Best movies like The 12 Dogs of Christmas
Last updated March 2024
Looking for movies similar to The 12 Dogs of Christmas? Leverage your expertise to guide others toward films and tv shows you've already viewed that might likewise intrigue them. Assist in growing the cohort of people bringing up videos between each other. We value your contribution!
Plot Summary:
This holiday tale has all the elements of a classic heartwarmer--cuddly dogs, small town spirit, and even a full-fledged Christmas pageant. Set during the meager years of the Great Depression, 12 DOGS OF CHRISTMAS follows the story of Emma, a 12-year-old who is sent to live in Doverville, a rural town, with her aunt. The town has, like the rest of the nation, fallen on lean times and seem to have lost all interest in celebrating. However, Emma manages to enlist the town's dogs into a colorful holiday pageant that reminds the inhabitants that even the Great Depression cannot ruin the spirit of Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 996
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: feel good, light, humorous, sentimental, touching
Best tv shows and movies like The 12 Dogs of Christmas (2005):
Similar in 81%
Our First Christmas (2008)
Plot Summary:
Cindy and Tom Baer-Neil have been married for nearly a year, each having lost their first spouse. With the holidays just around the corner, Cindy and Tom are determined to make the new family’s first Christmas perfect. But their respective children have different plans.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 597
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: funny, light, feel good, humorous, entertaining
Similar in 80%
12 Dogs of Christmas: Great Puppy Rescue (2012)
Plot Summary:
The dogs of Doverville are in trouble again... but Emma O'Conner is back to save them in a song-filled, seasonal extravaganza. Mean-spirited mogul Finneas James plots to shut down the local puppy orphanage, unless Emma can come up with the money to save it. With the help of some friends, she races against time to put together a musical holiday event that just might save the day.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 492
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: feel good, sentimental, sincere, humorous, independent film
Similar in 87%
K-9 Adventures: A Christmas Tale (2013)
Plot Summary:
Luke Perry stars in this heartwarming "tail." Kassie, her friends and her dog, Scoot, organize a holiday fundraiser, but must protect the cash from some crooks in order to save Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 418
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, light, sincere, touching, exciting, sentimental, realistic, semi serious, fairy tale
Similar in 78%
A Dog Named Christmas (2009)
Plot Summary:
A developmentally challenged young man with a penchant for caring for animals in need sets out to convince his family - and their whole rural community - to participate in a local shelter's inaugural "Adopt a Dog for Christmas Program.".
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, sentimental, sincere, captivating, christmas special, humorous, semi serious, realistic, entertaining
Similar in 83%
Shelby (2014)
Plot Summary:
This isn't just a Christmas miracle... It's Christmas magic! In this heart-warming family tale, rescue dog Shelby manages to escape the dog pound on Christmas Eve and runs straight into the arms of little Jake (John Paul Ruttan, Robocop). Immediately the two are inseparable! Jake wants to be a magician and Shelby soon becomes the best friend and magical assistant he's always wanted... The only thing standing between them and a perfect Christmas is the notorious local dogcatcher - he has Shelby in his sights and he's not going to stop until he finds him! Can Shelby and Jake conjure up a little Christmas magic to save the day?.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 309
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: Canada
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: light, touching, feel good, humorous
Similar in 75%
Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups (2012)
Plot Summary:
An all-new Disney holiday classic is born - Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups. Starring a brand-new litter of the cutest talking pups ever - Hope, Jingle, Charity, and Noble - it's perfect for the whole family. When Mrs. Claus travels to Pineville, the playful Santa Pups stow away on her sled. Taking mischief to a whole new level, they begin granting joyful wishes to Pineville's boys and girls, but something goes terribly wrong - the Christmas spirit begins to disappear. Now the Santa Pups and Mrs. Claus must race to save Christmas around the world. From the creators of Disney Buddies, this magical, heartwarming tale is brimming with hope, cheer, and Christmas spirit. Written by Paws.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, light, sincere
Similar in 81%
Miracle Dogs Too (2006)
Plot Summary:
