Classic Christmas specials ranked from worst to best

As Christmas Eve approaches, so do the Christmas specials that color our TVs in preparation for the arrival of Santa Claus. Not quite full movies, but not TV episodes either, they are standalones that only air once every year. Nevertheless, they are the perfect length to get you excited to wake up Christmas day and open your presents sitting under the tree. 

Picture this: A relaxing chorus of Christmastime Is Here might flow out of your TV speakers and lull you to sleep on your living room couch after a hearty Christmas Eve feast. Or perhaps the bouncy, addicting tune of Frosty The Snowman keeps you awake and singing along as the living snowman tromps down snow covered streets.

But here’s the real dilemma: Which ones do you incorporate into your Christmas Eve night rituals, and which ones should you avoid altogether? How do you separate the shockingly good from the painfully commercial? 

Never fear: I have taken it upon myself to watch and rank ten of the most popular classic Christmas specials that I could find from worst to best. All of them were made before 1980, and all are under one hour in runtime—perfect for sleepy young children eagerly awaiting Santa’s arrival.

10. The Little Drummer Boy (1968)

As religion-focused Christmas specials go,  The Little Drummer Boy isn’t the best. It’s not irredeemable, but it’s definitely a story that has been told before: That is, a retelling of the birth of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t help that the story line is incredibly boring and hard to follow. The stop motion animation is also very 1968, with aborted movements similar to that of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. However, it’s hard for this special to be charming like Rudolph is. The whole thing is a poor attempt at making the figures look human, rather than the cute, obviously-felt reindeer dolls that Rudolph uses. What saves it a little is the soundtrack, which, all things considered, isn’t too bad. The classic Little Drummer Boy song plays in a climactic scene at the end of the special, something that may bring nostalgia for older viewers fully immersed in classic Christmas music. 

9. Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977)

This special is, in essence, a religious take on the classic tale of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Instead of a reindeer with a glowing red nose, however, the main character is a donkey with too-long ears that he frequently trips on. This earns him ridicule from his fellow donkey friends and the man who owns him, leading him to believe that he will ever amount to anything in life. Unlike Rudolph, however, this special is surprisingly dark—from Nestor’s mother dying in a snowstorm to his fellow donkeys being sold as slaves. While it does have a happy ending that involves Nestor’s ears serving as a guide through a sandstorm for Mary and Joseph (as opposed to Rudolph guiding Santa through a snowstorm), the plot line is altogether pretty weak. You’re better off just watching the original Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer that was made thirteen years earlier.

8. ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas (1974)

The animation in this special is surprisingly well done both for the time and the fact that it is a Christmas special with budget constraints. I went into this one unsure of what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised by the heartwarming family stories of the mice and the humans. The special is also based on the classic Christmas poem A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore, which adds a nostalgic flair to the plot as the familiar verses play throughout. However, the soundtrack is very bland. The original songs are just generic enough that the viewer will probably not remember to hum them to themselves afterwards, which is supposed to be the part of the fun of classic Christmas specials and the songs that come with them. 

7. Jack Frost (1979)

This special about the classic character of Jack Frost has something that many others seem to lack: Humor. Maybe it’s just the obvious dated jokes, but I found myself giggling more times than I usually would throughout this 48 minute special. Kubla Kraus, the villain of the story, is absolutely hilarious on all fronts. His odd serenades about wanting to marry Elisa are bound to make the viewer laugh—even if we’re not even supposed to like the guy. Overall, though, this special is not very Christmas-y. There’s some references to Christmas occurring within the world and Jack Frost giving the people of January Junction a “white Christmas”, but the special focuses more on the weather aspect of this rather than the Christmas part. That being said, if you’re sick and tired of every single Christmas special having Santa Claus, a decorated tree, reindeer, and presents make an appearance, then this one is definitely for you. 

