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The Christmas Chronicles

The Christmas Chronicles

Santa's in town early this year.

2018104 minPGMidcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Director
Clay Kaytis
Starring
Darby Camp, Judah Lewis, Kurt Russell, Martin Roach

Siblings Kate and Teddy try to prove Santa Claus is real, but when they accidentally cause his sleigh to crash, they have to save Christmas.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Christmas Chronicles?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Christmas Chronicles streaming on Netflix.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Christmas Chronicles?

The Christmas Chronicles earns 6 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Christmas pick.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is The Christmas Chronicles worth watching?

The Christmas Chronicles' Midcredits score is the 78th percentile of all films, from 273K ratings across 6 sources. 73% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

78th percentile

Better received than 78% of films

84th percentile among Adventure78th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)72nd
Approval (how many liked it)82nd

68 /100

72nd percentile of all films

80th percentile among Adventure71st percentile among 2010s

Critics 52 · Audience 69

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.3 — solid but not unanimous.

73% liked it

82nd percentile of all films

87th percentile among Adventure83rd percentile among 2010s
73% rated it 7–1027% rated it 1–6

Critics 67% · Audience 76%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 2 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

97th percentile

273K ratings across platforms

96th percentile among Adventure97th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 9% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree Kurt Russell's performance as Santa is the highlight and a major reason to watch, even if opinions diverge on whether the rest of the film works.

Fans praised

  • Kurt Russell's charismatic, energetic Santa carries the film
  • heartwarming and feel-good Christmas atmosphere
  • fresh, modern take on holiday tropes with funny jokes and cute elves

Detractors panned

  • formulaic and forgettable plot with thinly imagined characters
  • weak dialogue and humor, 'sappy' and saccharine tone
  • derivative, unoriginal story with shoddy visual effects

What stands out

ActingDivisive78

Kurt Russell's charismatic, lively Santa is widely praised

AtmosphereDivisive70

Vivid Christmas world-building and magical ambiance

Effects and spectacleDivisive55

Creature designs and sleigh ride are fun, but CGI is often shoddy

CharactersDivisive55

Kids are seen as bland or uncharismatic, but Santa and elves add charm

PacingDivisive55

Momentum wavers, drags in the middle, could use trimming

DialogueDivisive50

Russell's lines are witty but other dialogue feels forced or weak

Plot and storyDivisive45

Story is considered formulaic, with slow patches and filler

OriginalityDivisive40

Derivative, fills a familiar Christmas-movie mold

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 14 points higher than under-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 9 points apart
  • Critics vs users 1 point apart
  • US vs non-US 6 points apart

Watch experience

What is The Christmas Chronicles like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle, has a few laughs and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
JoyfulHopefulWarm
Heaviest: late
Warm humor
Register
WarmPlayful
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film balances heartfelt family moments with playful humour, presenting a sincere, warm Christmas adventure.
The rideThe film stays in a cheerful, holiday-spirited register with a sentimental peak at the end when the family heals.
StructureTold in a straightforward beginning-middle-end structure with no nonlinear elements.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

The answer rests on this: Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayA warm holiday adventure that leaves you feeling uplifted and reminded of the magic of Christmas.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestMission
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% (this title) · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Mission: Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).

10% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeTwo siblings join Santa on a mission to recover his lost sleigh and save Christmas.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% (this title) · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% (this title) · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsHope · 5% of filmsFaith · 3% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe story centers on a family grieving the loss of a father and finding connection and belief again through a shared Christmas adventure.
StanceThe film celebrates family bonds and the Christmas spirit as forces that overcome grief and doubt.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanSuburbanDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernPopSupportive music · original score · Christophe Beck
SettingLowell, Massachusetts, on Christmas Eve; also Chicago and the North Pole
MusicThe score supports the whimsical and sentimental tone, with a memorable rendition of 'Santa Claus Is Back in Town' performed by Kurt Russell.

Content guide

Is The Christmas Chronicles okay for kids?

PG

The Christmas Chronicles is rated PG: “Rated PG for mild action/violence and brief language” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (24/100), sexual content at minimal (9/100), language at mild (32/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (23/100) and frightening material at mild (29/100). Overall it is heavier than 21% of PG-rated films.

Ratings in 11 other countries
  • UKPG
  • AustraliaPG
  • Germany6
  • IrelandPG
  • JapanG
  • Brazil10
  • Netherlands9
  • Poland7
  • PortugalM/12
  • SingaporePG
  • Spain7
Overall
Mild · all five categories
Heavier than 6% of all filmsHeavier than 21% of PG-rated films
Violence & Gore
Mild
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 23%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 12%
Profanity
Mild
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 63%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 40%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 31%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is language, heavier than 63% of PG-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Christmas Chronicles have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Christmas Chronicles?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Darby Camp
as Kate
Breakout: Their highest-reaching film role at the time, and they went on to a career at least 3 times their standing then.
Judah Lewis
as Teddy
Kurt Russell
as Santa Claus
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Martin Roach
as Officer Poveda
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Lamorne Morris
as Officer Jameson
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley
as Claire
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Oliver Hudson
as Doug
Tony Nappo
as Charlie
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Vella Lovell
as Wendy
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Lauren Collins
as Woman at Another Table

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Christmas Chronicles?

Movies like The Christmas Chronicles include The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two (2020), Noelle (2019) and Godmothered (2020). Of the 12 closest matches, most are Christmas films, and several are mission stories.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 12 share its subject: family bonds. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Christmas Chronicles?

3.5K other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: sibling bond. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.