If you’ve spent any time on Netflix in December over the last few years, you’ve seen Kurt Russell’s face peering out from the thumbnail, looking like he just stepped off the set of an 80s action flick but with more faux fur.

The Christmas Chronicles follows siblings Kate and Teddy Pierce. Kate is the true believer; Teddy is the cynical teenager who has turned to boosting cars after the death of their firefighter father. On Christmas Eve, they hatch a plan to catch Santa on camera. Naturally, they end up stowing away on his sleigh, causing it to crash in Chicago. The rest of the movie is a race against time to find Santa’s hat, his reindeer, and his bag of presents before the "Christmas Spirit" meter hits zero and the world descends into a permanent dark age.

It’s produced by Chris Columbus (the guy behind Home Alone and the first two Harry Potter films), and you can feel that DNA everywhere. It’s fast, it’s a little bit dangerous, and it treats kids like they’re capable of handling a high-speed chase.

Kids are used to the jolly, bumbling Santa who eats too many cookies. Kurt Russell’s Santa is different. He’s capable, he’s sarcastic, and he has "magic" that feels more like a superpower than a fairy tale. He knows everything about everyone, which is played for both laughs and genuine "how did he know that?" wonder.

Think Minions but fluffier and slightly more violent. The elves in this franchise speak their own language (Yulish), carry chainsaws for ice sculpting, and aren't afraid to brandish tiny weapons when they think Santa is in trouble. They are pure kid-nip.

This isn't a "wooden toy" workshop. Santa’s sleigh is basically a stealth fighter, and the North Pole in the sequel looks like a high-tech Minecraft build come to life. For a generation of kids raised on Roblox, this version of magic feels relevant.

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Let’s talk about Kurt Russell. He brings a "Snake Plissken but make it festive" energy to the role. He spends a decent chunk of the first movie in a jail cell where he leads a full-blown blues musical number with a group of inmates.

For most parents, this is the best part of the movie. For kids, it’s a bit of a tonal shift. While the movie is rated PG, it leans into a "street-smart" vibe. Santa isn't above a little light breaking and entering or manipulating the police to get what he needs. It’s all in the name of saving Christmas, but if you’re looking for the pure, wholesome vibes of The Polar Express, this isn't that.

This is where Screenwise parents need to pay attention. The core of both movies—but especially the first one—is the loss of the father.

Teddy, the older brother, is struggling hard. He’s hanging out with the "wrong crowd" and stealing cars because he’s angry at the world. The movie doesn't shy away from his pain. There’s a scene involving an old home video of their dad that is a total tear-jerker.

Learn more about navigating grief themes in children's media

While there’s nothing "inappropriate," the plot moves fast and some of the action sequences—like the sleigh crash or the "scary" elves in the sequel—might be a bit much for the littlest ones. Also, the jailhouse scene and the general "Santa in the real world" grit might go over their heads.

This is the target audience. They’ll love the humor, the action, and the "cool" factor of the North Pole. The sibling bickering will feel very relatable (perhaps too relatable).

Unlike many holiday movies that make teens roll their eyes, The Christmas Chronicles has enough "action movie" DNA to keep them engaged. Teddy’s character arc is actually quite good for this age group.

There’s some mild "PG" language—words like "hell," "damn," and "sucks." There’s also the aforementioned car theft and some scenes of Santa being arrested. It’s all handled with a wink, but it’s there.

In The Christmas Chronicles 2, the villain is Belsnickel, a disgruntled former elf who has turned human. He’s played by Julian Dennison (the kid from Hunt for the Wilderpeople). He’s a bit more menacing than your average holiday villain, using "elf spice" to turn the friendly elves into crazed, glowing-eyed monsters. It can get a little creepy.

Netflix isn't subtle here. You’ll see plenty of brands, and the movie itself feels like it’s designed to sell a specific "cool" version of the holiday.

Check out our guide on the best holiday movies for every age

If you watch this with your kids, use it as a jumping-off point for a few real conversations:

Is Kurt Russell’s Santa too cool? Maybe. But in a sea of generic, sugar-coated holiday content, The Christmas Chronicles is a breath of fresh, albeit slightly exhaust-fume-filled, air. It’s a movie that respects a kid’s intelligence and desire for adventure.

It’s not perfect—the CGI can get a little wonky, and the second movie is about 20 minutes too long—but it’s a high-quality production that the whole family can actually sit through without checking their phones every five minutes.

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