Christmas Movie Trivia Questions from Easy to Expert
Posted by Ally Patterson
Everyone has a Christmas movie they’ve seen 30 times. Trivia is how you find out who was actually paying attention. It’s a quick way to get a party talking, and it works for a family on the couch, a youth group, or a room full of coworkers.
The questions below are sorted from easy to hard, with bonus rounds at the end. Start easy so everyone gets a few points, work up to the tough questions, and finish with the “is it really a Christmas movie?” debate. Answers are listed with each question so the host can read straight from the page.
How to Play Christmas Movie Trivia
You don’t need much to run a good game. Split the group into teams of three to six, give each team paper or a small whiteboard, and pick one host to read the questions.
A simple format that works for most parties:
Play three or four rounds of 8 to 10 questions each. That runs about 45 minutes.
Go from easy to hard. Open with the easy round so everyone scores early, then play one or two medium movie rounds, then the hard round.
End with a bonus round. Quotes or “Is It a Christmas Movie?” makes a fun finish.
Score by level. Give 1 point for easy questions, 2 for medium, and 3 for hard, so the tough questions matter.
Read answers aloud after each round. The groans are half the fun.
Running a bigger trivia night with prizes and a full scoreboard? Our guide on how to host a trivia night covers teams, scoring, and timing.
Easy Christmas Movie Trivia
These are great for kids, families, and warm-up rounds. Most come from cartoons and family favorites.
What is the name of the Grinch’s dog? Answer: Max
What does the Grinch dress Max up as? Answer: A reindeer
How many sizes does the Grinch’s heart grow? Answer: Three
What is the name of the town where the Whos live? Answer: Whoville
Which little Who catches the Grinch taking the tree? Answer: Cindy Lou Who
What makes Rudolph different from the other reindeer? Answer: His shiny red nose
In Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, what does Hermey the elf want to be instead of a toymaker? Answer: A dentist
What brings Frosty the Snowman to life? Answer: A magic hat
In The Polar Express, what word does the conductor punch into the boy’s ticket? Answer: Believe
In The Polar Express, what gift does Santa give the boy? Answer: A silver bell from his sleigh
What color is the single ornament on Charlie Brown’s little tree? Answer: Red
How much does Lucy charge for psychiatric help in A Charlie Brown Christmas? Answer: 5 cents
In Home Alone, where is Kevin’s family flying when they leave him behind? Answer: Paris
According to Buddy in Elf, what are the four main food groups? Answer: Candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup
What toy scares Buddy in Elf? Answer: A jack-in-the-box
In A Christmas Story, what does Ralphie want for Christmas? Answer: A Red Ryder BB gun
Who plays Scrooge in Mickey’s Christmas Carol? Answer: Scrooge McDuck
Medium Christmas Movie Trivia
This is the main course. Each movie works as its own round, so pick the ones your group knows best.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Trivia
What is the family’s last name? Answer: Griswold
What does Clark plan to buy with his Christmas bonus? Answer: A swimming pool
What does Clark get from his boss instead of a cash bonus? Answer: A one-year membership to the Jelly of the Month Club
How many imported Italian twinkle lights does Clark put on the house? Answer: 25,000
What does the family forget to bring when they go cut down a tree? Answer: A saw
What animal jumps out of the Christmas tree? Answer: A squirrel
What does Aunt Bethany recite when she’s asked to say grace? Answer: The Pledge of Allegiance
What are the names of the Griswolds’ yuppie neighbors? Answer: Todd and Margo
What is the name of Cousin Eddie’s dog? Answer: Snots
Who does Cousin Eddie kidnap and bring to the house? Answer: Clark’s boss, Frank Shirley
A Christmas Story Trivia
What does every adult tell Ralphie when he asks for a BB gun? Answer: “You’ll shoot your eye out.”
What does the Old Man win in a contest? Answer: A leg lamp
How does the Old Man pronounce “fragile” on the box? Answer: “Fra-gee-lay.” He thinks it must be Italian.
What dare gets Flick’s tongue stuck to the flagpole? Answer: The triple dog dare
What message does Ralphie’s secret decoder ring reveal? Answer: “Be sure to drink your Ovaltine.”
What does Aunt Clara send Ralphie? Answer: A pink bunny suit
What eats the family’s Christmas turkey? Answer: The neighbors’ (the Bumpuses’) dogs
Where does the family eat Christmas dinner instead? Answer: A Chinese restaurant
In what town does the movie take place? Answer: Hohman, Indiana
Elf Trivia
Why does Santa’s sleigh crash in Central Park? Answer: There isn’t enough Christmas spirit
Where does Buddy’s dad work? Answer: At a children’s book publisher in New York City
In what department store does Buddy get a job? Answer: Gimbels
What does Buddy tell the store Santa? Answer: “You sit on a throne of lies!”
