Charlie Brown and the Peanuts holiday specials are the perfect addition to any holiday traditions list. The relatable and enduring cast of characters makes audiences of all ages laugh and smile. Watching the specials is the perfect way to bring family and friends together for any special occasion.
Most viewers can relate to Charlie Brown's lack of confidence and social awkwardness. At one point or another almost everyone feels like the underdog in their story. No matter how big of a mistake Charlie Brown makes, his sincere and kind heart always help him to pull through. Holidays are some of the busiest and most fun times of the year. As holidays stretch people thin, they often reveal both great weakness and strengths. The Charlie Brown holiday specials all help re-center the celebration and inspire viewers. Here are the best Peanuts holiday specials ranked.
10 It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown
After the events of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Linus tries to inspire belief in another holiday figure. Linus tries to promote the Easter Beagle, but memories of his Halloween incident hurt his credibility. Overall this holiday special comes off as a weak reprise of its Halloween counterpart. Nevertheless, it's still fun to invite Charlie Brown and his friends into special Easter traditions, and the colors in It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown are vibrant and pretty.
9 It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown
This story doesn't quite have the same universal applicability as the others on this list, but it still satisfies the feel-good expectations of Charlie Brown fans. In It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown, Linus invites a new girl to his birthday party. As he becomes more infatuated with her, Linus starts to worry about whether she will actually come to his party.
The young and immature relationship struggles to carry a meaningful story (and again feels like Linus waiting for something improbable), but the special is worth watching once for a couple of laughs.
8 A Charlie Brown Valentine
Released in coordination with another Valentine's Day special, A Charlie Brown Valentine showcases Charlie Brown's dedicated efforts to win over the Little Red Haired Girl. He feels confident they belong together, but something interrupts or stops his confession every time he strikes up the nerve to speak with her. Just like the other Valentine's special, some of the plot feels unrealistic for young children. But the childhood romance is so sweet, we can't help but love it anyway.
7 Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown
This holiday special captures the tender feelings of young love and friendship on Valentine's Day. All audience members can relate to the giddy nervousness that comes with waiting hopefully for a sign of affection. In Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown and all of his friends eagerly await a Valentine from their secret crush.
The disappointment and excitement each of these characters conveys takes viewers on a roller coaster ride of emotion. Some of the romantic elements feel a little too old for these elementary characters, but the heart-warming message overcomes the technical difficulty.
6 Happy New Year, Charlie Brown
In Happy New Year, Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown finds himself trying to attend Peppermint Patty's New Year's Party and finish reading War and Peace on the same night. Torn between social and scholarly responsibilities, Charlie Brown find it hard to fulfill all of his obligations. Especially as the holiday season starts to die down, everyone can relate to feeling pulled in multiple directions. As New Year's celebrations close out the bustle of December, we can all take hope in Charlie Brown's ability to balance his busy schedule.
5 It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown
CBS
Arbor Day might be an under-appreciated holiday, but the introduction of Rerun (Lucy and Linus' little brother) makes It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown, a must-watch classic. Viewers get to experience parents' daily activities and experiences from the perspective of a little boy. Rerun's commentary may have little to do with the main plot, but his jokes are irreplaceably funny.
The main plot follows Charlie Brown working on his football strategy while his classmates work on Arbor Day essays and homework assignments. Despite the smaller holiday, this is a surprisingly enjoyable special; in fact, the most recent Peanuts holiday special focuses on Earth Day and is called It's the Small Things, Charlie Brown.
4 It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown
Almost 30 years after Charlie Brown's first Christmas special, It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown brought more holiday fun to the screen. The short film comprises many shorter stories that each feature a different member of Charlie Brown's schoolmates.
Many of the storylines here focus on winter fun away from Christmas plots, but the film still manages to bring in the Christmas spirit. The original Christmas special is impossible to beat, but this holiday short still adds something fun to Christmastime.
3 It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown's best friend Linus turns out to be the world's most devout believer in the Great Pumpkin. Many make fun of Linus for his beliefs in a child-like fantasy, but he is determined to prove them wrong and spot the Great Pumpkin on Halloween. Simultaneously, Charlie Brown's dog, Snoopy, hunts for the infamous red Barron. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown brings the laughs year after year. It still earns viewers on TV because it is one of the most funny Charlie Brown holiday specials.
2 A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Everyone looks forward to seeing Charlie Brown characters in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but fans do not have to wait until the fourth week of November to reminisce with their favorite cartoon characters. Charlie Brown plans to go visit his Grandmother on Halloween, but Peppermint Patty invites the whole gang to have Thanksgiving dinner at his house. Thankfully Charlie Brown's loyal dog, Snoopy is a beagle of many talents. As the weather gets colder, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is the perfect show to start getting audiences into the holiday mood.
1 A Charlie Brown Christmas
The most wonderful time of the year isn't the same without A Charlie Brown Christmas special. Nothing can get people in the Christmas spirit faster than the sweet children in Charlie Brown's neighborhood. In A Charlie Brown Christmas, our favorite hero can't help but feel down despite the cheerful time of year. On his quest to turn away from commercialism, Charlie Brown tries directing a Christmas play, but needs help from all of his friends to succeed. The overall universally applicable messages and relatable characters uplift and inspire audiences of all ages. There is no better movie to get viewers into the Christmas spirit.