Zack, a young boy, finds two cocker spaniels caged in the woods and takes them home. The animals, Sissy and Buddy, have magical healing powers that change the people of a small town.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 340
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: sentimental, feel good, serious, touching
Similar in 83%
Owd Bob (1998)
Plot Summary:
Recently orphaned David must move to the Isle of Man to live with his grandfather, Adam, who's a sheep farmer. Both long for the end of the summer, having nothing in common but their love for dogs, notably Adam's precious champion sheepdog Bob. David strikes a friendship with Maggie, the sassy daughter of friendly neighbor Keith Moore, but Adam hates that family on account of an old canine competition-related tragedy. Other neighbors suspect Bob and the Moore's dog of the recent series of nocturnal sheep-kills.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 418
Genere: Family, Drama
Country: UK, Canada
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 81%
Christmas for a Dollar (2013)
Plot Summary:
America is in the midst of the Depression, and the Kamp family is struggling to get by, especially after Mrs. Kamp's untimely death. Now little Ruthie, with her mother gone and her father overwhelmed by doctor bills resulting from her brother's polio, expects another Christmas without presents or festivities. But when her father brings home one dollar in change and lets the children use it to buy special gifts for each other, the Kamps come to find that money isn't what fills Christmas with joy, love, and miracles.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 686
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: sincere, touching, feel good, disturbing, christian film
Similar in 83%
Where the Red Fern Grows (2003)
Plot Summary:
Set in the Ozark Mountains during the Great Depression, Billy Coleman works hard and saves his earnings for 2 years to achieve his dream of buying two coonhound pups. He develops a new trust in God as he faces overwhelming challenges in adventure and tragedy roaming the river bottoms of Cherokee country with "Old Dan" and "Little Ann.".
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, semi serious, gothic, sad, independent film
Similar in 82%
Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
Plot Summary:
Where the Red Fern Grows is the heartwarming and adventurous tale for all ages about a young boy and his quest for his own red-bone hound hunting dogs.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: sad, depressing, epic, emotional, tear jerker, touching, feel good, semi serious, independent film, tearjerker
Similar in 80%
Shiloh (1996)
Plot Summary:
An abused beagle runs away from his owner. On the road, he meets young Marty Preston and follows him home. The boy immediately forms a bond with the dog and names him Shiloh. His stern father won't let him keep the dog because it belongs to Judd Travers, a local hunter. After Shiloh is mistreated again, he runs away and returns to Marty. Knowing his father will once again make him bring Shiloh back to Judd, he makes a home for the dog in an old shed up the hill from the Prestons' house and hides him from his family. His secret is soon discovered when a stray attacks the dog one night and he must turn to his father for help.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: sweet, touching, emotional, semi serious, feel good, gothic, epic, independent film, fairy tale, sentimental
Similar in 81%
A Christmas Memory (1997)
Plot Summary:
A boy, Buddy, whose parents have split and whose mother is an actress in New York, has been dumped in the south at the small-town home of some older cousins, all of whom are unmarried.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 796
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: sentimental, atmospheric, uplifting, touching, feel good, realistic, semi serious, southern gothic
Similar in 77%
A Belle for Christmas (2014)
Plot Summary:
Family film about a pair of children whose father's girlfriend has kidnapped their dog. Dean Cain stars as Glenn Barrows, a recent widower doing his best to raise his young kids Elliot and Phoebe, who really miss their mother. Things start to look up when the Barrows adopt an adorable puppy named Belle during the holiday season. Just as the healing seems to have begun, Glenn's dog-hating, gold-digging new girlfriend spoils their newfound happiness by sending Belle away. Will the young kids pull off a daring Christmas Eve rescue of their beloved new pet? Haylie Duff co-stars in this heartwarming comedy about family, friendship, and a four-legged holiday miracle.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 557
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: light, touching, feel good, sweet, emotional
Similar in 87%
Christmas Spirit (2011)
Plot Summary:
A cynical youth whose mother is about to lose her job right before the holidays is visited by a magical Christmas spirit.
