14 Underrated Christmas Movies For Kids That Honestly Deserve More Respect

After overhearing their single and overworked mom call them a "handful" and say she needs a holiday, twin sisters Sarah and Julie (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) run away to try and get to their grandmother's house to celebrate Christmas. But because they aren't allowed to cross the street without an adult, they don't get very far . . . until they hop on a bus and their crazy journey begins.

Rated: This TV movie originally aired on ABC and is suitable for little kids.

When the preacher of a struggling church becomes too consumed by his work to focus on his family, God sends an angel named Dudley (Denzel Washington) to help him get back on the right track. Dudley, however, becomes distracted by the preacher's wife (Whitney Houston). But because he wants to earn his wings and not get into any trouble, he helps Henry see what amazing people he's had right in front of him all along.

Rated: PG

After work-obsessed dad Howard (Arnold Schwarzenegger) misses son Jamie's karate belt ceremony, he's desperate to get back into his good graces by Christmas. He promises to get Jamie the hottest toy of the season, Turbo Man, without realising just how popular it is. He goes on a Christmas Eve quest to find the sold-out doll, and meets fellow desperate dad Myron (Sinbad) along the way.

Rated: PG

Mary Contrary and Tom Piper are an engaged couple on the run from evil villain Barnaby, who tried to sabotage their wedding so that Mary had to marry him instead. The couple manages to run away to the Forest of No Return, which leads to Toyland. But after the Toymaker's apprentice, Grumio, builds a toy machine that explodes, Mary and Tom vow to help make enough presents in time for Christmas.

Rated: G

This heartwarming movie tells three different tales about Mickey and his friends. In one, Huey, Dewey, and Louie wake up on Christmas morning consumed by the thought of their presents and wish it could be Christmas every day. Their wish is granted, but after a few days of disappointing their Uncle Donald with their obsession with material things, they begin to realise the true meaning of the holiday.

In another, Goofy and son Max are excitedly gearing up for Christmas until their neighbour Pete tells Max that Santa Claus doesn't exist. Determined to keep the magic alive for his son, Goofy does everything he can to prove that Saint Nick is real.

And in the third, a struggling Mickey and Minnie try to save money to buy each other the perfect Christmas gifts. Each gives away something special to them in order to afford the gift they want, but when they exchange gifts, they realise they bought something for the thing neither one of then no longer has.

Rated: This direct-to-video movie is suitable for kids.

This Disney Channel original movie tells the story of two teen girls, Sam and Allie, who find a weather machine at an old shack in the woods. Desperate for a white Christmas in California, they make it snow in Los Angeles. While they enjoy the snow at first, they quickly realise its repercussions: Allie's dad gets snowed in on a business trip and might not make it home in time for Christmas, and Santa, who the weather machine actually belongs to, might not be able to deliver presents on Christmas Eve.

Rated: This TV movie originally aired on the Disney Channel and is suitable for little kids.

While this movie technically isn't Christmas-focussed, it does centre around one of the best things kids get during the holiday season: snow days. The film tells the story of a group of kids who get a snow day and attempt to keep their school closed by stopping the snowplow man from cleaning the streets. In addition to their antics, you also get to see high schooler Hal try to win the love of the popular girl, only to realise the girl of his dreams might have been in front of him all along.

Rated: PG

Siblings Ethan and Hallie come up with a plan to get Santa Claus to help them get what they really want this year: their parents to get back together.

Rated: G

While it's no Home Alone or even Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, the third instalment is just as entertaining for little ones. The story is about a group of criminals who are on the hunt for a valuable computer chip, which ends up in a toy truck given to Alex, who is home sick from school. As their new target, he comes up with hilarious and creative ways to outsmart the criminals.

Rated: PG

After learning the heir to one of their biggest benefactors, toy store owner Mr. Hucklebuckle, wants to sell the family business, Santa Claus and his best canine friend, Santa Paws, leave the North Pole to convince him to keep the shop open. When they arrive in New York City, however, Santa and Paws get separated and need to find their way back to each other.

Rated: G

Santa Claus is looking for his successor, but when he travels to Florida to give the job to the host of a children's show, he gets into some unexpected trouble. Ernest, a taxi driver, steps in to help him out and ultimately save Christmas.

Rated: PG

Adamant in her belief that Santa is real, little girl Jessica finds an injured reindeer in the forest that she believes to be Prancer. She keeps him hidden in her family's shed to try and heal him, but after her dad (and the rest of her town) finds out about it, she desperately tries to save him.

Rated: G