A Charlie Brown Christmas

1965

30m

Animation

Comedy

Kids & Family

Holiday

List

86%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

93%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

Christmastime is here. Happiness and cheer. And for Peanuts fans everywhere, it just wouldn't be Christmas without this classic holiday delight. Christmas lights may be twinkling red and green, but Charlie Brown has the Yuletide blues. To get in the holiday spirit, he takes Lucy's advice and directs the Christmas play. And what's a Christmas play without a Christmas tree? But everyone makes fun of the short, spindly nevergreen Charlie Brown brings back - until the real meaning of Christmas works its magic once again

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AV Club Staff

AV Club

The special ends on a joyous note, and the lo-fi charms of its non-professional voice cast and simple-yet-expressive animation retain a pleasantly transportive power.

Nov 29, 2018

Full Review

Kevin Fallon

The Daily Beast

No other film just feels like Christmas the way that this one does.

Dec 5, 2022

Full Review

Carson Timar

ButteredPopcorn

While the core and visuals work well enough, the story just isn't there and at nearly every turn the special alienates itself from modern audiences.

Rated: C+

Aug 28, 2022

Full Review

David Grossman

Decider

That kind of earnestness can cut across any culture, any moment in time, and any viewer.

Dec 29, 2021

Full Review

Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

It's my least favorite of these specials. And it makes no sense.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 12, 2020

Full Review

Brandon Collins

Medium Popcorn

I was thrown off by how slow it felt, even at 25 minutes, and the ending is so randomly thrown together...

Rated: 1/5

Dec 12, 2020

Full Review

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Phoenix W

A Charlie Brown Christmas is such a classic! At Christmastime, you just have to watch it, or it won't feel like Christmas. The visuals are beautiful, the story is great, and it has such a nostalgic charm to it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/24

Full Review

Chris M

This is a true Christmas classic that everyone needs to see every year. But that doesn't make it flawless. Like other "Peanuts" media, it can drag. Plus, I never understood why the other Peanuts are being dicks to Charlie Brown. The only one trying to be nice to him is Lucy, the one who's normally the meanest to him. But mild issues to a true TV classic.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/24

Full Review

Teddy B

Disquietingly philosophical, 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' captures almost every element of what made the comic strips such a legend. A special that also proves how useful revised editions can be and how it can make this special much less sloppy and downright contradictive by placing advertisements for Coca-Cola in a special that disapproves of commercialism engulfing the raw emotional spirit of the holidays.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/27/23

Full Review

Vince D

A Classic with a fantastic message. Linus is the Best.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

Full Review

KerryWhite's S

As a Child/For its Time: 7/10. 70/100  | Now: 6/10. 64/100

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

Full Review

David S

A timeless Christmas classic that should be remembered by generations!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/22/23

Full Review

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Bill Melendez

Director

Phil Roman

Director

Peter Robbins

Charlie Brown

Christopher Shea

Linus Van Pelt

Tracy Stratford

Lucy Van Pelt

Sally Dryer

Peppermint Patty

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Synopsis

Christmastime is here. Happiness and cheer. And for Peanuts fans everywhere, it just wouldn't be Christmas without this classic holiday delight. Christmas lights may be twinkling red and green, but Charlie Brown has the Yuletide blues. To get in the holiday spirit, he takes Lucy's advice and directs the Christmas play. And what's a Christmas play without a Christmas tree? But everyone makes fun of the short, spindly nevergreen Charlie Brown brings back - until the real meaning of Christmas works its magic once again

Director: Bill Melendez, Phil Roman
Screenwriter: Charles M. Schulz
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Kids & Family, Holiday
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Sep 12, 2000
Runtime: 30m