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Take a sleigh ride with the most famous reindeer in history: Where to watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

By Aysha Ashley Househ

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER - A misfit reindeer and his friends look for a place that will accept them. (NBCUniversal)
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER - A misfit reindeer and his friends look for a place that will accept them. (NBCUniversal) /
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It’s that time of year where the sleigh bells are jingling, ring tingle tingling too! It’s hard not to get into the holiday spirit with all the fun, lights, and movies around us. During this time of year, there’s classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas, Home Alone, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas to tune into and watch. Another popular holiday film is the 1964 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer musical animation! Where can you watch?

The special tells the classic story of Rudolph, who is left out of playing games with his fellow reindeers because he’s different with his bright red nose. And so, our favorite reindeer goes on an adventure with Hermey, and elf who wants to be a dentist, and Yukon Cornelius, a prospector. As they journey, they meet Sam the Snowman and are lead to an island of misfit toys, per the synopsis.

It’s certainly time for Rudolph to guide the way with his very shiny nose and lead us towards all the different ways to watch the almost hour-long film this holiday season. There are ways to watch on TV, stream the movie, or even purchase it for yourself. Read on below for all the ways to watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER – A misfit reindeer and his friends look for a place that will accept them. (NBCUniversal) /

Where to watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Thankfully, there’s multiple ways to catch the classic story. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is available to watch on Freeform as part of the channel’s annual “25 Days of Christmas” schedule, as well as purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. The movie has already aired on CBS on Nov. 27, 2023, but that’s ok! Freeform will broadcast the stop-motion film multiple times, including on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We shared all the ways you can watch below, including the Freeform schedule:

  • Watch it on: Freeform and Roku
  • Buy it on: Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu
  • Rent it on: None

You can buy the Christmas production for $7.99 on Apple TV, $9.99 on Prime Video, or $9.99 on Vudu. There’s no traditional streaming homes or spots to rent the special at this time.

Freeform can be accessed through a cable subscription, Fubo, YouTube TV for $72.99/month, or Hulu + Live TV. Here’s all the days to mark on your calendars so you don’t miss Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on Freeform:

  • Sunday, Dec. 3 – 7:10 p.m. ET
  • Monday, Dec. 4 – 5:50 p.m. ET
  • Wednesday, Dec. 20 – 8:15 p.m. ET
  • Thursday, Dec. 21 – 5:15 p.m. ET
  • Sunday, Dec. 24 – 5:35 p.m. ET
  • Monday, Dec. 25 – 3:30 p.m. ET
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER–Narrated by Burl Ives, who is also heard as the voice of Sam the Snowman, this favorite is a music story based on the popular song of the same name by Johnny Marks. It recounts the tale of a shy reindeer whose Christmas spirit is dampened because his shiny nose has made him the laughing stock of all of Christmasville. Photo: © Classic Media
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER–Narrated by Burl Ives, who is also heard as the voice of Sam the Snowman, this favorite is a music story based on the popular song of the same name by Johnny Marks. It recounts the tale of a shy reindeer whose Christmas spirit is dampened because his shiny nose has made him the laughing stock of all of Christmasville. Photo: © Classic Media /

A brief history of the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special

We were first introduced to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on Dec. 6, 1964. At that time, the film was broadcast exclusively on NBC up until 1972. That’s where it moved to CBS and the network has been one of the movie’s homes since. The production has been broadcast every single year since its debut in 1964, which means it’s the longest continuously running Christmas TV special in the United States. Imagine that! Even longer than A Charlie Brown Christmas. Wow!

Of course as many of us know, the film is based on the infamous 1949 song of the same name by Johnny Marks. And that tune was based on the poem also of the same name by the artist’s brother-in-law Robert L. May. He published the poem in 1939. If you need a refresher, here’s all the songs featured in the musical special:

  • “Jingle, Jingle, Jingle” – Santa Claus
  • “We Are Santa’s Elves” – Elves
  • “There’s Always Tomorrow” – Clarice
  • “We’re a Couple of Misfits” – Rudolph and Hermey
  • “Silver and Gold” – Sam the Snowman
  • “The Most Wonderful Day of the Year” – Misfit Toys
  • “A Holly Jolly Christmas” – Sam the Snowman
  • “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” – Sam the Snowman

Overall, the movie is a very popular one for us viewers during the holiday season, and the stop-motion has even gained a cult following. Just imagine how many years it’s been going on. And the universal message and story has been able to keep audiences from different generations interested and hooked. I think that’s what really makes this movie special. It’s timeless. Whether you’re an adult who first saw it years ago or a child of the modern age, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will always be a part of our history!

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