Freeform / ABC Family Kickoff to Christmas
Originally began in 2007 as the “Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas” on the ABC Family channel. This block of special programming includes holiday films, but many scheduled movie are not Christmas related. On May 15, 2018, Freeform announced that the Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas would be renamed Kickoff to Christmas for the 2018 season. Freeform’s annual “Kickoff to Christmas” will begin again in November 2020.
Kickoff to Christmas on Freeform will begin November 1st 2020
PLEASE NOTE: Date/times are subject to change (all times shown in Eastern)
**Page last updated on 11/19/20
Sunday, November 1, 2020
- 8:30am – E.T. the Extra Terrestrial
- 11:05am – Jingle All the Way 2
- 1:05pm – Deck the Halls (2006)
- 3:10pm – The Game Plan
- 5:50pm – Matilda
- 7:55pm – Coco (Disney-Pixar)x
- 10:25pm – Frozen (Disney Animated)
Monday, November 2, 2020
- 4:00am – Christmas with the Kranks
- 1:00pm – Christmas with the Kranks
- 3:05pm – Matilda
- 5:20pm – Hercules
- 7:25pm – Finding Nemo
- 9:55pm – Finding Dory
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
- 12:00pm – The Hunger Games
- 3:00pm – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
- 6:30pm – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1
- 9:00pm – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
- 3:00am – Stealing Christmas
- 11:30am – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1
- 2:00pm – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2
- 5:00pm – Brave
- 7:00pm – Frozen (Disney Animated)
- 9:30pm – Moana
Thursday, November 5, 2020
- 4:00am – Jingle All the Way 2
- 10:30am – The Simpsons
- 5:00pm – Shrek
- 7:00pm – Hercules (Disney Animated)
- 9:00pm – Inside Out (Disney-Pixar)
- 12:00am – Early Man
Friday, November 6, 2020
- 11:30am – Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
- 1:30pm – Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
- 3:30pm – Shrek
- 5:30pm – The Santa Clause
- 7:30pm – The Santa Clause 2
- 10:00pm – The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
Saturday, November 7, 2020
- 4:00am – The Simpsons
- 8:00am – Boxtrolls
- 10:00am – Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
- 12:00pm – Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
- 2:05pm – Prancer Returns
- 4:10pm – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
- 6:15pm – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 – Freeform Premiere
- 8:20pm – Minions – Freeform Premiere
- 9:25pm – Despicable Me 3 – Freeform Premiere
Sunday, November 8, 2020
- 12:30am – Miracle on 34th Street” (1994)
- 7:00am – The Mistle-tones
- 9:00am – Prancer Returns
- 11:00am – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
- 1:05pm – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
- 3:10pm – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
- 4:50pm – Minions
- 6:55pm – Despicable Me 3
- 9:00pm – Zootopia (Disney Animated)
- 11:30pm – A Wrinkle in Time (2018) – Freeform Premiere
Monday, November 9, 2020
- 12:00pm – Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride
- 2:00pm – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)
- 4:30pm – Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
- 7:00pm – The Princess and the Frog
- 9:00pm – Shrek
- 12:00am – Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
- 11:30am – E.T. the Extra Terrestrial
- 2:05pm – The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) (Disney Animated)
- 4:10pm – Chicken Little (Disney Animated)
- 6:15pm – Shrek
- 8:20pm – The Incredibles
- 12:00am – A Cinderella Story
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
- 12:30pm – A Cinderella Story
- 2:30pm – The Game Plan
- 5:00pm – Tarzan
- 7:00pm – A Bug’s Life
- 9:00pm – Wreck-It Ralph
- 12:00am – A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits
Thursday, November 12, 2020
- 12:00pm – The Preacher’s Wife
- 2:30pm – Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2
- 4:30pm – Christopher Robin
- 7:00pm – Tangled
- 9:00pm – Mulan
Friday, November 13, 2020
- 1:00pm – Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs 2
- 3:00pm – Mary Poppins
- 6:00pm – The Parent Trap (1998)
- 9:00pm – The Secret Life of Pets – Freeform Premiere
- 12:00am – The Simpsons
Saturday, November 14, 2020
- 7:30am – The Goonies
- 10:00am – Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
- 12:35pm – Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)
- 2:40pm – Lilo & Stitch (Disney Animated)
- 4:40pm – The Secret Life of Pets
- 6:45pm – Home Alone
- 9:15pm – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
- 11:55pm – The Perfect Holiday
Sunday, November 15, 2020
- 7:00am – Deck the Halls (2006)
- 9:05am – Life-Size 2: A Christmas Eve
- 11:10am – The Perfect Holiday
- 1:15pm – The Hunger Games
