endearing about a character who refuses to lose his enthusiasm for Christmas. Sometimes revisiting an old favourite is just as enjoyable as discovering something new.
18. The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
Kurt Russell brings a slightly more adventurous interpretation of Father Christmas to The Christmas Chronicles, in which a brother and sister accidentally interfere with Santa’s Christmas Eve deliveries and must help him put things right before morning.
It’s aimed at a broad family audience, but the action, comedy and sibling relationship may still appeal to younger teenagers who aren’t quite ready to abandon more traditional festive adventures. The film also explores family loss and the importance of supporting one another, giving it a little more emotional weight than its fast-paced premise might suggest. For families with children of different ages, it can be a useful compromise between a children’s Christmas film and something more grown-up.
How to Choose Christmas Films Everyone Will Agree On
If there’s one thing parenting teenagers has taught me, it’s that having different interests doesn’t have to be a problem. In fact, it can make family activities more interesting, provided everyone gets the opportunity to have a say.
Our own Christmas film preferences are a good example. Lillie and I enjoy the romance and emotion of Last Christmas and The Holiday, while the boys have enjoyed films as different as Die Hard and Scrooged. Rather than expecting everyone to love the same type of film, it makes more sense to embrace that variety.
One simple approach is to let different family members take turns choosing what to watch. Another is to agree on a few possibilities and watch the trailers together before deciding. It can also help to think about everyone’s mood, because sometimes a funny film is exactly what you need, while on another evening a more emotional story might be more appealing.
It’s worth remembering that not every Christmas film needs to be watched by the entire family either. Some might be better suited to a mother-and-daughter evening, while others may appeal to family members who enjoy action or darker humour. The important thing is finding opportunities to spend time together without making it feel like an obligation.
Making a Christmas Movie Night Feel Special Without Spending a Fortune
One of the reasons I love the idea of a family film night is that it doesn’t require much planning or expense. At a time of year when there are already so many things competing for our attention and our money, spending an evening at home can be a welcome change.
A comfortable sofa, a few blankets and something nice to eat are often all you need. Popcorn, homemade biscuits or hot chocolate can make an ordinary evening feel a little more festive, particularly when the Christmas tree lights are on and nobody has to rush anywhere.
If you want to make more of an occasion of it, you could ask everyone to suggest a film in advance and create a small family watchlist for December. That way, nobody has to spend half the evening scrolling through streaming services trying to find something suitable.
I also think it’s important not to put too much pressure on family time. Teenagers have their own interests, friendships and commitments, and they may not always want to spend an entire evening watching films with their parents. Making these occasions relaxed and optional can help them feel enjoyable rather than like another family activity everyone is expected to attend.
Keeping Christmas Traditions Alive as Children Grow Older
Christmas looks quite different when your children are teenagers compared with when they were little, and I think that’s something many parents have to adjust to. The excitement may no longer revolve around exactly the same activities, but that doesn’t mean the traditions you’ve enjoyed together have to disappear.
Sometimes they simply need to evolve.
For us, the variety in our Christmas film choices reflects the fact that the children are growing up and developing their own tastes. I love that Lillie and I can enjoy films such as The Holiday and Last Christmas together, while the boys have introduced a completely different side to our festive viewing with Die Hard and Scrooged.
Whether your teenagers prefer romantic comedies, action films, animation or something a little unusual, there’s no shortage of Christmas films that can appeal to older children and adults alike. And even if you don’t all agree on the same favourites, finding the occasional film to enjoy together can still be a lovely part of the Christmas holidays.
What Christmas films do your teenagers enjoy watching? I’d love to hear which ones have become favourites in your family, particularly if you’ve discovered something a little different from the usual Christmas classics.