IMDB Rating: 3.8
IMDB Votes: 154
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: humorous, light, captivating, feel good, touching
Similar in 79%
Adventures of Bailey: Christmas Hero (2012)
Plot Summary:
It's "Christmas time" at the Baker household, and Bailey is at it again. Worried that he will not get any presents from Santa because he's been a bad doggie, Bailey learns about a mysterious Native American Indian called the "Handsome Fellow," who may be able to make his Christmas wishes come true. With thoughts of tennis balls, stuffed animals and more dog bones then he can count, he sets out to find this legend, inadvertently dragging his brother along for the ride. But when Bailey's misguided missteps cause harm to Duke and even threaten their family's Christmas plans, Bailey must not only find a way to save his brother, but he is also forced to make a big decision... one that just might enable him to finally understand the "true" meaning of Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 118
Genere: Family
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: touching, humorous, sentimental, feel good, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 88%
Chilly Christmas (2012)
Plot Summary:
Eleven-year-old Bobby Cole and his dog Chilly are best friends, living happily in their Southern California beach house. But when Bobby's father Patrick (C. Thomas Howell), a single parent and police detective, accepts a job in New York City, they must find Chilly a new home. In an attempt to show his dad that Chilly can be a city dog, Bobby and his friends teach Chilly the indoor way of life. But Bobby's dad is not convinced, and it's not until Christmas Eve when corrupt dog thief Mr. Quarterman (Tom Arnold) breaks into the family home, that Chilly and Bobby can put their new training to the test! Can they band together to save Christmas -- and Chilly's future with the family?.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 249
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, light, captivating, entertaining, exciting, touching, realistic, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 81%
The Christmas Bunny (2010)
Plot Summary:
The Christmas Bunny tells the story of a lonely foster child (Sophie Bolen) who finds a lost, injured rabbit in the woods on Christmas Eve. The rabbit is nursed back to health by The Bunny Lady (Florence Henderson), who runs a rabbit rescue in an old barn behind her Michigan farmhouse.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 854
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: sentimental, uplifting, touching, sincere, captivating, light, serious, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 88%
Mary Christmas (2002)
Plot Summary:
Californian widower Joel Wallace, a successful businessman, is a great catch in a grand mansion, but absorbed by his work. His daughter Felice writes to a TV Christmas special, hoping for a 'new mammy'.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 545
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, captivating, light, uplifting, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 83%
Chestnut: Hero of Central Park (2004)
Plot Summary:
Ray and Sal, two orphaned sisters, adopt and hide a Great Dane puppy from their two adopted parents living in a luxury downtown New York apartment that expressely forbids dogs.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, touching
Similar in 84%
My Dog's Christmas Miracle (2011)
Plot Summary:
University professor Madeline Walters isn’t doing too well in the dating game. Good men are hard to find, so she’s happy spending time with her Maltese puppy Cinnamon, and her precocious teenage daughter Chloe.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 295
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, light, captivating, semi serious
Similar in 85%
Beethoven's 5th (2003)
Plot Summary:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. When Sara takes Beethoven to spend summer vacation with wacky Uncle Freddie in an old mining town, the mischievous canine "digs up" the missing clue to a legendary hidden fortune of Rita and Moe Selig. Now everybody wants to be the dog's best friend as his discovery unleashes a frenzy of treasure hunting among the community's cast of kooky creatures. With help from Uncle Freddie and Garrett (a friend or maybe more), Sara and Beethoven try to help uncover a secret that has been in the crazy little town for years. Description above from the Wikipedia article Beethoven's 5th (film), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Adventure
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, entertaining, light
Similar in 84%
The Search for Santa Paws (2010)
Plot Summary:
In the tradition of disney's classic holiday tales comes a heartwarming movie about the power of giving and the true meaning of christmas. Discover how the legendary friendship of Santa Claus and Santa Paws began in the inspiring original film, The Search For Santa Paws. When Santa and his new best friend, Paws, discover that the boys and girls of the world have lost the spirit of the season, they take a trip to New York City. But after Santa loses his memory, it's up to Paws, a faithful orphan named Quinn, her new friend Will and a wonderful group of magical talking dogs to save St. Nick and show the world what Christmas is really all about.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: Canada
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 82%
The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation (2010)
Plot Summary:
The Bannister family including former K-9 police hero Zeus (voiced by Mario López) is back, and this time they're spending their holidays at a beautiful Rocky Mountain resort. But toss in an unexpected visit from cocky Uncle Randy (Casper Van Dien of 'Watch Over Me' and 'The Curse of King Tut's Tomb') and his foxy poodle Bella (voiced by Paris Hilton) and a familiar pair of bumbling jewel thieves (led by Dean Cain of 'Lois & Clark: The New Adventure of Superman' and 'The Dog Who Saved Christmas') and this holiday may be headed downhill fast! Can Zeus solve the crime, save Bella and hit the slopes, all in time for Christmas Day? Gary Valentine ('King of Queens') and Elisa Donovan ('Sabrina the Teenage Witch' and 'Clueless') co-star in the all-new four-legged family adventure!.
