TL;DR: The Christmas Chronicles is the rare holiday franchise that actually holds up for both kids and adults. It swaps the sugary-sweet "Santa is a jolly old man" trope for Kurt Russell’s "Santa is a cool, slightly stressed-out action hero." It’s rated TV-PG for some mild peril, a few car chases, and some "tough" talk, but it’s generally a win for ages 7+. As for the rumored third movie? We’ve got the latest on Netflix’s plans below.
Quick Links for Your Watchlist:
If you’ve spent any time on Netflix during the holidays over the last few years, you’ve seen Kurt Russell’s face—sporting a truly magnificent, non-fake beard—staring back at you. The Christmas Chronicles follows siblings Kate and Teddy Pierce. Teddy is a cynical teenager drifting toward "troubled youth" territory after the death of their father, while Kate is the true believer who catches Santa on camera.
The first movie is essentially a high-stakes road trip through Chicago after the kids accidentally crash Santa’s sleigh. The sequel, The Christmas Chronicles 2, takes us to the North Pole (which looks like a high-budget theme park) and introduces Goldie Hawn as a very capable Mrs. Claus.
Unlike the animated "brain rot" kids often find on YouTube, these movies have actual production value. They feel like the Amblin movies we grew up with—think The Goonies but with more tinsel.
Kids love this version of Santa because he doesn’t treat them like toddlers. This Santa drives fast cars, gets arrested (briefly), and performs blues songs in jail. It’s "cool" in a way that appeals to the Roblox generation who wants excitement, not just a lecture on being "nice."
The CGI elves are also a massive hit. They’re a bit like Minions but with more attitude and their own fictional language. They provide the slapstick comedy that keeps the younger ones engaged while the older kids follow the actual plot.
Ask our chatbot about other movies with "cool" versions of classic characters
The original is arguably the better film. It deals with some real-world heavy lifting—specifically, a family grieving their first Christmas without a parent. Teddy’s character arc involves him hanging out with a "bad crowd" and nearly stealing a car. It gives the movie an edge that makes the eventual "magic of Christmas" payoff feel earned rather than forced.
The sequel leans much harder into the fantasy. Directed by Chris Columbus (who did Home Alone and the first two Harry Potter films), it’s bigger, brighter, and louder. There’s a time-travel subplot and a villain named Belsnickel who wants to destroy the North Pole. It’s a bit more "toy commercial" than the first one, but Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell’s real-life chemistry makes it incredibly watchable for parents.
While Netflix rates these as TV-PG, here’s the No-BS breakdown of what that actually means for your living room:
Ages 5-6: Maybe/Proceed with Caution
The "peril" is real. There are scenes of Santa’s sleigh spiraling out of control, and some of the elves can look a little creepy when they’re angry. In the second movie, there’s a giant "Yule Cat" that might be a bit much for kids who are sensitive to "scary" animals.
Ages 7-10: The Sweet Spot
This is the target audience. They’ll get the jokes, love the action, and won’t be too bothered by the emotional subplots. They might ask questions about why the kids are "stealing" a car in the first movie, which is a great opening for a conversation about choices and grief.
Ages 11-13: Surprisingly Tolerant
Even your "too cool for school" middle schoolers will likely sit through this. The humor isn't overly childish, and Kurt Russell’s performance is genuinely charismatic.
- Language: It’s pretty clean. You’ll hear some "hells" or "damns" in a "tough guy" context, and some mild insults like "suck" or "stupid."
- Peril: There are car chases, some brawling (Santa vs. thugs in a pub—it’s actually a fun musical number), and moments where characters are in genuine danger.
- The "Santa" Secret: If you have kids who are right on the edge of questioning the Santa narrative, be warned: the movie treats Santa as a literal, physical being, but the kids' initial skepticism might mirror your child’s own questions.
This is the question every parent gets asked around December 1st. As of early 2025, Netflix has not officially greenlit a third movie.
However, Kurt Russell has gone on record saying he doesn't usually do sequels, but he loved playing this version of Santa. Chris Columbus has also hinted that there’s plenty of lore left to explore. Given that the first two were massive hits for Netflix, the door is definitely open. If it does happen, don't expect it until late 2025 or 2026 at the earliest.
Check out our guide to the most anticipated family movies of 2025
If you’re an intentional parent, you can use these movies for more than just 90 minutes of peace and quiet.
- Grief and Tradition: In the first movie, the family is struggling because their dad died. It’s a natural way to talk about how traditions change when people we love aren't there anymore.
- The "Believer" vs. "Skeptic" Dynamic: Kate and Teddy represent the two halves of growing up. You can ask your kids, "Why do you think Teddy stopped believing?" It’s a low-pressure way to gauge where they are with their own childhood magic.
- Entrepreneurship (The North Pole Edition): In the second movie, the North Pole is run like a massive, high-tech village. If your kids are into Minecraft or Roblox, they might find the "mechanics" of how Santa’s village works pretty fascinating.
The Christmas Chronicles is a solid "Yes" for family movie night. It’s high-energy, funny, and has just enough heart to keep it from feeling like a hollow corporate product. It’s a huge step up from the "brain rot" Christmas specials found elsewhere, and it actually respects the intelligence of its young audience.
Put it on, grab the popcorn, and enjoy Kurt Russell being the coolest person in the room—even in a red velvet suit.
- Watch together: Set a weekend night for a double feature.
- Compare and Contrast: If your kids liked the "magic tech" vibe, check out The Polar Express.
- Go Deeper: Read our full guide on managing holiday screen time without the guilt