- 4:30pm – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
- 8:05pm – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1
- 10:45pm – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2
Monday, November 16, 2020
- 11:30am – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
- 3:00pm – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1
- 5:30pm – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2
- 8:30pm – Pitch Perfect
- 12:00am – The Mistle-tones
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
- 10:30am – Holiday in Handcuffs
- 12:30pm – The Preacher’s Wife
- 3:30pm – The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
- 6:00pm – Cinderella
- 8:30am – Pitch Perfect
- 12:00am – The Perfect Holiday
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
- 12:00pm – The Perfect Holiday
- 2:00pm – Cinderella
- 4:30pm – Pitch Perfect
- 7:00pm – Deck the Halls (2006)
- 9:00pm – Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)
- 12:00am – A Cinderella Story
Thursday, November 19, 2020
- 12:00pm – Turkey Drop
- 2:00pm – A Cinderella Story
- 4:00pm – The Princess Bride
- 6:30pm – Shrek
- 8:30pm – Zootopia
- 12:00am – A Very Merry Muppet Movie – Freeform Premiere
Friday, November 20, 2020
- 10:30am – Prancer Returns
- 12:35pm – Matilda
- 2:40pm – Shrek
- 4:45pm – Hercules (Disney Animated)
- 6:50pm – Minions
- 8:55pm – Despicable Me 3
- 12:00am – The Simpsons
Saturday, November 21, 2020
- 7:00am – Prancer Returns
- 9:10am – Santa’s Apprentice
- 10:45am – The Magic Snowflake
- 12:15pm – Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs
- 2:20pm – Bolt (Disney Animated)
- 4:30pm – Minions
- 6:40pm – Despicable Me 3
- 8:45pm – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
- 11:25pm – Shrek
Sunday, November 22, 2020
- 1:30am – Scared Shrekless
- 7:00am – The Simpsons
- 8:30am – Bon Voyage Charlie Brown
- 10:00am – Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
- 12:00pm – Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
- 2:00pm – Shrek
- 4:05pm – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
- 6:45pm – Home Alone
- 9:15pm – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
- 11:55pm – Black Nativity – Freeform Premiere
Monday, November 23, 2020
- 11:00am – E.T. the Extra Terrestrial
- 1:40pm – The Princess Bride
- 4:10pm – The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
- 6:50pm – Inside Out (Disney-Pixar)
- 8:55pm – The Secret Life of Pets
- 12:00am – The Simpsons
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
- 10:30am – Deck the Halls (2006)
- 12:30pm – Matilda
- 2:30pm – The Goonies
- 5:00pm – The Secret Life of Pets
- 7:00pm – Monsters, Inc.
- 9:00pm – The Lion King
- 12:00am – Prancer Returns
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
- 10:30am – Prancer Returns
- 12:30pm – The Goonies
- 3:00pm – Christmas with the Kranks
- 5:00pm – Penguins of Madagascar – Freeform Premiere
- 7:00pm – The Little Mermaid
- 9:00pm – Tangled (Disney Animated)
- 12:00am – The Simpsons
Thursday, November 26, 2020
- 7:00am – Christmas with the Kranks
- 10:30am – Bon Voyage Charlie Brown
- 12:00pm – Penguins of Madagascar
- 2:00pm – Pocahontas (Disney Animated)
- 4:00pm – The Princess and the Frog (Disney Animated)
- 6:00pm – Home Alone
- 8:30pm – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
- 12:00am – Matilda
Friday, November 27, 2020
- 10:30am – Matilda
- 12:30pm – Jingle All The Way 2
- 2:30pm – The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) (Disney Animated)
- 4:30pm – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
- 6:00pm – Ratatouille (Disney-Pixar)
- 8:30pm – Zootopia (Disney Animated)
- 12:00am – The Simpsons
Saturday, November 28, 2020
- 7:00am – Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
- 9:00am – Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
- 11:05am – The Simpsons
- 11:35am – Deck the Halls (2006)
- 1:40pm – The Parent Trap (1998)
- 4:50pm – Cinderella (2015) (Live Action)
- 7:20pm – Moana” (Disney Animated)
- 9:50pm – Beauty and the Beast (1991) (Disney Animated)
- 11:55pm – The Nutcracker and the Four Realms – Freeform Premiere
Sunday, November 29, 2020
- 7:00am – The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
- 9:10am – Christmas with the Kranks
- 11:20am – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
- 1:25pm – Matilda
- 3:30pm – Cinderella (2015) (Live Action)
- 6:00pm – The Incredibles (Disney-Pixar)
- 8:40pm – Incredibles 2 (Disney-Pixar) – Freeform Premiere
- 11:20pm – The Goonies
Monday, November 30, 2020
- 7:00am – Christmas with the Kranks
- 10:30am – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
- 12:30pm – A Cinderella Story
- 2:35pm – The Goonies
- 5:10pm – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
- 6:50pm – Up (Disney-Pixar)
- 8:55pm – Wreck-It Ralph (Disney Animated)
- 12:00am – Snow
Archives