IMDB Rating: 3.7
IMDB Votes: 467
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, light, touching, slapstick
Similar in 77%
Prancer (1989)
Plot Summary:
Jessica, the daughter of an impoverished apple farmer, still believes in Santa Claus. So when she comes across a reindeer with an injured leg, it makes perfect sense to her to assume that it is Prancer, who had fallen from a Christmas display in town. She hides the reindeer in her barn and feeds it cookies, until she can return it to Santa. Her father finds the reindeer an decides to sell it to the butcher, not for venison chops, but as an advertising display.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: touching, entertaining, mysterious, sad, crying, feel good, humorous, semi serious, independent film, weeping
Similar in 78%
Prancer Returns (2001)
Plot Summary:
This holiday-themed children's film offers a unique take on the legend of Santa Claus and his tiny reindeer. In this movie, a young boy finds a deer in the forest he is sure is Santa's beloved Prancer. Determined to return the creature to the North Pole and his rightful destiny, the child overcomes the cynicism of his family to teach them and us a lesson about the true spirit of Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 651
Genere: Family, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 75%
Santa Buddies (2009)
Plot Summary:
When Puppy Paws (the fun-loving son of Santa Paws) gets bored, he finds Budderball on Santa's naughty list and figures he's just the dog to show him how to be an ordinary pup. When the magical Christmas Icicle starts to melt however, and the world begins to forget the true meaning of the season, it's up to Puppy Paws and his newfound Buddies to journey back to the North Pole and save Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Canada, USA, UK
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: feel good, fairy tale, sweet, light, exciting, touching, offbeat, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 75%
A Christmas Wedding Tail (2011)
Plot Summary:
Jennie Garth of "90210" stars as Susan, an unemployed Los Angeles museum curator and widowed single mom temporarily living in a small California town with her three sensitive sons. Jake (Brad Rowe of "General Hospital") is a single dad of two tomboys who owns a local winery. When Susan's dog Rusty (voiced by Jay Mohr of "Ghost Whisperer") falls for Jake's poodle Cheri (voiced by Nikki Cox of "Las Vegas"), these canine matchmakers help their owners fall in love too. Now with a Christmas Day wedding to plan -- and major complications threatening to unravel it all -- can two mismatched broods find a way to make one happy family? Tom Arnold and Catherine Hicks ("Seventh Heaven") co-star in this heartwarming holiday film from the producer/director of The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation and Your Love Never Fails.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 717
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, captivating, light, touching, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 89%
Benji: Off the Leash! (2004)
Plot Summary:
Benji and his friends try to save his mother from a puppy mill.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 668
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 86%
Angels Sing (2013)
Plot Summary:
As a child, Michael Walker wished every day could be Christmas. That is, until a tragic accident crushed his holiday spirit. Thirty years later, Michael still can't muster any joy for the holidays, despite encouragement from his playful wife and well-intentioned parents. But when his young son faces a tragedy, Michael needs to make amends with his past. A mysterious man named Nick gives Michael a gift and instills in him the courage to find the joy that he lost.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, semi serious, realistic