Best Christmas Movies & Specials on Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is a relatively new streaming service, having only launched in November 2019. However, the platform has quickly been gaining the traction necessary to stand alongside other major streaming subscriptions, boasting award-winning titles among its small yet carefully curated collection. Its lineup of merry media is similarly limited, but subscribers will find there are still quite a few gems in Apple TV+’s repertoire to queue up this merry season.

The majority of its festive selections consist of its vast array of Peanuts holiday specials, as Apple TV+ has acquired exclusive streaming rights to the franchise, but there are other amazing films and specials on the platform as well.

Updated on December 18, 2024 by Mark Sammut: As the holiday season is in full swing, this selection of Apple TV+ Christmas movies and specials has been expanded to include two more recommendations. Click the links below to jump directly to these new arrivals.

1 A Charlie Brown Christmas

The Definitive Animated Christmas Special That Is Truly Timeless

Even those who haven’t watched this cherished Christmas cartoon are well-acquainted with its name. More than half a century after its original release, A Charlie Brown Christmas is still considered the quintessential holiday special, and one of the most influential ever to be aired.

Viewers who adore Charlie Brown but lack access to an Apple TV+ subscription will be able to watch the animated special for free on the platform this year from December 22nd to the 25th. An Apple ID is necessary for limited free streaming but even those who don’t have an Apple device can create an Apple ID without charge.

2 Spirited

A Modern Musical Refresh On A Classic Concept

There is no shortage of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol adaptations, but this modern entry truly puts a fresh twist on the Christmas classic. Helmed by Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, a man with one iconic holiday film already tucked under his belt, Spirited follows the Ghost of Christmas Present as he sets out to reshape the morals of Clint Briggs, a media consultant considered by the other Christmas spirits to be “unredeemable”.

The Apple TV+ exclusive is a must-watch for anyone who loves catchy musical numbers, new spins on old stories, and a healthy dose of the holiday spirit. Spirited does not take itself seriously and relies heavily on the charisma of its two stars, who are more than up to the task.

3 Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special

The Perfect Magical Special For The Season

The face of modern Christmas music takes center stage in Apple TV+’s original holiday special. Mariah Carey teams up with Santa Claus’ elves to organize a Christmas concert in an effort to boost alarmingly low holiday spirits after the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to its knees. With the help of Ariana Grande, Snoop Dogg, Misty Copeland, Jennifer Hudson, Jermaine Dupri, and a few friendly faces from the Peanuts gallery, Mariah puts on a performance that’s sure to put viewers in a festive mood.

The special is a versatile treat that can be streamed to entertain adults or children, and enjoyed as background noise or watched with a viewer’s full attention. Those eager for more of Mariah can also check out her follow-up special, Mariah’s Christmas: The Magic Continues.

4 It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown

Not As Great As The Original, But Still Charming

Nearly thirty years after A Charlie Brown Christmas made its everlasting mark on holiday programming, Peanuts released its second full-length Christmas special, It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown.

Unlike its predecessor, this merry special consists of several holiday tales revolving around the beloved cartoon characters as they immerse themselves in the jolly season’s festivities. From Christmas book reports to questionable Santa impersonations to the struggle of finding (and affording) the perfect present, there’s nothing like watching Charlie Brown and his gang scramble through their lighthearted shenanigans with a cup of hot chocolate.

5 Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales

A Short Merry Time

For those who just can’t get enough of Charlie Brown and Snoopy during the festive season, Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales has Peanuts fanatics covered. The special showcases Charlie Brown and his friends engaging in holiday shenanigans through five festive shorts.

Inspired by Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip that brought the Peanuts gang to life, each short centers on one of the darling characters as they get into the jolly spirit in their individual and charmingly odd ways. The stories range from Linus’ attempts to send a Christmas card to a girl who temporarily names herself Jezebel to Lucy struggling to ensure that she receives gifts to unwrap.

6 I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score): 79%

Rerun catches a case of puppy fever this winter after his older siblings, Lucy and Linus, spurn him one too many times. He soon realizes that adopting a dog isn’t as simple as asking for one in his letter to Santa Claus, as the realities of the costs and effort required for pet care begin to weigh on him.

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown isn’t the most memorable of Peanuts’ holiday specials, but it remains an endearing, seasonal watch for the franchise’s fans. It has a good message for kids, showing that certain choices come with responsibilities.

7 For Auld Lang Syne

Even After All These Decades, Peanuts Still Has That Christmas Magic

Unlike the rest of the Peanuts holiday specials, Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne is a recent addition to the lineup, the first in almost twenty years. In a similar yet distinctive new animation style, the modern Peanuts special shines the spotlight on Lucy.

Featuring a dual holiday celebration, the story follows Lucy as she tries to cheer herself up by throwing a New Year’s Eve party after the grandmother that she adores doesn’t show up on Christmas Day. This leaves Lucy in fear that her grandmother doesn’t love her.

8 ‘Twas The Fight Before Christmas

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

Viewers can switch things up in their Christmas media binge with this holiday documentary. The true tale recounts an Idaho man’s battle against his neighborhood’s Homeowners’ Association over what he believes is the meaning and celebration of Christmas but what was argued in court as the right to organize a holiday display of biblical proportions.

What starts as a festive story of a man with merry and ambitious aspirations soon spins into a darker (yet still undeniably comical) look at nationwide division and the extremes Americans often find themselves retreating to as a result. ‘Twas The Fight Before Christmas is a real odd duck of a movie that delivers a unique story for the genre that is socially relevant.

9 I Am Santa Claus

A Documentary About Real-Life Santa Clauses

Santa Claus might not be real, but the Holiday season is filled with people trying to keep that magic alive for children. I Am Santa Claus follows four people who have made the Jolly Myth a big part of their lives, typically blending the concept into their jobs, presentations, or lifestyles. Along with a side quest featuring Mick Foley, who is always a delight, the story primarily revolves around four Santas who lead pretty different lives. While most of them are doing fine, one Santa is generally struggling to make ends meet.

I Am Santa Claus is a weird one. While naturally perfect for watching around Christmas, it is not necessarily a great documentary to throw on when the family is sitting around the TV to watch something revolving around the season. That said, it is still a solid watch that covers a pretty unique element of this time of the year.

10 A Carpool Karaoke Christmas

Three Stars Enjoy A Christmas-Themed Karaoke Session

An unexpected special, A Carpool Karaoke Christmas delivers exactly what its title advertises. The episode takes the Carpool Karaoke concept and gives it a Christmas twist, with Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, and Chappell Roan all jumping on to sing a few seasonal classics. In a twist, Zane Lowe serves as the segment’s host rather than James Corden.

Honestly, there is not too much to say about this special since it does not hold many surprises. Just to be clear, that is not a negative, as there is nothing wrong with predictability and sticking to a formula that works. All three singers are, naturally, fantastic.