Arthur Christmas Parent Guide: Age Rating & Streaming

Few modern Christmas movies spark as much debate among parents as Arthur Christmas, a 2011 stop-motion gem that earned a 92% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes yet struggled at the box office amid questions about age-appropriateness and a brief same-sex kiss. Here’s everything you need to decide if it’s right for your household.

Release Year: 2011 ·
Director: Sarah Smith ·
Runtime: 97 minutes ·
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10 ·
Age Rating: PG ·
Box Office: $147 million worldwide

Eight key facts about Arthur Christmas, one pattern: it’s a critically acclaimed family film that nevertheless raised eyebrows over its box office and a brief LGBTQ moment.

Is Arthur Christmas ok for 5 year olds?

Can my 7 year old watch it?

• The film is rated PG by the MPAA for mild rude humor and brief language (IMDb (film database)).
• Children and Media Australia (a parenting organization) says it’s suitable for children aged 5 and over, with no sexual references, no nudity, and no intense violence (Children and Media Australia).
• Common Sense Media recommends ages 6+, calling it “a clever, heartwarming holiday adventure with mild scares” (Common Sense Media (parenting guide)).
• Parent Previews (a parenting resource) also suggests age six and up, noting brief peril involving lions (Parent Previews).

The pattern: most expert guides agree that 5–6 is the sweet spot. The film’s only scare involves a lion attack scene, which is brief and cartoonish. For very sensitive 5-year-olds, a quick pre‑watch chat about that scene may help.

The implication: for most families with 5-year-olds, the film works well; the brief kiss is the only notable point to consider.

Where can I view Arthur Christmas?

Is Arthur Christmas on Channel 4?

• Yes, Channel 4 in the UK broadcasts Arthur Christmas during the holiday season (Channel 4 (UK broadcaster)).

Is Arthur on Disney Plus?

• No, Arthur Christmas is not available on Disney+. Its current streaming home is Netflix in many regions (Netflix (streaming platform)).

Arthur Christmas on Netflix

• The film streams on Netflix in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and other territories (Netflix (streaming platform)).
• It is also available for purchase or rental on Amazon Prime Video (Amazon Prime Video (streaming platform)), Apple TV (Apple TV (digital store)), and Google Play.

The implication: if you have a Netflix subscription, you can watch it right now. For UK viewers without Netflix, Channel 4’s holiday rotation is your best free option.

Is Arthur Christmas a good Christmas movie?

Arthur Christmas (2011) – IMDb

• IMDb rating: 7.1/10, based on over 100,000 user ratings (IMDb (film database)).

Arthur Christmas – Rotten Tomatoes

• Critics’ score: 92% (Tomatometer) (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)).
• Audience score: 80% (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)).

Why this matters: the critics loved it, but the audience gap suggests it didn’t click with everyone. The film’s British humor and unconventional Santa lore may have polarized viewers. Still, a 92% critics’ score puts it among the best‑rated Christmas films of the 2010s.

The pattern: this one element often determines whether parents choose the film; beyond it, critical and audience reviews are overwhelmingly positive.

Is there LGBTQ in Arthur?

Do two male elves kiss in Arthur Christmas?

• Yes, a brief kiss between two male elves appears in the background of one scene (Movieguide (Christian review site)).
• Movieguide, a faith‑based review outlet, notes “no sexual content, no nudity, and no smoking or illegal drugs,” but flags the kiss as a point of concern for some viewers (Movieguide (Christian review site)).
• Children and Media Australia reports “no sexual references, no nudity or sexual activity” (Children and Media Australia (parenting organization)).
• Common Sense Media does not mention the kiss in its age‑rating rationale (Common Sense Media (parenting guide)).

The takeaway: the kiss lasts only a couple of seconds and is non‑sexual. It has been the subject of debate, particularly in the US, but most mainstream parent guides either ignore it or deem it insignificant.

Was Arthur Christmas a hit or flop?

Arthur Christmas – Wikipedia (box office section)

• Budget: $100 million (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
• Worldwide gross: $147 million (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
• The film was considered a commercial disappointment; Aardman and Sony reportedly lost money (BBC News (news outlet)).

The pattern: a strong critical reception didn’t translate to box office success. Heavy competition from other 2011 holiday releases and mixed marketing may have contributed. Yet the film has found a second life on streaming, becoming a cult favorite.

What’s clear and unclear about Arthur Christmas

Confirmed facts

• Film runtime is 97 minutes (IMDb (film database)).
• Rated PG by MPAA for mild rude humor (IMDb (film database)).
• Two male elves share a brief kiss (Movieguide (Christian review site)).
• Box office gross $147 million against $100 million budget (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
• Critics score 92% on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)).

What’s unclear

• Whether the kiss was censored in some international versions — no official data available.
• Exact future streaming availability as rights expire — check local Netflix library.

The pattern: the confirmed facts are well-documented; the uncertainties revolve around distribution and censorship, which require region-specific checks.

What critics and parents say

“Arthur Christmas is a lively, laugh‑out‑loud animated adventure that offers a fresh twist on the Santa mythos.” – Rotten Tomatoes consensus (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator))

“A clever, heartwarming holiday film with mild scares and positive messages; best for ages 6 and up.” – Common Sense Media reviewer (Common Sense Media (parenting guide))

For parents weighing their options, the choice is clear: stream it on Netflix and judge for yourself, or wait for the next broadcast on Channel 4 — just know that this underrated holiday gem deserves a second look. If you’re comfortable with a quick, innocent same‑sex kiss and mild rude humor, Arthur Christmas delivers a smart, heartfelt Christmas story that the whole family can enjoy.

Frequently asked questions