- 2019 Kickoff to Christmas
- 2018 Kickoff to Christmas
- 2017 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
- 2016 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
- 2015 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
- 2014 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
- 2013 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
- 2012 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
- 2011 Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas
What I have found in all of the TV channels for the past 4 or 5 yrs. is that each channel will show their newest productions of the yr. during daytime & early evening hrs. Then they will show the Christmas movies that people have stated as “their favorites” at any time between midnight to 6 or 7 the next a.m. In the beginning, I thought I was just imagining this practice but by the end of the 2nd yr., I noticed the obvious pattern. I no longer watch any of the current yr. (2018) Christmas movies on any channel. I personally find that the writing & producing of the earlier movies to be of a higher type & more of a “good feeling” & appropriate comic quality than the newer ones.
My opinion.
Rita M. Gorman
I also would like to see some of the old Christmas movies that make you feel good about the season. There seems to be way too much degradation of the holiday with nasty/crude/stupid movies, that are repeated so many times during the season. Why not have more diversity?????
Why do you air the new movies 300 times before Christmas until I am sick of them? Where are the older ones that I loved. My favorite was always the Season for Miracles which seems to be thrown away as do a lot of the older sometimes better movies. There is so much time before Christmas and two channels that you should be able to show a lot of the older movies along with the new ones. Very disappointed!!
Fran Shoemaker
I love Christmas movies, but what happen to fantasy movies about Santa Claus, miracles, not just movies about people falling in love during the holidays. I like Freedom much more than Hallmark Channel that one kiss @ the end of this movies drive me freaking crazy. I want more and more people of color we do Christmas also, not just white people. I would also like to see more Christmas cartoons old and new kids really like this( I mean me really). Thanks
Why is there no MISER BROTHERS CHRISTMAS on any schedules this year?
lol
I’m disappointed that so many in countdown and 25 days of Christmas are not entirely Christmas and you don’t play any of the older ABC Family original Christmas movies. Always love Three days, Christmas List, etc.
When will The Christmas Wish with Debbie Reynolds and Neil P. Harris air? Have not seen movie in years.
Really need to show ‘Three Days’ again this year
I see that How the Grinch Stole Christmas will be back on again in 2017. My family was very disappointed that it was not on in 2016. Will this be the Ron Howard ( Live Action ) version like what was aired in 2014 and 2015? That one is the best, because it has all the deleted scenes that the 2000 version does not. ABC Family was the only one to have this movie.
yes, live action
Why is Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer not in either list to be aired? The countdown to 25 days of Christmas or 25 days of Christmas? That is one of mine and my 2 daughters favorite Christmas specials we look forward to seeing every year.
Why does “25 Days of Christmas” begin in November and actually only last for 13 days? Is it just me or does that seem odd?
Hi Amanda, this is the schedule for the “Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas” not the actual “25 Days of Christmas” itself. Freeform/ABC Family counts down to to December with two weeks of holiday movies. Hope that helps! 🙂
ok
Why do you not play both versions of DR. Soose’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas?
Hi Patrick, currently NBC owns the right to air the original Grinch on TV:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Seuss%27_How_the_Grinch_Stole_Christmas!_(TV_special)
The half-hour (with commercials) short was originally telecast in the United States on CBS on December 18, 1966. CBS repeated it annually during the Christmas season until 1988. It was then aired on various other networks multiple times a season. In the 1990s and 2000s, it was primarily seen on Turner-owned properties (TBS, TNT, and Cartoon Network), and later ABC and ABC Family. On August 13, 2015, NBC announced that the special would move to that network, which would air it twice during the Christmas season under a three-year licensing deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.
I missed Mistletoe Inn and want to know if it will be shown again?
sorry! In what country do you usually watch the movie?
Hi Linh, we are in the United States.