Happy holidays, everyone! It’s December 24, and an evening of delicious food, good company and great entertainment awaits us! If you’re thinking about enjoying some TV as you wait for the arrival of Christmas Day, then check out our list of the top 5 best Christmas TV specials to watch tonight.
Also, check out our list of 12 great Christmas movies which you can enjoy with the entire family!
Best Christmas TV special #5: Mickey’s Once upon a Christmas (1999), Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed at the House of Mouse (2001) and Mickey’s Twice upon a Christmas (2004)
What better than enjoying Christmas Eve with all of your favorite Disney characters? These three feature-length Christmas specials feature some of the greatest Christmas stories and cartoons of all times, such as Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Donald Duck stuck on Christmas and Mickey’s Dog-Gone Christmas.
If you’re looking for something that family members of all ages can appreciate, then one –or all!- of these TV specials will be perfect for you.
Best Christmas TV special #4: Frosty the Snowman (1969)
Based on the homonymous song made famous by Gene Autry and The Cass County Boys in 1950, Frosty the Snowman is a beloved animated Christmas TV special which tells the story of this popular holiday character.
Although several sequels and remakes have followed it, there’s nothing like the original to lift your holiday spirit during this Christmas!
Best Christmas TV special #3: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch stole Christmas! (1966)
Before Jim Carrey and Ron Howard teamed up for the 2000 version of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale, a popular animated short narrated and starred by the legendary Boris Karloff became a staple of the holiday season.
Nowadays, this classic Christmas TV special is aired yearly during the holiday season, and it’s considered one of the greatest animated Christmas stories of all times.
Best Christmas TV special #2: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) and Santa Claus is coming to Town (1970)
Created by Rankin/Bass, the artists behind Frosty the Snowman, these two classic TV specials are also based on homonymous Christmas songs, and have inspired many more after its release. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer follows the adventures of this popular Christmas character, while Santa Claus is coming to Town tells the story of Santa Claus’ origins.
With the talented voices of legendary actors and singers like Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney and Burl Ives; these animated specials are perfect for enjoying with the entire family.
Best Christmas TV special #1: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Perhaps the best known animated Christmas TV special of all times, and winner of both an Emmy and a Peabody Award, A Charlie Brown Christmas features all the beloved characters from Peanuts, and focuses on Charlie Brown’s quest for a better understanding of the meaning behind the holidays.
Although this TV feature has some deeply Christian elements that might seem alienating, the simplicity and innocence of the story, and the brilliant animation, will win over everyone’s hearts.
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