You've probably done a lot of television watching this year. For many of us, binge watching on Netflix has been the one thing keeping us entertained. If you're in this group, the holiday season is something to look forward to. Suddenly, our watching schedule has a purpose.
From a mom's perspective, I'm especially excited about watching holiday specials this year. That's because my daughter is finally old enough to understand, and possibly even enjoy, some of the classics. When holiday specials air on television, it's the perfect reminder that Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah are on their way.
Great classic films and specials can also bring a sense of peace, which so many of us need right now. There's something comforting about watching certain specials. Oftentimes, they can remind us of holidays past. Or they can serve as their own tradition. The movies we share with our kids will always hold a special place in their hearts.
The other good thing about specials? They're fairly short. Since time is often limited, it's good to be able to watch something shorter to feel festive. And if your children are like mine, it's also great for small attention spans. For example, while I'd love for my daughter to watch Elf, I doubt she'll get past Will Ferrell's initial voyage to New York City.
Here are eight great family specials to help you get started.
'Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas'
It's not Christmas without the Muppets. While you might have A Muppet Christmas Carol on your movie rotation list, Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas is a holiday special that you and your family can both enjoy. And much like Sesame Street of today, it's also subtly funny for parents. One of the stars of the special is Elmo's dad, who tells a great story to his son about how Sesame Street used to look back in the day. Turns out, Sesame Street needed the Christmas spirit to be the magical place it is today.
'How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'
No, not the Jim Carrey version — or the other version. I'm talking about the original animated short that made us all familiar with the Grinch and crave the leftover roast beast sandwiches that the Whos in Whoville likely made for lunch after the duration of the film.
It originally aired on CBS back in 1966 and is still often aired during the holiday season. In case you're unfamiliar, the plot is in the title. However, the Grinch ends up learning a valuable lesson at the end. Christmas isn't about the gifts — it's about spending time together and making memories.
'A Garfield Christmas Special'
A Garfield Christmas Special is my personal favorite. It starts out with a dream Garfield has of being gifted the best machine ever after a hearty portion of breakfast lasagna. It's a machine that gives you everything you could ever think up. As a kid, this was always fun to watch. Especially since by the end of the special, Garfield realizes he has everything he could ever want.
Being able to meet some of Jon's family members made this special even better than the comic strips. (Even though, to be fair, Garfield's television show was much more amusing. No offense, Jim Davis.)
The Garfield & Friends YouTube account was kind enough to upload the full film for free.
'Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too'
This sweet film stars all of our favorites from the Hundred Acre Wood. At the start of it, the gang writes to Santa just days before Christmas, making sure to include everything they want. Everyone's gift seems practical. Piglet, for example, humbly tells Santa he can bring him anything he wants to.
After Pooh realizes the letter gets sent without his own wish (a pot of honey, naturally), they intercept the letter before it reaches the big guy in red. But they suddenly get greedy and ask for more valuable gifts. Pooh knows that in order to reach Santa in time, the letter will need to be hand-delivered.
'A Charlie Brown Christmas'
Is A Charlie Brown Christmas a bit of a downer in comparison to the others listed so far? Well, maybe. But it's a classic movie for a reason. It's the second-longest-running Christmas special, and it's one of the only specials that really dives into the true meaning of Christmas. It also won the Emmy in the category of Outstanding Children's Program back in 1966.
Of course, one of the biggest moments comes from Linus — and that's one of the parts that Charles Schulz was the most passionate about. Reportedly, executives wanted to cut it out, until Charles said, "If we don't do it, who will?"
'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'
Curious about the No. 1 spot for televised holiday specials? It's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which first aired back in 1964. The beloved stop-motion special focuses on everyone's favorite reindeer. It also introduced the world to Sam the Snowman, the trusty narrator of the film. While film production has gotten much better since the special first aired, it's still heartwarming to see Rudolph in his original form. This special is often part of Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas.
'Olive, the Other Reindeer'
Olive, the Other Reindeer, for some reason, isn't in rotation as often as some of the movies above. But it's a nice film that also has a tie-in to The Simpsons and Futurama. And that's because it was produced by The Curiosity Company, which is owned by Matt Groening. Another tie-in? Not only does Drew Barrymore voice the main character of Olive, but she's also an executive producer. (And since she has a daughter named Olive, it's possible this special was extremely important to her.)
It's worth seeking out and watching, especially if your family is fond of dogs. After all, Olive isn't actually a reindeer — she's a Jack Russell terrier.
'Toy Story That Time Forgot'
If you think about it, much of the Toy Story franchise focuses on the holidays. Aside from Andy's birthday, that's when the family got new toys (and their dog). But Toy Story That Time Forgot is a special that can definitely be lumped into the Christmas category. And much like the rest of the films and shorts, it still holds up.
This short was released after Toy Story 3, so the toys are at Bonnie's house. The focus is primarily on Trixie the dinosaur. Originally, this was conceived to be just a six-minute short. However, the Toy Story team felt like it had more going for it and turned it into a holiday special. It might sound crazy, but it reportedly took three years to create — and most of that was in story development.
