A Charlie Brown Christmas

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!

1965 • 25 min • Animation · Family · Comedy · TV Movie

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Synopsis

When Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees amongst everyone during the Christmas season, Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown accepts, but it is a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, he needs Linus' help to learn the meaning of Christmas.

Our family guide

Best from age 3

Movie Knight Score

796 reviews

100 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
77 Audience · 794 · 49%

Charlie Brown feels down about the commercialism of Christmas. He tries to direct a school play and finds a sad little tree, feeling frustrated until Linus helps him discover the true meaning of the holiday season.

Violence & peril: 0/10
Language: 0/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 0/10
Romance & sensuality: 0/10
Scary moments: 0/10

Heads up

Very mild childhood angst and frustration

What it models well

The true meaning of Christmas
Friendship and support
Finding joy in simplicity

Talk about it after

Why Charlie Brown feels sad at Christmas
The importance of kindness
What Christmas means to our family

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for A Charlie Brown Christmas. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

Where to watch

Country

Stream

Apple TV
Apple TV Amazon Channel

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Top billed cast

Director: Bill Melendez • Crew: Charles M. Schulz

Trailers & clips

A Charlie Brown Christmas (Original 1965 Promo) (HQ Recreation Remaster)

Charlie’s Christmas Tree

A Charlie Brown Christmas - Trailer

CBS A Charlie Brown Christmas 1965 TV promo

A Charlie Brown Christmas Trailer

A Charlie Brown Christmas - Opening

Reviewer notes

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
This is about the real meaning of Christmas...and the few haters of it are the pretentious that really don't like Christmas movies and are prejudiced against religion. If you get beyond that, it's a heart-warming story with a lot of little sub stories to keep kids and adults with ADHD focused on the screen. Really though, it's something to be cherished, respected, and loved.
GenerationofSwine, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
Another one of those classic old children’s Christmas shows I first watched who knows when, but probably when it first came out, and have seen a couple dozen more times since then. When dealing with a show I loved as a kid, I refuse to try to separate the adult viewer and rate it more harshly. The memory and the childish feelings I had for it are wrapped up in its value for me. For example, I am an atheist, so...
narrator56, TMDB Community