Best Christmas movies and specials on Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is a relatively new streaming service, only launching in November 2019. However, the platform has quickly gained the traction it needs to stand alongside other major streaming subscriptions, with award-winning titles among its small but carefully curated collection. Its selection of happy media is similarly limited, but subscribers will find that there are still quite a few gems in Apple TV+'s repertoire to queue up for this merry season.

The majority of its festive selection consists of its wide range of Peanuts holiday deals, as Apple TV+ has acquired exclusive streaming rights to the franchise, but there are other great movies 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 special offers has been expanded to include two additional recommendations. Click on the links below to go directly to these new arrivals.

1 A Charlie Brown Christmas

The definitive animated Christmas special that is truly timeless

Even those who haven't seen this beloved Christmas cartoon are familiar 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 air.

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 22 to 25. An Apple ID is required for limited free streaming, but even those who don't have an Apple device can create an Apple ID for free.

2 Alert

A modern musical update on a classic concept

There is no shortage of Charles Dickens A Christmas carol adaptations, but this modern entry really puts a new twist on the Christmas classic. Helmed by Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, a man with an iconic holiday film already tucked under his belt, Alert follows The Ghost of Christmas Present as he sets out to reshape the morals of Clint Briggs, a media consultant deemed “irredeemable” by the other Santas.

The exclusive Apple TV+ is a must-have for anyone who loves catchy musical numbers, new spins on old stories and a healthy dose of holiday cheer. Alert doesn't take itself too 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 is teaming up with Santa's elves to organize a Christmas concert in a bid to lift the alarmingly low Christmas spirit after the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to its knees. With help from Ariana Grande, Snoop Dogg, Misty Copeland, Jennifer Hudson, Jermaine Dupri and some friendly faces from Peanuts gallery, Mariah puts on a performance that is sure to get 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 the viewer's full attention. Those eager for more from Mariah can also check out her follow-up special, Mariah's Christmas: The Magic Continues.

4 It's Christmas again, Charlie Brown

Not as good as the original, but still charming

Almost thirty years later A Charlie Brown Christmas left its eternal mark on holiday programs, Peanuts released their second full-length Christmas special, It's Christmas again, Charlie Brown.

Unlike its predecessor, this cheerful special consists of several holiday stories revolving around the beloved cartoon characters as they immerse themselves in the fun season's festivities. From Christmas book reports to dodgy Santa impersonations to the struggle to find (and afford) the perfect present, there's nothing quite like watching Charlie Brown and his gang climb through their easygoing shenanigans with a cup of hot chocolate.

5 Charlie Brown's Christmas Carols

A short happy time

For those who just can't get enough of Charlie Brown and Snoopy during Christmas, Charlie Brown's Christmas Carols have Peanuts fanatics covered. The special features Charlie Brown and his friends indulging in holiday cheer through five festive shorts.

Inspired by the Charles M. Schulz series that brought Peanuts gang to life, each short follows one of the beloved characters as they enter the merry spirit in their individual and charmingly quirky ways. The stories range from Linus trying to send a Christmas card to a girl who casually calls herself Jezebel to Lucy struggling to make sure she gets presents to unwrap.

6 I want a dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score): 79%

Rerun gets a case of puppy fever this winter after his older siblings, Lucy and Linus, reject him one too many times. He soon realizes that adopting a dog is not as simple as asking for one in his letter to Santa Claus, as the expense and effort required to care for pets begins to weigh on him.

I want a dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown is not the most memorable of Peanutsholiday offerings, but it remains a delightful, seasonal watch for fans of the franchise. It has a good message for children, showing that some choices come with responsibilities.

7 For Auld Lang Syne

Even after all these decades, peanuts still have Christmas magic

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

With a double holiday celebration, the story follows Lucy as she tries to cheer herself up by throwing a New Year's party after the grandmother she loves doesn't show up on Christmas Day. This Lucy does in fear that her grandmother does not love her.

8 It was the fight before Christmas

Rotten tomatoes: 100%

Viewers can switch things up in their Christmas media roundup with this holiday documentary. The true story tells of 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 claimed in court as the right to organize a holiday display of biblical proportions.

What begins as a celebratory tale of a man with cheerful and ambitious ambitions soon spins into a darker (but still undeniably comical) look at nationwide divisiveness and the extremes Americans often retreat to as a result. It was the fight before Christmas is a truly odd duck of a film that delivers a unique story for the genre that is socially relevant.

9 I am Santa Claus

A documentary about real Santa Clauses

Santa may not be real, but the Christmas 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, usually mixing the concept into their jobs, presentations or lifestyles. Along with a side quest featuring Mick Foley, who is always a delight, the story revolves primarily around four elves who live quite different lives. While most of them are doing well, one elf is generally struggling to make ends meet.

I am Santa Claus is a strange one. While of course it's perfect for watching around Christmas, it's not necessarily a good documentary to throw on when the family is sitting around the TV to watch something revolving around the season. That said, it's still a solid watch that covers a pretty unique part of this time of 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 Carpool Karaoke concept and gives it a Christmas twist, with Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan all jumping on board to sing some seasonal classics. In a twist, Zane Lowe serves as the segment's host rather than James Corden.

Honestly, there isn't much to say about this special because it doesn't hold many surprises. Just to be clear, that's not a negative, because there's nothing wrong with predictability and sticking to a formula that works. All three singers are of course fantastic.