Christmastime is here, so it’s time for an annual rewatch of A Charlie Brown Christmas

Christmastime is here, so it’s time for an annual rewatch of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Six years after Charles M. Schulz introduced the world to the Peanuts comic strip, CBS aired the animated short A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965. To the surprise of network executives, more than 15 million households tuned in that day, per Smithsonian Magazine, and the half-hour TV special went on to win a Peabody and an Emmy.

A Charlie Brown Christmas ran annually on CBS for 35 years before the Peanuts franchise, which to date includes more than 50 specials, was acquired by ABC in 2001. It kept up the tradition for the next 18 years.

“The continued success of the special has surprised me as much as anyone,” Schulz told TV Guide in 1985. “A lot of the drawings are terrible.”

In 2020, Apple TV obtained the rights to the beloved Peanuts catalog, meaning Charlie Brown and his friends would no longer make annual appearances on network television. That said, the streaming platform offers fans the opportunity to watch the title free for two days during the holiday season.

Here’s everything to know about where to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas.

What is A Charlie Brown Christmas about?

What is Christmas all about? That’s the question a somber Charlie Brown seeks to answer in A Charlie Brown Christmas.

The titular character is discouraged by the commercialism of Christmas — decorating contests, presents and expensive aluminum trees — and he can’t quite pinpoint why he’s in “sad shape” while all his friends are filled with glee.

To bring Charlie Brown out of his holiday slump, Lucy suggests he get involved with the festivities and appoints him director of the school Christmas play. She also tasks him with finding the perfect tree. Meanwhile, Linus takes a different approach and shares the nativity story with Charlie Brown.

The 30-minute animated special sheds light on the true meaning of the season, and Charlie Brown ultimately teaches the gang a thing or two about friendship and gratitude.

Where can I watch A Charlie Brown Christmas for free?

For those who don’t have an Apple TV subscription, you’re in luck!

Which channel is showing A Charlie Brown Christmas?

A Charlie Brown Christmas will not air on network TV in 2025.

After Apple TV acquired the rights to the Peanuts franchise, the streaming service struck a deal with PBS, and the holiday classic last aired on TV in 2020 and 2021.