Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- warm
- hopeful
- christmas morning
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics and family reviewers find it a gentle, accessible holiday adventure with clear appeal for children, while warning that its wolf antagonists may frighten younger viewers.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Niko dreams of flying like the father he has never met, making the search for paternal identity central to his motivation.
The film is explicitly associated with Christmas and follows a reindeer protagonist through a snowy fantasy world.
Niko is mocked by others but secretly takes flying lessons from Julius, a flying squirrel.
Reindeer, wolves, and flying squirrels populate the film's northern wilderness setting and drive its adventure premise.
Films like The Flight Before Christmas, and why
The Secret of Kells
animated family adventure with animal protagonists, fantastical landscapes, and a gentle coming-of-age quest
Arthur Christmas
warm holiday animation centered on a young animal overcoming fear and finding belonging
The Polar Express
family-friendly animated fantasy adventure involving a young protagonist, peril, and self-discovery
The Croods
uplifting animated adventure about an outsider pursuing an extraordinary dream despite ridicule
Movie Details
- Directors
- Michael Hegner, Kari Juusonen
- Release Date
- 2008-09-22
- Runtime
- 80 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (160)
Cast
- Olli Jantunen
- Hannu-Pekka Björkman
- Vuokko Hovatta
- Vesa Vierikko
- Jussi Lampi
- Risto Kaskilahti
- Minttu Mustakallio
- Juha Veijonen
- Puntti Valtonen
- Elina Knihtilä
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Flight Before Christmas about?
- A mocked young reindeer ventures beyond his valley to master flight and discover what it means to follow his own skyward dream.
- What is The Flight Before Christmas like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Flight Before Christmas as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Flight Before Christmas violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Flight Before Christmas as mild.
- What did critics think of The Flight Before Christmas?
- Critics and family reviewers find it a gentle, accessible holiday adventure with clear appeal for children, while warning that its wolf antagonists may frighten younger viewers.
- Which films are like The Flight Before Christmas?
- Films with a similar feel include The Secret of Kells, Arthur Christmas, The Polar Express, and The Croods.
- How long is The Flight Before Christmas?
- The Flight Before Christmas runs 80 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Flight Before Christmas?
- In United States, The Flight Before Christmas is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
