The 21-point gap
When you look at the numbers for this one, there is a massive disconnect between the professionals and the people actually sitting on their couches. Critics gave it a 66% on Rotten Tomatoes, which in reviewer-speak usually means "it looks expensive and nobody swore." But the audience score sits at a much more telling 45%, and the 2.4 on Letterboxd is a warning.
That gap usually happens when a movie checks all the technical boxes—the CGI looks fine, the pacing is fast, the actors are professional—but it lacks the soul that made the original work. If your family is looking for the same spark found in the modern magic, sibling friction, and grief themes of the first film, you might find this sequel feels a bit more like a corporate product than a holiday tradition.
The "More is Less" sequel trap
This movie suffers from the classic sequel problem: thinking that a bigger budget and a higher stakes "save the world" plot makes for a better story. While the first film was a relatively contained, high-energy adventure through a single night, this one tries to build out a massive North Pole mythology. For some kids, the visual spectacle of the hidden village will be a win, but for anyone over the age of nine, the plot starts to feel like a checklist of fantasy tropes.
The story focuses on Kate Pierce again, but she’s older now and dealing with the classic "mom has a new boyfriend" friction. While the movie tries to use this to ground the story, it often gets buried under the weight of the CGI action. If you are navigating your own blended family dynamics, there are moments here that might spark a conversation, but don't expect a deep exploration of those feelings. It’s mostly a vehicle to get the kids back to the North Pole.
How to use this for a movie night
Because the "Safe" score is so high (85) and the "Enriching" score is on the lower side (48), this is the ultimate "low stakes" movie. It is the perfect choice for when the kids are vibrating with holiday energy and you just need 100 minutes of colorful, noisy distraction so you can get things done.
If your kids are specifically asking for more of this world after seeing the first Christmas Chronicles, go ahead and hit play. Just know that this is a movie designed for the "Netflix Standard with Ads" era—it’s meant to be consumed and forgotten, not cherished. If you’re trying to decide if a new theatrical release is worth the hassle versus staying home with a sequel like this, consider the real cost of a movie afternoon before you commit to the couch. Sometimes, the "free" streaming option is exactly what you pay for.
