The Charlie Brown Christmas Specials Ranked

Christmastime is here (again), and you know what that means: another viewing (or two) of the yuletide classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. And while it is the first and arguably the best, it is not the only Peanuts animated special to deal with the Christmas season. Here are all 4 Charlie Brown Christmas specials: ranked from worst to best.

Honorable Mention:  Snoopy Presents For Auld Lang Syne (2021)

This new Apple TV+ special is more of a new year’s special, but it does begin on Christmas as it deals with Lucy wanting to throw a ginormous New Year’s party after her grandma can’t make it for Christmas so it gets a mention on this list

#4:  Charlie Brown Christmas Tales (2002)

At only 17 minutes long this series of Peanuts holiday vignettes has become more of a companion piece to A Charlie Brown Christmas, but it did give us Sally believing in “Samantha Claus” so it deserves a place on this list

#3: It’s Christmas Time Again Charlie Brown (1992)

The somewhat forgotten sequel special to a Charlie Brown Christmas, which hits a lot of the same beats, including another Christmas play, is just slightly less successful. It is still good, though.

#2: I want a dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003)

The longest of the Charlie Brown specials at 40 minutes focuses on the youngest van pelt sibling: Rerun and his quest to get a dog which winds up being Snoopy’s brother Spike. It’s a fun addition to the Peanuts holiday cannon

#1: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

 Of course, the original Peanuts holiday special would rank number one. It’s a holiday tradition for many folks for a reason and although the religious message gets a little heavy-handed at the end it still offers plenty of moments that keep in one many Christmas watchlists (including mine) for over 50 years.

That’s a rundown of all the Charlie Brown Christmas specials. Which ones will you be watching this year and which are you favorites? Let us know in the comments