Movies Like Santa Claus: The Movie

If you liked Santa Claus: The Movie (1985), a family and fantasy movie directed by Jeannot Szwarc, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
Dashing Through the Snow (2023)
★ 6.1/10Also fantasy and family
Eddie Garrick is a good-hearted man who has lost his belief in the wonder of Christmas. While spending time with his nine-year-old daughter Charlotte on Christmas Eve, he befriends a mysterious man in a red suit named…
2
Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups (2012)
★ 6.1/10Also family and fantasy
When Mrs. Claus travels to Pineville, the merriest place on the planet, a quartet of magical puppies stow away on her sled, granting joyful wishes to the town's boys and girls. However, something goes terribly wrong…
3
A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
★ 7.3/10Also family and adventure
An ordinary young boy called Nikolas sets out on an extraordinary adventure into the snowy north in search of his father who is on a quest to discover the fabled village of the elves, Elfhelm. Taking with him a…
4
The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two (2020)
★ 6.5/10Also family and fantasy
Kate Pierce is reluctantly spending Christmas with her mom’s new boyfriend and his son Jack. But when the North Pole and Christmas are threatened to be destroyed, Kate and Jack are unexpectedly pulled into a new…
5
The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
★ 6/10Also fantasy and family
Better watch out! The big guy in red is coming to town once again. This time, Scott Calvin -- also known as Santa Claus -- finds out there's an obscure clause in his contract requiring him to take on a wife. He has to…
6
The Search for Santa Paws (2010)
★ 6.3/10Also family and adventure
When Santa and his new best friend, Paws, discover that the boys and girls of the world have lost the spirit of the season, they take a trip to New York City. But after Santa loses his memory, it's up to Paws, a…
7
The Boss Baby: Christmas Bonus (2022)
★ 6.7/10Also family and adventure
Christmas Eve takes a twisty turn when the Boss Baby accidentally swaps places with one of Santa's elves and gets stranded at the North Pole.
8
The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
★ 7.2/10Also family and fantasy
Feeling forgotten by the children of the world, old St. Nick decides to skip his gift-giving journey and take a vacation. Mrs. Claus and two spunky little elves, Jingle and Jangle, set out to see to where all the…
9
Help for the Holidays (2012)
★ 6.1/10Also family and fantasy
Although she loves Christmas, Santa’s elf Christine (Summer Glau) wonders if there could be more to life than making toys in the North Pole. When Santa receives an emergency wish from a little boy in Los Angeles, he…
10
Elf (2003)
★ 6.7/10Also family and fantasy
When young Buddy falls into Santa's gift sack on Christmas Eve, he's transported back to the North Pole and raised as a toy-making elf by Santa's helpers. But as he grows into adulthood, he can't shake the nagging…
11
Annie Claus Is Coming to Town (2011)
★ 6.3/10Also family and fantasy
This year, Santa’s daughter takes her first trip away from the North Pole during the Christmas season hoping to find adventure and love in sunny California. While Santa watches his daughter through a magic snow globe…
12
Northpole (2014)
★ 6/10Also fantasy and family
Northpole, the magical city where Santa and his elves live and work is in trouble. Families around the globe have gotten too busy to enjoy the season together, and Northpole depends on their holiday happiness to keep…
13
Marvel Super Hero Adventures: Frost Fight! (2015)
★ 6/10Also fantasy and family
The holiday season gets extra chilly as Loki and the frost giant Ymir plot to conquer the world. Marvel heroes Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor and others must stop the villains from stealing Santa's power – if…
14
Beethoven's Christmas Adventure (2011)
★ 6/10Also family and fantasy
A Christmas elf accidentally takes off in Santa's sleigh, crash lands in a small town, and loses the magic toy bag. Beethoven must rescue the elf, recover the bag from greedy crooks, and return the sleigh to Santa in…
15
Candy Cane Lane (2023)
★ 6/10Also fantasy and family
Determined to win the neighborhood's annual Christmas decorating contest, family man Chris makes a pact with an elf to help him out-do the competition. However, the elf casts a spell bringing the twelve days of…
16
Noelle (2019)
★ 6.6/10Also family and fantasy
Kris Kringle's daughter, Noelle, sets off on a mission to find and bring back her brother, after he gets cold feet when it's his turn to take over as Santa.
17
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
★ 7.4/10Also family and adventure
Sam the snowman tells us the story of a young red-nosed reindeer who, after being ousted from the reindeer games because of his glowing nose, teams up with Hermey, an elf who wants to be a dentist, and Yukon Cornelius…
18
Prancer: A Christmas Tale (2022)
★ 6.5/10Also family and fantasy
Ten-year-old Gloria and her recently widowed grandfather Bud befriend a mysterious reindeer when the family gather for Christmas. Bud comes to believe that Prancer may actually be magical, but Gloria fears his theory…
19
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
★ 6.8/10Also family and fantasy
The Grinch decides to rob Whoville of Christmas - but a dash of kindness from little Cindy Lou Who and her family may be enough to melt his heart...
20
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
★ 6.8/10Also fantasy and family
Six-year-old Susan Walker has doubts about childhood's most enduring miracle—Santa Claus. Her mother told her the secret about Santa a long time ago, but, after meeting a special department store Santa who's convinced…