Parents' Guide to

Yes, Virginia

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Sweet holiday tale inspires with messages of goodwill.

Movie NR 2010 30 minutes
Yes, Virginia Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 3+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Sarahbee81
Sarahbee81 Adult
December 1, 2018
age 3+

A sweet Christmas movie - Be ready for lots of Santa questioning

This is overall a really sweet Christmas movie - I even cried a little at the end (I can be pretty sentimental). BUT, I find it difficult to recommend an age for it. It’s probably way too young for older kids to enjoy, but the level of Santa questioning/ridiculing was surprising to me. And this is coming from someone who is not really all that into Santa (I love the magic of Christmas and the generosity of Santa, don’t get me wrong - I just don’t go all out with Santa stuff). Ultimately, Santa is called into question a *lot*, and one of the characters is quite mean (it is revealed that her mother isn’t particularly nice, but the way that’s done probably goes way over a young child’s head). All of that said, to me the end of the movie totally makes up for the Santa questioning. I also really appreciate well done movies that have no scary factor - they’re hard to find. I can (and do) talk to my kids about a character’s unbecoming attitude, but it’s much harder to talk them down after scary scenes (and to deal with the inevitable nightmares).

This title has:

Great messages
Lowe's man
Lowe's man Adult
March 30, 2018
age 4+

Not as good artistically as the original, but still good.

Who wouldn't be inspired by this tale of generosity? Since the original cartoon that I saw as a kid probably won't air anytime soon, this is the next best thing.
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In YES, VIRGINIA, eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon's (voiced by Beatrice Miller) fervent faith in Santa's existence is shaken when a playground bully named Charlotte (Julian Franco) tells her that it's "infantile" to believe in him. Determined to find out the truth, Virginia and her friend Ollie (Kieran Patrick Campbell) enlist the help of everyone from her quirky father (Neil Patrick Harris) to the local sidewalk Santa (Michael Buscemi) -- a.k.a. "Scraggly Santa. But when Virginia can't find a reliable answer, she turns to the most trustworthy information source she knows: The New York Sun newspaper. At first her plea for a final answer falls on deaf ears, but with a little encouragement from Scraggly Santa, the paper's grumpy editor (Alfred Molina) takes a fresh look at Virginia's pressing question.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (2):

This delightful CGI special is based on the real-life story that inspired one of the most famous editorials in journalistic history -- "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." Set in the late 1800s, the sweet, simple tale is unencumbered by modern holiday trappings like shopping, presents, and hustle and bustle.

Virginia's fear over Santa's potential nonexistence isn't that there won't be gifts for her on Christmas morning, but that his absence means he won't inspire the spirit of giving in others. The show's heartwarming messages about generosity, unselfishness, and respect will inspire viewers of all ages and remind them that small acts of kindness really can change the world.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the media's commercial influence. Kids: What shows or movies have you seen that are tied to merchandise? How do advertisers influence your desires for toys and games? Does seeing something on TV make you want it more? Why or why not?

  • Kids: What does Christmas mean to you? What are some of your family's holiday traditions? How does Christmas inspire you to make the world a better place?

  • How can your family help others during the holiday season? How can you help raise funds or supplies for charities that help people in need? Why is it important to help others?

Movie Details

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