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Best family Christmas films

The ones that work with everyone in the room — small children, teenagers who are pretending not to enjoy it, and whoever falls asleep by nine. Scored on how festive they actually are, with a straight answer on whether the kids can watch.

  1. Original illustration for The Muppet Christmas CarolFestive Factor: 96The Muppet Christmas Carol1992

    The Dickens adaptation that respects the text most, which is not the joke it sounds like.

  2. Original illustration for Arthur ChristmasFestive Factor: 95Arthur Christmas2011

    The best-argued Santa logistics ever put on screen, and genuinely funny with it.

  3. Original illustration for ElfFestive Factor: 90Elf2003

    Sincere without being sickly, which is much harder than it looks.

  4. Original illustration for The Polar ExpressFestive Factor: 87The Polar Express2004

    Divisive on looks, unarguable on atmosphere. Best on the biggest screen you have.

  5. Original illustration for Home AloneFestive Factor: 88Home Alone1990

    The one that holds a mixed room. Loud enough for the children, mean enough for the adults.

  6. Original illustration for Nativity!Festive Factor: 87Nativity!2009

    Chaotic in the way a real school nativity is chaotic. Recognition is most of the pleasure.

  7. Original illustration for Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!Festive Factor: 82Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!2012

    Broader than the first and it knows it. Fine if the first one went down well; not the one to start with.

  8. Original illustration for It's a Wonderful LifeFestive Factor: 72It's a Wonderful Life1946

    A grown-ups' film that children can watch rather than a children's film. Slow to start, and worth it.

  9. Original illustration for The SnowmanFestive Factor: 66The Snowman1982

    Twenty-six minutes, no dialogue, and it will still get someone. Know that going in.

Every film here has been watched and scored on the same two numbers, and every one carries a line about what the youngest person in the room is in for. That is the whole point: "family film" is doing a lot of work in most lists, and it usually means nobody has checked.

They are ordered by Festive Factor, so the top of the list is the most Christmassy rather than the most acclaimed. If you want the one that will hold a mixed room for ninety minutes, start there and work down.