Peanuts began as a comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz in 1950. The four-panel strip featured the events of main character Charlie Brown and his friends. The strip proved immensely popular, and would later inspire a Christmas-themed animated special in 1965; the special’s success would prompt more specials, shows, and movies up to the present. Peanuts has remained an incredibly influential and beloved creation, in the worlds of both comics and television, with specials that have entertained viewers for generations. Here are the best Peanuts movies and specials, ranked.
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8 The Peanuts Movie (2015)
20th Century Fox
The Peanuts Movie marks the first digital feature-length Peanuts movie. It follows the characters as Charlie tries more things to earn the attention of the Little Red-Haired Girl. Despite the ups and downs along the way, it ends on a happy note, with Charlie being praised for his honesty and compassion. Done in digital animation, it may not be the design fans are used to, but it remains cute and simplistic, capturing the characters well. It serves as a loving take on the characters that will delight fans old and new.
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7 Snoopy, Come Home! (1972)
National General
A feature-length movie, Snoopy, Come Home! details the heartbreak of Snoopy leaving Charlie to go back to his original owner, who was forced to give him up when her apartment didn’t allow dogs. As she is now in the hospital and needs him, Snoopy is compelled to go back to her. Snoopy’s going-away party is one of the most emotional moments in the franchise, as is the scene of him returning to Charlie. It’s a sweet movie that celebrates Charlie’s beloved dog and his importance to the characters.
6 A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969)
National General Pictures
A Boy Named Charlie Brown is the first full-length feature with the characters; though a feature was originally rejected in 1965, it was accepted two years later as Charlie Brown proved popular, per Our Culture. The movie sees Charlie take on the National Spelling Bee, after receiving good wishes from his classmates, and Linus’ blanket for luck. He is ironically eliminated for misspelling beagle, and climbs into bed in embarrassment. Charlie claims he will never do anything again, but Linus, in one of his wisest moments, says that the worst happened, and the world is still turning. It’s a strong movie with a kind, encouraging lesson about failure.
5 Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975)
Lee Mendelson Film Productions
One of the most heartbreaking specials, Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown sees Charlie and Linus get crushed on a holiday meant to celebrate love. Linus plans to give his teacher a box of chocolates, only for her to leave with her boyfriend. Charlie fares even worse; he doesn’t receive any valentines in class, and gets a used valentine the next day out of pity, which he accepts though he knows he shouldn’t. It’s one of the more depressing specials, but it does have some nice visuals, music, and moments of friendship between Charlie and Linus.
4 It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974)
It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown centers around Easter celebrations for the group. As everyone gets ready for the holiday, Linus says they don’t need to, because the Easter Beagle will. Despite everyone’s doubts, Snoopy poses as the Easter Beagle and hands out eggs. This fun special has great moments for all the characters, like Snoopy buying Woodstock a new birdhouse, and everyone having fun in the mall. It also has a hilarious sequence when Patty tries to color Easter eggs with Marcie, only for Marcie to mess up in every way imaginable. It’s lighter than other specials, and a fun watch.
3 A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
United Feature Syndicate
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving sees Patty invite herself to Charlie’s for Thanksgiving dinner. Unable to tell her he’s going to his grandmother’s, he decides to throw a small dinner for the group, consisting of toast, popcorn, pretzels, and jelly beans. Linus recites the prayer from the first Thanksgiving before Patty reacts in outrage over the food. It’s one of the funnier specials, with Snoopy fighting a chair, and the mess he creates getting the dinner ready, but it also has the weight of Patty learning her lesson, and seeing what Thanksgiving is really about.
2 It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Similar to the Easter special, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown follows Linus’ quest to stay awake on Halloween night and see the Great Pumpkin rise in the pumpkin patch. Despite everyone’s ridicule and disbelief, he skips trick-or-treating to wait for the pumpkin, yet never sees him. Charlie’s night of trick-or-treating doesn’t go well, as he only receives rocks, and is teased by everyone at a party. It’s a little sad, though it has a nice moment of Charlie and Linus commiserating together at the end.
1 A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
The very first Peanuts special and still the best, A Charlie Brown Christmas follows the characters as they celebrate Christmas. Charlie feels depressed despite the cheer of the holiday, and directs the local Christmas play to cheer himself up. This dejects him further, as he finds everyone acting ridiculously and giving into the commercial aspects of Christmas. To combat this, he brings a real Christmas tree to the play. After the others mock its small size, they re-evaluate the meaning of Christmas and welcome Charlie and his tree. Smithsonian Magazine reported that the special was seen as risky and likely to flop, yet it was well-received, and remains so. From the colorful animation, to the iconic soundtrack, to the hopeful sincerity, it’s one of the best Christmas shows ever.
