The majority of its festive selections consist of its vast array ofPeanutsholiday specials, asApple TV+has acquired exclusive streaming rights to the franchise, but there are other amazing films and specials on the platform as well.
Updated on Jun 19, 2025 by Mark Sammut:As the holiday season is in full swing, this selection ofApple TV+ Christmas movies and specialshas been expanded to include two more recommendations. Click the links below to jump directly to these new arrivals.
Even those who haven’t watched this cherished Christmas cartoon are well-acquainted with its name. More than half a century after its original release,A Charlie Brown Christmasis still considered the quintessential holiday special, and one of the most influential ever to be aired.
Viewers who adore Charlie Brown but lack access to an Apple TV+ subscription will be able to watch the animated special for free on the platform this year from December 22nd to the 25th. An Apple ID is necessary forlimited free streamingbut even those who don’t have an Apple device can create an Apple ID without charge.
There is no shortage of Charles Dickens’A Christmas Caroladaptations, but this modern entry truly puts a fresh twist on the Christmas classic. Helmed by Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, a man with one iconic holiday film already tucked under his belt,Spiritedfollows the Ghost of Christmas Present as he sets out to reshape the morals of Clint Briggs, a media consultant considered by the other Christmas spirits to be “unredeemable”.
The Apple TV+ exclusive is a must-watch for anyone who loves catchy musical numbers,new spins on old stories, and a healthy dose of the holiday spirit.Spiriteddoes not take itself seriously and relies heavily on the charisma of its two stars, who are more than up to the task.
The face of modern Christmas music takes center stage in Apple TV+’s original holiday special. Mariah Carey teams up with Santa Claus’ elves to organize a Christmas concert in an effort to boost alarmingly low holiday spirits after the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to its knees. With the help of Ariana Grande, Snoop Dogg, Misty Copeland, Jennifer Hudson, Jermaine Dupri, and a few friendly faces from thePeanutsgallery, Mariah puts on a performance that’s sure to put viewers in a festive mood.
The special is a versatile treat that can be streamed to entertain adultsor children, and enjoyed as background noise or watched with a viewer’s full attention. Those eager for more of Mariah can also check out her follow-up special,Mariah’s Christmas: The Magic Continues.
Nearly thirty years afterA Charlie Brown Christmasmade its everlasting mark on holiday programming,Peanutsreleased its second full-length Christmas special,It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown.
Unlike its predecessor, this merry special consists ofseveral holiday talesrevolving around the beloved cartoon characters as they immerse themselves in the jolly season’s festivities. From Christmas book reports to questionable Santa impersonations to the struggle of finding (and affording) the perfect present, there’s nothing like watching Charlie Brown and his gang scramble through their lighthearted shenanigans with a cup of hot chocolate.
For those who just can’t get enough of Charlie Brown and Snoopy during the festive season,Charlie Brown’s Christmas TaleshasPeanutsfanatics covered. The special showcases Charlie Brown and his friends engaging in holiday shenanigans through five festive shorts.
Inspired by Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip that brought thePeanutsgang to life, each short centers on one of the darling characters as they get into the jolly spirit in their individual and charmingly odd ways. The stories range from Linus’ attempts to send a Christmas card to a girl who temporarilynames herself Jezebelto Lucy struggling to ensure that she receives gifts to unwrap.
Rerun catches a case of puppy fever this winter after his older siblings, Lucy and Linus, spurn him one too many times. He soon realizes that adopting a dog isn’t as simple as asking for one in his letter to Santa Claus, as the realities of the costs and effort required for pet care begin to weigh on him.
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brownisn’t the most memorable ofPeanuts’holiday specials,but it remains an endearing, seasonal watch for the franchise’s fans. It has a good message for kids, showing that certain choices come with responsibilities.
Unlike the rest of thePeanutsholiday specials,Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syneis a recent addition to the lineup, the first in almost twenty years. In a similar yet distinctive new animation style, the modernPeanutsspecial shines the spotlight on Lucy.
Featuring a dual holiday celebration, the story follows Lucy as she tries to cheer herself up by throwing a New Year’s Eve party after the grandmother that she adores doesn’t show up on Christmas Day. This leaves Lucy in fear that her grandmother doesn’t love her.
Viewers can switch things up in their Christmas media binge with this holiday documentary. The true tale recounts an Idaho man’s battle against his neighborhood’s Homeowners’ Association over what he believes is the meaning and celebration of Christmas but what was argued in court as the right to organize a holiday display of biblical proportions.
What starts as a festive story of a man with merry and ambitious aspirations soon spins into a darker (yet still undeniably comical) look at nationwide division and the extremes Americans often find themselves retreating to as a result.‘Twas The Fight Before Christmasis a real odd duck of a movie that delivers a unique story for the genre that is socially relevant.
Santa Claus might not be real, but the Holiday season is filled with people trying to keep that magic alive for children.I Am Santa Clausfollows four people who have made the Jolly Myth a big part of their lives, typically blending the concept into their jobs, presentations, or lifestyles. Along with a side quest featuring Mick Foley, who is always a delight, the story primarily revolves around four Santas who lead pretty different lives. While most of them are doing fine, one Santa is generally struggling to make ends meet.
I Am Santa Clausis a weird one. While naturally perfect for watching around Christmas, it is not necessarily agreat documentaryto throw on when the family is sitting around the TV to watch something revolving around the season. That said, it is still a solid watch that covers a pretty unique element of this time of the year.
10A Carpool Karaoke Christmas
Three Stars Enjoy A Christmas-Themed Karaoke Session
An unexpected special,A Carpool Karaoke Christmasdelivers exactly what its title advertises. The episode takes theCarpool Karaokeconcept and gives it a Christmas twist, with Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, and Chappell Roan all jumping on to sing a few seasonal classics. In a twist, Zane Lowe serves as the segment’s host rather than James Corden.
Honestly, there is not too much to say about this special since it does not hold many surprises. Just to be clear, that is not a negative, as there is nothing wrong with predictability and sticking to a formula that works. All three singers are, naturally, fantastic.