What song does Jovie sing in the shower? Answer: “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
What song does the crowd sing to power Santa’s sleigh? Answer: “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
Home Alone Trivia
What are the burglars’ first names? Answer: Harry and Marv
What do they call themselves in the first movie? Answer: The Wet Bandits
What do they call themselves in Home Alone 2? Answer: The Sticky Bandits
What movie does Kevin play to scare off the pizza delivery guy? Answer:Angels with Filthy Souls
What is the name of Buzz’s pet tarantula? Answer: Axl
What pizza place does Kevin order from? Answer: Little Nero’s
Who is the neighbor Kevin is afraid of at the start? Answer: Old Man Marley, who turns out to be kind
In Home Alone 2, what hotel does Kevin stay in? Answer: The Plaza Hotel
In Home Alone 2, what does Kevin give the pigeon lady? Answer: A turtle dove ornament
It’s a Wonderful Life Trivia
What is the name of George Bailey’s guardian angel? Answer: Clarence
What is Clarence trying to earn? Answer: His wings
In what town does George live? Answer: Bedford Falls
Who plays George Bailey? Answer: Jimmy Stewart
How much money does Uncle Billy lose? Answer: $8,000
What does Zuzu say happens every time a bell rings? Answer: “An angel gets his wings.”
What book does Clarence leave for George? Answer:The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
How did George lose the hearing in his left ear? Answer: He jumped into icy water to save his brother, Harry
White Christmas Trivia
Which two actors play the army buddies turned song-and-dance stars? Answer: Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye
In what state is the inn? Answer: Vermont
Who owns the inn? Answer: General Waverly, their former commanding officer
What is the last name of the sister act? Answer: Haynes
What song do the sisters perform together? Answer: “Sisters”
Classic Christmas Cartoon Trivia
On what mountain does the Grinch live? Answer: Mount Crumpit
According to the song, the Grinch has all the tender sweetness of what? Answer: A seasick crocodile
Who plays the Grinch in the 2000 live-action movie? Answer: Jim Carrey
What job does Lucy give Charlie Brown? Answer: Directing the Christmas play
What does Snoopy enter with his decorated doghouse? Answer: A lights and display contest
What does Linus say he’ll make out of his blanket when he grows up? Answer: A sport coat
What carol does the Peanuts gang sing at the end? Answer: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
What is the name of the abominable snow monster in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Answer: Bumble
Where does Rudolph find toys that nobody wants? Answer: The Island of Misfit Toys
Genius Tip
Hosting a movie trivia party? Set up a sign up with team slots, so groups claim a team name and size ahead of time, plus snack slots like popcorn, cocoa, and candy. You'll know how many answer sheets to print, and nobody brings the same bag of popcorn.
Save these for the superfans, or use them as a tiebreaker round.
Who directed Elf? Answer: Jon Favreau
Who plays Papa Elf in Elf? Answer: Bob Newhart
Who composed the music for Home Alone? Answer: John Williams
Who narrates the 1966 How the Grinch Stole Christmas cartoon? Answer: Boris Karloff
Who wrote the jazz music for A Charlie Brown Christmas? Answer: Vince Guaraldi
Who directed The Nightmare Before Christmas? Answer: Henry Selick (Tim Burton produced it and came up with the story)
What actor won an Oscar for playing Kris Kringle in the original Miracle on 34th Street? Answer: Edmund Gwenn
What young actress plays Susan in the original Miracle on 34th Street? Answer: Natalie Wood
The Polar Express is based on a picture book by which author? Answer: Chris Van Allsburg
Christmas with the Kranks is based on which John Grisham novel? Answer:Skipping Christmas
Who plays Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol? Answer: Michael Caine
In Scrooged, Bill Murray plays a TV executive at what network? Answer: IBC
What is the name of the town in Klaus? Answer: Smeerensburg
In Frosty the Snowman, where does Frosty melt? Answer: In a greenhouse
What actor voices the conductor, Santa, and several other characters in The Polar Express? Answer: Tom Hanks
Christmas Movie Trivia Bonus Rounds
Use these to change up the pace between rounds or to finish the night.
Christmas Movie Quote Trivia
Read the line aloud. Teams name the movie. Give a bonus point if they can name the character who says it.
“Keep the change, ya filthy animal.” Answer:Home Alone (from the fake movie Kevin watches)
“Son of a nutcracker!” Answer:Elf (Buddy)
“You’ll shoot your eye out.” Answer:A Christmas Story
“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” Answer:It’s a Wonderful Life (Zuzu)
“Why is the carpet all wet, Todd?” “I don’t know, Margo!” Answer:National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
“I’m a cotton-headed ninny muggins!” Answer:Elf (Buddy)
“Welcome to the party, pal!” Answer:Die Hard (John McClane)
“Fra-gee-lay. It must be Italian!” Answer:A Christmas Story (the Old Man)
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Answer:Elf (Buddy)
“Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.” Answer:The Polar Express (the conductor)
Name the Year
Read the movie title. Teams write down the year it came out. Give 2 points for the exact year and 1 point for being within two years.
It’s a Wonderful LifeAnswer: 1946
Miracle on 34th Street (original) Answer: 1947
White ChristmasAnswer: 1954
A Christmas StoryAnswer: 1983
National Lampoon’s Christmas VacationAnswer: 1989
Home AloneAnswer: 1990
The Muppet Christmas CarolAnswer: 1992
The Nightmare Before ChristmasAnswer: 1993
The Santa ClauseAnswer: 1994
Jingle All the WayAnswer: 1996
ElfAnswer: 2003
The Polar ExpressAnswer: 2004
KlausAnswer: 2019
Multiple Choice Christmas Movie Trivia
Read all four options before teams answer. Multiple choice gives casual fans a fair shot.
