Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- sentimental
- breezy
- christmas viewing
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a formulaic, commercially polished Christmas children’s fantasy whose forced sentiment and clichés overwhelmed its seasonal charm.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ethan and Hallie recruit Stephanie and deploy mice, telephone calls, and an ice-cream truck in an effort to reunite their parents.
The siblings’ central wish is to spend Christmas with both parents despite Catherine’s relationship with Tony Boer.
The film emphasizes Manhattan decorations, seasonal props, and abundant manufactured snow around its holiday fantasy.
Ethan’s friendship and crush on Stephanie echo the parental romantic dilemma at the center of the family plot.
Films like All I Want For Christmas, and why
The Santa Clause
shared Christmas fantasy, child-centered family conflict, and warm holiday sentiment
One Magic Christmas
shared children’s scheme, separated-parent reconciliation, and Christmas comedy
Miracle on 34th Street
shared Manhattan holiday setting, family romance, and old-fashioned seasonal fantasy
The Christmas Star
shared child-led matchmaking, Christmas atmosphere, and sentimental family comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Rob Lieberman
- Release Date
- 1991-11-08
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (131)
Cast
- Harley Jane Kozak
- Jamey Sheridan
- Thora Birch
- Ethan Embry
- Kevin Nealon
- Andrea Martin
- Lauren Bacall
- Amy Oberer
- Renée Taylor
- Leslie Nielsen
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- 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 All I Want For Christmas about?
- Two New York siblings orchestrate an increasingly elaborate Christmas scheme to reunite their parents and reclaim a whole-family holiday.
- What is All I Want For Christmas like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of All I Want For Christmas as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is All I Want For Christmas violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in All I Want For Christmas.
- What did critics think of All I Want For Christmas?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a formulaic, commercially polished Christmas children’s fantasy whose forced sentiment and clichés overwhelmed its seasonal charm.
- Which films are like All I Want For Christmas?
- Films with a similar feel include The Santa Clause, One Magic Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, and The Christmas Star.
- How long is All I Want For Christmas?
- All I Want For Christmas runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch All I Want For Christmas?
- In United States, All I Want For Christmas is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex.
