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Original painted Christmas scene, from the Cine Claus illustration set

Essential Christmas · 2011

Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!

43/100Festive FactorWhy it scores 43 ↓
Not BBFC rated85 min
Comedy · Family

The Disney Channel sitcom family set off to spend Christmas with the grandparents in the desert, and it goes…

On Disney+ · UK subscription →
Plan this film night ↓Can the kids watch? ↓
Explore this film 10 sections

The CineClaus Christmas score

Festive Factor

Christmas in good measure.

Original painted Christmas scene, from the Cine Claus illustration set

A little magic in the making.

Five ingredients make the Festive Factor.
Open an ingredient to find out more.

Christmas in the storyChristmas is the deadline.15/30

What we ask: Take Christmas out. Does the plot survive? Worth up to 30 of the 100 points.

A world dressed for ChristmasVisibly Christmas for the final act.5/20

What we ask: How much of the running time is visibly Christmas? Worth up to 20 of the 100 points.

The little seasonal details3 of the 10 kinds of Christmas icon we count turn up on screen.5/15

What we ask: How many kinds of Christmas icon turn up on screen: trees, lights, snow, carols and the rest? Worth up to 15 of the 100 points.

A Christmas heartHow far the ending rests on goodwill, family and belief: substantially.15/20

What we ask: Does the ending depend on what Christmas means: goodwill, family, redemption, belief? Worth up to 20 of the 100 points.

A returning traditionNiche at Christmas (under 25,000).3/15

What we ask: Is it actually watched at Christmas in the UK? Worth up to 15 of the 100 points.

72/100

Cosiness Rating Rating

Warm in tone. Mild threat. A happy ending.

How we score →
What do these scores mean?

Festive Factor measures how Christmassy a film is. Five ingredients add up to 100: story (30), setting (20), seasonal details (15), emotional heart (20) and returning tradition (15).

Cosiness is a separate score for warmth of tone, sense of safety, visual comfort, a reassuring ending and how easily you can settle into it.

How the Festive Factor works →
Your next film night

Where to watch

United KingdomChecked

Disney+

Included with a subscription
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Apple TV

Rent or buy
See viewing options on Apple TV (opens in a new tab)

Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! · Rental and purchase cost extra, separately from membership.

Streaming changes constantly and we cannot promise it is still right - check the service before you settle in. Streaming availability information provided by Streaming Availability API by Movie of the Night (opens in a new tab).

The story

About Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!

The family from the Disney Channel sitcom Good Luck Charlie set off to spend Christmas with the grandparents in the desert, and it goes wrong at once. A missed flight splits them in two, and both halves have to cross a good stretch of America by bus, bicycle, hitched lifts and a clapped-out little car, losing their luggage on the way, to be together by Christmas morning.

The CineClaus verdict

The Disney Channel sitcom family set off to spend Christmas with the grandparents in the desert, and it goes wrong at once: a missed flight splits them in two, and both halves have to cross half of America by bus, bike and hitched lift to be together by Christmas morning.

It is Planes, Trains and Automobiles for the under-twelves, with a paintball tournament thrown in. The comedy is hit and miss, but the ending is properly warm. Best for fans of the show.

The family desk

Can the kids watch?

Not BBFC rated

Our take: this film is not BBFC rated, but it is fine for about 7 and up: no swearing, nothing frightening, and a paintball game for the action.

Content advice & accessibility
Not BBFC rated
The BBFC has no classification for this film, so it has no UK certificate. Our age guidance above is editorial, not an official rating.
Subtitles
Check your chosen service and edition for supported tracks.
The people behind the film

Cast and crew

The faces in front of the camera, and the people who brought the story to life.

Main cast

In billing order
Close photograph of a young woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing a red lace top, looking to one side with a slight smile.Bridgit Mendleras Teddy Duncan
Close photograph of a smiling blonde woman with wavy hair and a dark blazer speaking into a microphone against a red and blue backdrop.Leigh-Allyn Bakeras Amy Duncan
Bradley Steven Perryas Gabe Duncan
Mia Talericoas Charlie Duncan
Eric Allan Krameras Bob Duncan
Jason Dolleyas PJ Duncan
Debra Monkas Petunia

Behind the camera

Directed by
Arlene Sanford
Original score
David Nessim Lawrence
Writing & production credits
Writer
Geoff Rodkey
Photo credits

Portraits via Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence, approved for this page by a person. Sources and full photographer credits:

Bridgit Mendler · Nan Palmero · Source image (opens in a new tab) · CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab).

Leigh-Allyn Baker · Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America · Source image (opens in a new tab) · CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens in a new tab).

Step into the story

Filming locations

The real places behind Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!. Choose one to explore.

Find it on the mapSalt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City

© OpenStreetMap contributors (opens in a new tab)

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2 places from Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!

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Location sources

Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City · ABC4, citing the Utah Film Commission (opens in a new tab)

St. George, Utah · ABC4, citing the Utah Film Commission (opens in a new tab)

Map pins mark the place, not a camera position or a route. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), including any pin positions read from OpenStreetMap.

A little more Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!

Film facts &
behind the scenes

For the fans who stay after the credits.

On set

A cross-country road trip shot in Utah

Although the family's journey is meant to stretch across several American states, the film was shot in Utah, in St. George and Salt Lake City, with the Gateway shopping centre and the Salt Palace Convention Center among the named sites.

Read the story
On your next watchNotice how much of the trip looks like the same sunny southwest, whichever state the family claims to be in.

Source: ABC4, citing the Utah Film Commission ↗ (opens in a new tab)

And at a glance

Releases and certificates
: First on TV (US). First shown on Disney Channel in the United States.
Sources & a note on these facts

Each production story is linked to its source, in our own words. Ending details stay behind a spoiler reveal.

Good to know

Questions about Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!

When did Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! first air?

It first aired on Disney Channel in the United States on 2 December 2011.

Who directed Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!?

Arlene Sanford directed it, from a script by Geoff Rodkey, with music by David Nessim Lawrence.

How long is Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!?

The version on Disney+ in the UK runs about 85 minutes.

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Collections, stories & Christmas memories

Elsewhere on CineClaus

More places to find Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!, and a few good reasons to keep exploring.

In this collection

Best family Christmas films

Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! is in this collection

Explore the collection
Stay for another story.All collections · The Christmas Edit