6. The Year Without Santa Claus (1974)

The Year Without Santa Claus is probably most famous for spawning the Snow Miser vs. Heat Miser makeup trend on TikTok a few years back. I don’t blame anyone for this, though—the song is very catchy and by far the biggest highlight of the special. The plot is pretty unique too, as it follows a sick Santa Claus giving up on Christmas when he is made to believe that no one cares about it anymore. It’s definitely unlike any other Christmas special you’ll watch, even if its far from the best of the bunch. However, if you’re looking for something a little more offbeat and underrated to watch this Christmas, then this is the first special I’d recommend.

5. Frosty The Snowman (1969)

As 2-D animated Christmas specials go, Frosty The Snowman is, sadly, one of the weakest. Sure, the cartoonish animation is easy for young kids to process, but it is nothing compared to the likes of Charlie Brown or The Grinch. Despite its artstyle flaws, however, the story is incredibly sweet—it’s little kids finding joy in becoming friends with a magical talking snowman. What’s not to love? Not only this, but the addicting tune of the Frosty the Snowman song is bound to become an earworm that lasts all the way until Christmas morning. You might even shed a few tears near the end of the story, when Frosty’s life is on the line—so if you’re looking for an emotional end to Christmas Eve, this is definitely the first special to look to.

4. Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town (1970)

As stop-motion Christmas specials go, this is probably one of the weirdest I’ve watched. It charts Santa’s “origin story” and how Christmas came to be, using strange scenarios such as a baby Santa getting adopted into a family of elves called the “Kringles” and a plot in which Santa attempts to defeat a dictator in order to bring toys to children. In spite of its oddities, however, this special is very entertaining. From its touches of weird humor from the 1970s, addicting musical numbers, and off-putting stop-motion animation traditional for old Rankin and Bass Christmas specials, this one is sure to add a unique flare to your Christmas Eve night if you desire it to.

3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

When I was a child, this 1964 stop-motion classic narrated by Burl Ives was always shown on my TV screen around Christmastime. There is something very charming about the aborted movements of the handmade dolls and felt reindeer as they peruse the snow-covered North Pole. Despite being a simple story about a reindeer with a glowing nose that does not fit in, it carries a rather poignant message about being a “misfit” and how, often, it is our differences that make us most useful in society. The special also has a selection of original songs that are short, catchy, and have that particular audio quality only Christmas songs pre-autotune can ever have. It’s bound to be a cozy watch for the holiday season, as its coated in 1960s Christmas nostalgia and a sweet core message that is easy for children to comprehend.

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

Though it started out as a classic Dr. Seuss book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas quickly managed to cement itself as one of the greatest animated Christmas specials of all time. Hand-drawn animation reigns as one of the most beautiful mediums for Christmas specials, and this one is no exception. The ways in which the expressive Grinch is animated are comical, extraordinarily detailed, and very satisfying to watch. However, it’s not just the animation that shines in this special—the story line is funny, too. Nonsensical rhyming poems that have Dr. Seuss’s name written all over them are voiced over the Grinch’s antics as he attempts to “steal Christmas” for the Whos. It’s entertaining, and teaches the audience, and the Grinch himself, a beautiful lesson—that Christmas is not about what money can buy, but the people you share it with. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is sure to bring laughter and smiles to the whole family this holiday season.

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

A Charlie Brown Christmas is not only gorgeous to watch with its hand-drawn animations and familiar piano soundtrack, but also portrays a message that few other Christmas specials are truly able to: That is, what Christmas is all about. Throughout the 25 minute special, Charlie Brown searches for a deeper meaning in the Christmas season that goes beyond mere commercial value—a sentiment that is surprisingly familiar even sixty years after the special aired. The interactions between Charlie Brown and friends are comical, yet still easy to comprehend despite their rather adult situation. In addition to this, the iconic “Charlie Brown Christmas tree” is sure to bring a smile to viewers’ faces no matter how old they are—so it’s no wonder the phrase comes to mind sixty years later whenever we see a feeble little Christmas tree in the lot, begging to be taken home and decorated. A Charlie Brown Christmas is, on all fronts, the Christmas special to end all Christmas specials. From animation with clear love put into it, to forever iconic pop culture references, to a unique message about what Christmas means to all of us.