10 top rated 90's family Christmas movies to dig out this winter

The nineties was chock full of great Christmas movies and here's a list of the top 10 rated family-friendly Christmas movies of that decade. Did your favourites make the cut?

Rotten Tomatoes and the International Movie Database [IMDB] are among the most relied upon movie and televison rating sites available. Usually preference would be given to Rotten Tomatoes ratings as their score is based upon the of professional movie critics' reviews. However, we decided to do this list a little differently.

This countdown gives IMDB the last say because those ratings are all about what the audience has to say about these movies. And who better to rate festive family flicks than the families who've watched them?

10. All I Want for Christmas (1991)

IMDB: 6

Rotten Tomatoes: n/s

Critics say this one is a little too bland and contrived but that didn't stop the suidence loving it. It can be viewed as a Miracle on 34th Street reboot in many ways except in this film the children get much more involved in thwarting their mother's new relationship and reuniting their parents. Viewers find it to be a simple and heart-warming Christmas tale of love.

9. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

IMDB: 6.4

Rotten Tomatoes: 61%

One of many remakes, this 90's version lives up well to the original of the 40's. The story surrounds a man hired as a Macy's Department Store Santa to listen to the Christmas wishes of the shop's young patrons. But in an odd twist of fate, the man claims he is indeed the real Santa Claus, who travels the world on December 24 ever year delivering gifts to children. So naturally, a legal battle over the man's mental state insues. This remake keeps a lot of the original feeling with a 90's flavour people can more readily relate to.

8. The Santa Clause (1994)

IMDB: 6.4

Rotten Tomatoes: 75%

What family Christmas movie list would be complete without The Santa Claus? Tim Allen's family film debut will forever stand the test of time. Tim's character startles Santa who then slips and falls from his rooftop, before disappearing, leaving room for a new Santa in town.

7. Home Alone 2 (1992)

IMDB: 6.6

Rotten Tomatoes: 24%

Generally sequals should be avoided, with a few notable exceptions. Home Alone 2 is considered one of those exceptions. Possibly the reason it is popular at all is the return of the original villains from the 1990 film. And who wouldn't want to see more of Harry and Marv as they try to get their revenge on little Kevin?

6. The Christmas List (1997)

IMDB: 6.8

Rotten Tomatoes: n/s

Audiences enjoyed seeing Mimi Rogers' character mysteriously get everything she wanted at Christmas. Even more than that they enjoyed seeing her deal with the unforeseen strings attached to each and every gift. Be careful what you wish for this Christmas!

5. Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)

IMDB: 7.2

Rotten Tomatoes: 40%

This straight to video movie is a compilation of three classic Christmas stories with a Disney twist. Families with younger children will see this short family-friendly film go down a treat.

4. Home Alone (1990)

IMDB: 7.5

Rotten Tomatoes: 55%

Of course we can't mention the sequel without the original. Home Alone is a staple of he holiday activities of every year. It helps that it's televised more than once ... or five times ... over the holiday. But there's good reason for that. Kevin is a little boy forgotten by his family when they leave home for Christmas. At eight-years-old he tries to live on without them because he thinks he wished them away. Everything goes well for him ... until the goofy burglars Marv and Harry arrive!

3. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

IMDB: 7.7

Rotten Tomatoes: 69%

The classic festive tale is retold with an array of plush felt puppets who sing very merry songs throughout. We find it very difficult to see the downside here.

2. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

IMDB: 7.9

Rotten Tomatoes: 89

Your first thought is probably that this isn't a Christmas movie, but we assure you it is. And while it is a Tim Burton production and gothic in ways it has a sweet centre. Edward is a man who, you guessed it, has scissors for hands. As you can imagine he fins it pretty difficult to get close to people and he just wants to feel loved.

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

IMDB: 8

Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

Despite it's title this movie has been pigeon-holed at times as a Halloween movie. In fact, the movie begins as Halloween ends and Halloweenland is celebrating a successfully staged holiday. Jack Skellington the Pumpkin King however, has become bored by his job. With perfect timing though, he stumbles across Christmastown and soon decides to take over the festive season from Santa Claus.

Check out our list of the worst rated 00's family Christmas films and the one gem amongst them all next!