not anything someone over 3 could not use but one use of blockhead
A Charlie Brown Christmas
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
The Peanuts gang in a classic Christmas special.
Themes in this movie include: family relationships, friendship, materialism
updated 11.04.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 3 and Up
The good stuff
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of A Charlie Brown Christmas was written by Common Sense Media Editors
Parents need to know that this heartwarming classic focuses on the religious aspect of Christmas. At the story's climax, Linus quotes one of the nativity stories from the New Testament and the Peanuts characters join in singing religious carols.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the movie's message. Does the true meaning of Christmas get lost in materialism?
- Can you think of real world examples of how that is true?
- How could you work against that -- either in your family or in society?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on A Charlie Brown Christmas
What’s the Story?
Depressed by the Christmas season because it's so commercial, Charlie Brown cheers up when Lucy asks him to direct the holiday pageant. But the bossy Lucy doesn't allow him to do much directing and sends Charlie off to buy an aluminum Christmas tree. Instead, he's drawn to a sad little fir tree, which everyone mocks. Linus makes a speech about the true meaning of Christmas; moved by his words, the Peanuts gang then transforms the little tree by adding beautiful decorations, and Charlie Brown finally celebrates a merry Christmas.
Is It Any Good?
Charlie Brown discovers the true meaning of Christmas when he buys a forlorn little tree. A CHARLIE BORWN CHRISTMAS communicates a timeless message brimming with holiday spirit. The first of Charles Schultz's television specials based on his long-running comic strip, this episode set the standard for those that followed. Simple drawings, a gently meandering story, Schultz's beloved characters, and Vince Guaraldi's lively musical score combine to make this something the entire family will want to watch every year.
The image of the pathetic but endearing Christmas tree, unable to support even one decoration, cleverly parallels the Charlie Brown character. That sad fir springing to life at the end, as Charlie's melancholy dissipates, resonates with young and old alike. Filled with humor, A Charlie Brown Christmas, is a wonderful antidote to the holiday blues.
Movie Details
Studio: Paramount Pictures, Director: Bill Melendez
Run time: 30 minutes
DVD release: 9/12/2000
MPAA Rating: NR
Run time: 30 minutes
DVD release: 9/12/2000
MPAA Rating: NR
Our Members Say
See 28 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
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Kids ages: 5, 7
I rate this title on for age 5 and give it- My highlights are:
Perfecto, classic!
This is exactly what my family needed-all the great morals in Christmas. I love it because it's funny and heartwarming. My notes-we watch it every Christmas-it's a classic in our house! It sends great messages to kids! Plus, at Christmastime, they'll gladly sit down and watch it-unlike other movies, you know how kids are-mostly because of Snoopy-Charlie Brown's dog!
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
A Charlie Brown Christmas Rocks!!!!!
I will always loves this movie/dvd!
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I rate this title off for age 3 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
Not for 3 year olds. Wait until first grade.
I remember this movie fondly, but when we went to watch it and heard language like "stupid" and "blockhead", and at some point a threat to beat up Charlie Brown, we immediately turned it off. I'd say this is so not appropriate for a 3 yr old--we're waiting until 6! (The one star is for this movie at age 3; for older kids the message is great).
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I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
Mostly a winner
My son is sensitive and was upset when Snoopy takes Linus' blanket in the beginning. We fast-forwarded through that from then on. Also, "stupid" is said by some of the characters. We aren't fans of that word.
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I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
Mostly a winner
My son is sensitive and was upset when Snoopy takes Linus' blanket in the beginning. We fast-forwarded through that from then on. Also, "stupid" is said by some of the characters. We aren't fans of that word.
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Kids ages: 5, 8
I rate this title on for age 3 and give it -
Kids ages: 4
I rate this title iffy for age 3 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
Lucy can be a little scary for some kids...
I love this movie, but the other reviewers are correct in pointing out the over-use of the word "stupid" by Lucy on many occasions. We have taught our daughter that some words can be hurtful toward others; "stupid" being one of them... she refuses to watch this unless we promise to fast-forward through these parts. Otherwise -- it's a masterpiece.
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Kids ages: 3, 8
I rate this title iffy for age 4 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
They use the word stupid way too much!
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Kids ages: 4, 5
I rate this title on for age 3 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
wonderful
a classic
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Kids ages: 3, 4
I rate this title on for age 3 and give it
great for the whole family
love it
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Oh my goodness!! One of my favorite Christmas movies!
This is one of my must-sees every Christmas. Everything is clean and it tells the true meaning of Christmas. So cute!
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
no discrispion
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
Great for All!
There's some minor name calling (stupid) but nothing to worry about. A Christmas classic!
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
I like this special, it's okay. But I have yet to understand why it has gotten so famous as it has. The voice actors and actresses always sound a bit bored, for some odd reason. Unless this airs on a night when ABC Family isn't airing a claymation Christmas special, I don't watch it because it's not one of my priorities. A more heartwarming Christmas special (yes, it's a claymation one) would be The Story of the First Christmas Snow (shortened to 'The First Christmas' or 'The First Christmas Snow' on the TV Listings, usually).
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I rate this title on and give it
The movie is a classic, but I don't want my 3 and 4 year olds to be saying the word "Stupid" or "blockhead". The characters say those words a lot. My kids will obviously pick up that language later. A good movie in that the gospel and the birth of Christ is spoken by one of the characters verbatim from scripture so that the true meaning of Christmas is shared.
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I rate this title iffy and give it
Much meaner than I remembered
I rented this to watch with my 2 and 3 year olds, but we ended up stopping it. The peanuts kids can say pretty mean things to each other, which I think is a little much for preschoolers, but probably ok for older kids with parental discussion.
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I rate this title on and give it
BEST!!!
this is one of the BEST Christmas movies EVER!!! i love it!!! The Peanuts characters are the BEST!!
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I rate this title on and give it
For pre-schoolers + not toddlers
When I decided to share this childhood favorite with my own children, I found that the other characters' treatment of Charlie Brown was far crueler than registered on me as a child. Better to wait until kids are 5 and up. Once the kids are older, there is no better holiday progarmming than this.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 29% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
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