As the 2025 holiday season approaches, families are gearing up for a cozy blend of laughter, adventure, and festive sparkle. This year’s lineup of new kids’ Christmas movies and specials is brighter than ever, with streaming giants like Disney+ and Prime Video leading the charge. The focus? Safe, all-ages entertainment — brimming with G- and PG-rated films designed for co-viewing between kids and nostalgic parents alike.
Packed with sequels, reboots, and creative twists on beloved classics, the 2025 holiday slate offers something for every young viewer. From chaotic elf missions to musical family road trips, here’s your ultimate guide to the most anticipated children’s Christmas movies and specials arriving between November and Christmas Eve.
Disney+ Leads This Year’s Family Favorites
This year, Disney+ takes center stage, rolling out a trio of festive originals that mix nostalgia, comedy, and pure Christmas charm. The studio’s strategy is clear: capture every family moment from mid-November through the big day with an irresistible blend of animation and live-action magic.
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie (November 14)
Disney+ kicks off the season with a musical comedy adventure starring the Jonas Brothers — Kevin, Joe, and Nick — as larger-than-life versions of themselves. The story follows their chaotic race from London to New York City to make it home for Christmas, filled with travel disasters, celebrity cameos, and original music numbers.
Guest stars Billie Lourd, Laverne Cox, KJ Apa, and Andrea Martin bring extra sparkle, while Jesse Tyler Ferguson hilariously dons the red suit as Santa. Rated PG and running a family-friendly 90 minutes, it’s a perfect holiday kickoff for tweens and nostalgic parents alike.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: The Last Straw (December 5)
The animated Diary of a Wimpy Kid series returns just in time for the holidays with its funniest and most heartfelt chapter yet. Greg Heffley faces a new challenge: surviving his dad Frank’s holiday plan to “toughen him up” through winter sports and “manly” bonding. When Greg fails to measure up, military school looms — unless he can redeem himself before Christmas.
Rated G and packed with relatable family humor, this colorful entry is tailor-made for kids aged 6–12. With its mix of awkward laughs and genuine warmth, it’s a guaranteed repeat watch for young fans of Jeff Kinney’s beloved books.
Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol (December 23)
After a 14-year hiatus, Disney’s elite elf duo Wayne and Lanny are back! In this all-new 30-minute animated special, a mishap during a Christmas Eve mission leaves Wayne scrambling to stay off Santa’s naughty list. Meanwhile, Command Center tech whiz Magee introduces her mischievous pet seal pup, Nog — whose antics unleash a blizzard of hilarious chaos.
Geared toward kids aged 4–10, The Snowball Protocol blends slapstick humor with heartfelt lessons about teamwork and redemption. Its release two days before Christmas ensures it becomes a new family-night staple for years to come.
Prime Video’s Big Holiday Swing: Winnie-the-Pooh Returns
Amazon is countering Disney’s festive dominance with a bold and beautiful reimagining of a childhood classic.
A Hundred Acre Christmas (December 24)
Produced by Kartoon Studios, this G-rated animated special brings Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and the rest of the Hundred Acre Wood gang back for a heartwarming Christmas Eve adventure. Rendered in a cozy, yarn-textured animation style, the story celebrates friendship, kindness, and the simple magic of nature during the holidays.
The film also marks a historic shift — as Winnie-the-Pooh enters the public domain, Prime Video’s take steps out from Disney’s shadow to create its own charming, handcrafted world. Running 45 minutes, it’s the perfect bedtime watch on Christmas Eve — a gentle, feel-good alternative to the usual sugar rush of holiday fare.
Hallmark’s Family Road-Trip Adventure
While Hallmark is scaling back its massive movie output this year, it’s still delivering one true family standout amid its romantic-heavy lineup.
A Keller Christmas Vacation (November 9)
Set aboard a festive European river cruise, this live-action Hallmark original follows the Keller family — played by Jonathan Bennett, Brandon Routh, and Eden Sher — as they rediscover the joy of togetherness while sailing through Christmas markets from Germany to France. Along the way, sibling squabbles, career dilemmas, and yuletide surprises test their holiday spirit.
Rated PG and clocking in at 84 minutes, the film balances light comedy with heartfelt lessons. It’s a warm, family-centered escape perfect for kids aged 8+ and a gentle alternative to Hallmark’s usual romance formula.
Beyond the Core Slate: More Family Fun This Holiday
The Christmas lineup may be packed, but several major family releases round out the season:
- Zootopia 2 (Theatrical, November 26): Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde chase a new criminal conspiracy through the bustling metropolis — not Christmas-themed, but a surefire box-office draw for families.
- David (Theatrical, December 19): A faith-friendly animated retelling of the biblical story of David, offering inspiration and visual wonder for family audiences.
- Flåklypa – From Paris to the Pyramids (International, December 25): The latest from Norway’s beloved stop-motion franchise brings whimsical rally racing fun with its lovable inventor-animal trio.
- In Your Dreams (Streaming, Holiday Window): A PG-rated adventure about siblings entering a shared dreamworld to fix their fractured family — packed with holiday heart.
The 2025 holiday season marks a turning point for kids’ entertainment: streamers are favoring quality over quantity, leaning on proven properties and creative comfort food to win over families. Disney+ reigns supreme with its triple lineup of nostalgia and laughter, while Prime Video’s A Hundred Acre Christmas offers a fresh, cozy counterpoint.