ALIEN XMAS
An adorable Christmas adventure where generosity changes hearts.
Should You Watch It?
Yes. This 40-minute Netflix special is adorable, easy to follow, and built around a clear moral: greed leaves the heart empty, while kindness, generosity, family, and sacrificial love bring true joy.
The animation is superb, and the simple dialogue and actions make the story accessible for children. Santa also speaks warmly about how wonderful babies are, giving the special strong pro-life and pro-family elements.
The one significant limitation is spiritual. ALIEN XMAS celebrates Christmas generosity but never directly addresses the birth of Jesus the Messiah, the true meaning of Christmas. Watch it with your family, then supply that part of the story yourself.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESX is the smallest and sneakiest member of the Klepts, an alien species that travels through space stealing from other planets. Sent to Earth to help plunder the North Pole, X arrives in Christmas Town and begins taking everything he can find.
But an elf mistakes X for a doll and gives him to his daughter, Holly. Her kindness and love begin changing what X believes about possessions, gifts, and the meaning of Christmas.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an especially successful family special. ALIEN XMAS has superb animation and a simple story that is easy to follow.
Its gentle humor and clear actions communicate the message without complicated dialogue. The special is reminiscent of Dr. Seuss’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, but its own emphasis falls on generosity replacing greed. It is short, focused, and heartfelt.
The Worldview
ALIEN XMAS presents a strong moral, redemptive worldview. It rebukes greed and praises kindness, family, sacrificial love, and generosity. The Klepts’ selfishness has destructive consequences, while Holly’s kindness helps transform X from the inside out.
The special is also strongly pro-life and pro-family. Santa tells the residents of Christmas Town how wonderful babies are. Holly longs for her family to be together while understanding that her father is working hard to help Santa give gifts to children around the world.
The central spiritual weakness is that the story celebrates the Christmas spirit without directly addressing the birth of Jesus the Messiah. Its message about sacrificial love can point toward the gospel, but the special does not make that connection itself.
Scripture gives the deeper reason generosity matters: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong moral worldview with redemptive elements extols family, generosity, kindness, and sacrificial love with some pro-life elements as Santa talks about how wonderful babies are, some pro-family elements as a daughter just wants her family to be together for Christmas but understands her father is helping Santa, so Santa can be generous to children around the world
Foul Language
No obscenities or profanities
Violence
Some light cartoon violence as aliens fight in a cloud of dust, aliens fire laser guns, and some explosions during an alien takeover
Sex
No sexual content
Nudity
Most of the aliens don’t wear clothes
Alcohol Use
No alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Aliens steal from each other and from other planets, but their behavior is rebuked as greedy, and generosity ultimately replaces greed.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The Klepts steal everything for themselves and become empty. Why does greed fail to satisfy, and how does generosity change us?
Luke 12:15 · 2 Corinthians 9:7Holly shows X kindness even though he is different from her. How can your family practice kindness toward someone who feels like an outsider?
Ephesians 4:32 · Hebrews 13:2Holly wants her family together but understands that her father is serving others. How can love involve both sacrifice and faithfulness at home?
Philippians 2:3–4 · 1 Corinthians 13:4–7The special celebrates Christmas generosity but does not mention Jesus’ birth. What should Christians remember is the true meaning of Christmas?
Luke 2:10–11 · John 3:16The Final Word
ALIEN XMAS is a beautifully animated, heartfelt special that gives families a clear lesson about generosity, kindness, and sacrificial love. Its Christmas message needs one important addition: Jesus. Watch it together, enjoy its redemptive themes, and talk about the Savior at the center of Christmas. WORTH THE TRIP.