In Jingle All the Way, what toy is every parent fighting over? A) Buzz Lightyear B) Turbo Man C) Tickle Me Elmo D) Power Ranger Answer: B) Turbo Man
Where does the McCallister family go in Home Alone 2? A) Paris B) London C) Florida D) Hawaii Answer: C) Florida (Kevin ends up in New York)
In Gremlins, which of these is NOT one of the rules for caring for Gizmo? A) No bright light B) Don’t get him wet C) Never feed him after midnight D) Never play music Answer: D) Never play music
In The Muppet Christmas Carol, who narrates the story as Charles Dickens? A) Kermit B) Fozzie C) Gonzo D) Animal Answer: C) Gonzo, with help from Rizzo the Rat
What is Jesper’s job in Klaus? A) Toymaker B) Postman C) Teacher D) Woodcutter Answer: B) Postman
In The Santa Clause, what is the name of the head elf? A) Bernard B) Hermey C) Jingle D) Pepper Answer: A) Bernard
In Miracle on 34th Street, what store hires Kris Kringle to play Santa? A) Gimbels B) Macy’s C) Sears D) Bloomingdale’s Answer: B) Macy’s
In Christmas with the Kranks, what do the Kranks plan to do instead of celebrating Christmas? A) Go on a cruise B) Visit family C) Work extra shifts D) Go skiing Answer: A) Go on a cruise
Is It a Christmas Movie?
Every group has this debate. Play this round last and let the arguments start.
In Die Hard, what is the name of the building where the Christmas party is held? Answer: Nakatomi Plaza
Who plays the villain Hans Gruber in Die Hard? Answer: Alan Rickman
In Die Hard, what does John McClane write on a villain’s sweatshirt? Answer: “Now I have a machine gun. Ho-ho-ho.”
In Gremlins, how does Billy get Gizmo? Answer: As a Christmas present from his dad
In The Nightmare Before Christmas, who is the Pumpkin King? Answer: Jack Skellington
What is the name of Jack Skellington’s ghost dog? Answer: Zero
In Love Actually, what job does Hugh Grant’s character have? Answer: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In Love Actually, what song does Joanna sing at the school Christmas concert? Answer: “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
In The Holiday, what do Amanda and Iris agree to do? Answer: Swap houses for two weeks over the holidays
In The Holiday, where does Iris live? Answer: Surrey, England
How to Play Christmas Movie Jeopardy
Jeopardy works well for classrooms, youth groups, and office parties because everyone can see the board. The levels on this page make it easy to set up.
Pick five or six categories. Use the movies from the medium round, like Elf, Home Alone, and Christmas Vacation, or a bonus round like Quotes.
Assign point values by level. Put easy questions at 100 and 200 points, medium questions at 300 and 400, and hard questions at 500.
Build the board. Use a whiteboard and sticky notes, or a free online game board on a shared screen.
Take turns. Teams pick a category and value. If they miss, the next team can steal.
Finish with Final Jeopardy. Teams bet any part of their points on one question from the hard round.
Host a Christmas Movie Trivia Night
Christmas movie trivia works as a party game, a youth group night, an office event, or a fundraiser. The planning is the same at any size:
2 to 3 Weeks Before
The Week Of
Trivia Night
👉 Turn trivia night into a fundraiser
Schools, churches, and clubs often run holiday trivia nights to raise money. Sell team or individual tickets online, see who's coming as tickets are claimed, and check people in at the door.
What are some good Christmas movie trivia questions? Questions about well-loved details work best. Think about what Ralphie wants in A Christmas Story (a Red Ryder BB gun), what Clark gets instead of a bonus in Christmas Vacation (the Jelly of the Month Club), or the four elf food groups in Elf. Mix in a few harder questions about directors and release years for the superfans.
What are some easy Christmas movie trivia questions for kids? Stick to cartoons and family movies. Ask what the Grinch’s dog is named (Max), what word is punched on the Polar Express ticket (Believe), or where the family goes in Home Alone (Paris). Kids also do well with multiple choice questions.
How do I mix easy and hard trivia for kids and adults? Put kids and adults on the same teams, then play an easy round, a medium round, and a hard round. Give more points for harder questions so every level matters. Kids can carry the easy round, and adults can take the lead on the hard one.
How many questions should a Christmas trivia game have? Three or four rounds of 8 to 10 questions fill about 45 minutes, which is plenty for most parties. For a longer trivia night, add a bonus round and a short break for snacks.
I’m hosting a Christmas movie trivia night. How do I keep track of teams? Use an online sign up with a slot for each team, and ask teams to add their name and number of players. You’ll know how many answer sheets and chairs to set out, and automatic reminders go out before the event.
Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? That depends on who you ask, which is what makes it great for trivia. The movie takes place at a company Christmas party on Christmas Eve, but it was released in July. Try it as the last question of the night and let teams make their case.
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Posted by Ally Patterson
