Best Christmas TV Variety 2018

The best Christmas TV shows are a great time for family time. There are multiple opportunities to get together, share, and talk about family values and learn some valuable life lessons while watching them.  There are many options to choose from: Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas, ABC, NBC, Disney Channel, Hallmark channel’s Countdown to Christmas, AMC, Lifetime & even Netflix has stunning Christmas original programming!  With so many options, where do you start?  Which are age-appropriate?  Moreover, Common Sense Media does a great review that includes their recommendations for age-appropriate viewing.  Therefore, I’ve included those links for many of the best Christmas TV shows and movies below.  Here’s my guide!       

 

Netflix

The Christmas Chronicles

I’m going to start by telling you our first watched Christmas TV show for 2018.  I happened to see Netflix had a new Christmas show called The Christmas Chronicles starring a very entertaining Kurt Russel as Santa Claus.  I figured we’d take a chance with something new.   Plus it was an older brother & younger sister story.  Frankly, this was right up our alley as that is exactly our household sibling dynamic.  We LOVED it!  Why?  For instance, Santa rocks in the jailhouse while he has the brother-sister duo help save the very Christmas that they accidentally set on a course to be the Christmas that might not happen!  These siblings helping Santa while coming to some personal revelations about growing up & making us laugh along the way. 

Angela’s Christmas

Then, there’s Angela’s Christmas.  It’s a tear-jerker about the family, loss, poverty & the chaos created when a little girl tries to warm the Baby Jesus, taking it from the church.  She had good intentions, but things go awry.  Above all, her family is there to help and support her.  My little girl really loved this one.  That is to say, she connected with special little Angela’s her big heart and fierce determined personality.  

 

Other Netflix Christmas TV Originals

Likewise, some other entertaining Netflix originals include The Princess Switch and A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding.  

 

Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas

Above all, Freeform has the best Christmas TV show schedule that is includes Christmas movies too!  I really like that there is a great variety of non-Christmas shows & movies.  They are shown on the Freeform Channel, ABC & the Disney Channel.  What programming do they offer?  Here’s a sampling of some of our family’s favorites!  On December 11, 2018, they are showing Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas, Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas, & Disney’s A Christmas Carol.  On December 12, 2018, there are some repeats & a few different options such as Call Me Claus, Deck the Halls & The Santa Clause.  To sum it up, their schedule is great with a lot of variety aside from the Holidays, such as Disney’s Finding Nemo, Brave & Tangled.  The whole family has an opportunity to pick a couple of favorites.  

 

ABC

ABC has their Christmas TV show schedule that includes some very special kid shows that are great to re-watch.  Here’s a sampling are some of my family’s favorites!  On December 19, 2018, the Disney geek in me is happy to see Olaf’s Frozen Adventure!  There will also be Dreamworks’ Shrek the Halls.  On December 20, 2018 there will be the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas.  On December 23, 2018, they will air Disney’s Prep & Landing and Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice.  To sum it up, I  can’t resist those two elves.  One is funny & anxiety ridden & the other a bit of a daredevil in my opinion!                                                                          

NBC

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is another absolute best Christmas TV show that NBC is scheduled to air on Christmas Day! To be honest, we own the cartoon original & the movie.  As a child, I was scared of the Grinch.  Then, my son came along.  As a result, I love the Grinch now.  Therefore, we plan to go see The Grinch movie soon too!  On December 24, 2018, NBC will also air It’s a Wonderful Life.  This is the best Christmas show in Black & White.  And it never gets old!  It teaches so much about life, love, struggle, self-worth, self belief, community & that one person really makes a HUGE difference in so many unknown ways.  I grew up watching this one.  

 

Tampa Theatre

Ultimately, this year we’re going to watch It’s a Wonderful Life at the Tampa Theatre with showtimes are from Friday, December 14th through Thursday December 20th.  The Tampa Theatre is a wonderful experience is known as Tampa’s Non-Profit Movie Palace & a National Historical Landmark.  My kids haven’t been there yet, so this will be an extra special magical treat.   

 

AMC

This year, AMC has achieved a great trifecta!  They are exclusively showing Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, & The Polar Express.  My family favorite filled with the magical ride to the North Pole is definitely The Polar Express.  Elf is one of the best Christmas TV movie comedies that makes me laugh and laugh!  AMC has a Christmas movie lineup of over 40 movies sure to satisfy the Christmas movie fan!                                                                                                                                                    

Hallmark & Lifetime Original Movies

Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas lineup does not disappoint either!  They have a Christmas movie lineup of 22 new original movies!  Lifetime’s Christmas movie lineup has 14 new original movies!   While I wouldn’t call these the best Christmas TV shows, I would say they have some ice entertainment value.  In addition, they are family-friendly which is a plus!

 

The Original Christmas Specials

Three of the best Christmas TV shows are Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (on Freeform Christmas lineup) & Frosty the Snowman.  A classic, Rudolph is the longest-running holiday special in TV history, broadcasting for 54 years!  I loved these every year since I was a little girl.  It was always special because I didn’t get a chance to spend much time with my dad since he worked nights.  Christmas movies with my dad will never be forgotten!  They give my inner child a special warmth and lifetime memories.      

FX

Rise of the Guardians is another one of the best Christmas TV movies.  However, it seems the FX channel is the only one playing it.  Magic is in the air when Jack Frost, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman and Santa Claus need to save the world from Pitch Black, the Boogeyman, who is the nightmare maker.  Will the children still believe?  There are scary parts for the little ones.  Consider this before allowing children to watch.  However, at the core of the movie is Jack’s search for his center  Santa’s is his sense of wonder.  While watch, it made each of us think, ‘What’s my center?’

Family Time

In conclusion, what matters most about Christmas TV shows & movies is not just their content or quality.  Most importantly, too much TV is not a good thing.  Certainly, a few good shows are all it takes to have some memories & some good times.  Family time is the best part!  We have movie nights with popcorn, blankets, and all lights off, except for the Christmas tree. How do you create Christmas TV & movie memories?  Do you still believe?  While you’re at it … What’s your center?  Please share it with yourself, your loved ones, and here as well.