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"A Charlie Brown Christmas" and two other Peanuts classics will air on Apple TV again this year, each on a free weekend. Two new specials will also be shown: Snoopy lands on the Naughty List, and the Fraggles lose a snow globe. Apple TV has announced its holiday programming.
Apple TV has announced the dates for its holiday programming, during which three classic Peanuts cartoons will be available for free. Apple has been offering these specials to users without a subscription for years, as the rights to them are held by the service through its partnership with Peanuts, which has been extended until 2030.
New additions to the program include a Peanuts special, a Fraggle Rock Christmas special, and a family film starring Chris Pratt. A subscription is required for these titles.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Three Peanuts classics will be shown on one weekend each in October, November and December without a subscription.
- "A Charlie Brown Christmas" can be seen for free on December 12th and 13th, i.e., on the third Sunday of Advent.
- New is "Snoopy Presents: 12 Days of Snoopy" starting Friday, November 13th.
- "Fraggle Rock: A Holiday Gift" follows on December 4th, and the family film "Way of the Warrior Kid" with Chris Pratt on November 25th.
Peanuts classics without a subscription
The three classic films can be streamed without a subscription for one weekend each; subscribers can watch them anytime. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," the series begins in October.
| Special | Free to watch |
|---|---|
| It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown | Saturday, October 17th, and Sunday, October 18th |
| A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving | Saturday, November 14th, and Sunday, November 15th |
| A Charlie Brown Christmas | Saturday, December 12th, and Sunday, December 13th |
The free windows also applied in this country last year.
Snoopy on the list of naughty people
In the new special "Snoopy Presents: 12 Days of Snoopy," the Peanuts children behave impeccably, but Snoopy ends up on Santa's naughty list. Twelve days before Christmas, he wants to prove he's not a bad beagle and realizes that the holidays are about more than just presents.
The music is by Jeff Morrow, and there are also new songs by John Legend and Kamasi Washington with Leon Bridges. Laufey sings the classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." For Peanuts, this is their next big performance this year, following their summer program featuring Snoopy.
Fraggles and a family film
In The Jim Henson Company's musical special "Fraggle Rock: A Holiday Gift," Wembley is supposed to spread festive cheer as the "Spirit Captain." But the Fraggles accidentally take a snow globe from Doc's workshop, and the mood sours. Wembley must find the courage to return it.
"Way of the Warrior Kid" tells the story of Marc, who is bullied at school. His uncle Jake, an injured Navy SEAL played by Chris Pratt, spends the summer with him and his mother (Linda Cardellini) and develops a training program – less for fighting than for true courage.
Music specials with Hannah Waddingham and Carpool Karaoke
For those who prefer a festive atmosphere without animation, the catalog offers two musical specials. In "Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas," the actress known from "Ted Lasso" sings Christmas classics with a big band and guests. The concert was recorded live at the London Coliseum and directed by Hamish Hamilton, who usually directs the Oscars and Super Bowl halftime shows.
"A Carpool Karaoke Christmas" sends Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, and Chappell Roan into a car, with Zane Lowe behind the wheel this time instead of James Corden. They sing classics like "Last Christmas" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," along with their own hits. Lowe and Lady Gaga have also released their own version of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," which is available on Apple Music, among other platforms.
These Christmas titles are already in the catalog
In addition, Apple TV offers a wide selection of Christmas movies, specials, and holiday episodes. A subscription is required for all of them.
| Title | Kind |
|---|---|
| Spirited | Musical comedy starring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds and Octavia Spencer |
| The Family Plan 2 | Action comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan |
| The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse | Oscar-winning animated film |
| The Velveteen Rabbit | 40-minute special based on the children's book classic, BAFTA-winning |
| Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special | Music Special |
| The First Snow of Fraggle Rock | Fraggle Christmas special from last year |
| Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock – Night of the Lights | Festive sequence |
| Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales | Peanuts Special |
| I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown | Peanuts Special |
| It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown | Peanuts Special |
| The Snoopy Show – Happiness Is Holiday Traditions / Happiness Is the Gift of Giving | two holiday episodes |
| Frog and Toad – Christmas Eve | Festive sequence |
| Shape Island – The Winter Blues | Festive sequence |
| Sago Mini Friends – New Year's Steve | Festive sequence for preschool children |
| Eva the Owlet - Eva's Moon Wish | Festive sequence |
| Interrupting Chicken – A Chicken Carol | Festive sequence for preschool children |
| Pretzel and the Puppies – Merry Muttgomery! | Festive sequence |
| Get Rolling With Otis – A Winter's Cow Tale | Festive sequence for preschool children |
| Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show – Jack's Snow Globe Café | Festive sequence |
| Stillwater – The Way Home | Festive sequence |
For adults, „Spirited“ and „The Family Plan 2“ are the obvious choices, the rest are aimed primarily at families with children.
What's worthwhile for families in this country
Thanksgiving plays a negligible role in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, so the November weekend is more of a bonus there. The December weekend, on the other hand, falls exactly on the third Sunday of Advent and thus fits well into the pre-Christmas season.
Those without a subscription can access the classics during the three weekends. However, a subscription is required for the new specials and the family film, and for that, a month around December 4th is a better time, when both Snoopy and Fraggle Rock are available.
Which Peanuts classic is a must-see for you during Advent – or do you have a completely different Christmas movie on repeat? Tell us in the comments how you do it.
