The countdown to Christmas means different things for every family, but there's probably one thing you all agree on – Christmas movies. Everyone loves a good festive flick, no matter what your age or how many times you've seen it before.

There's nothing better than getting cosy on the sofa with your family and settling in for an evening in front of the TV with a heart-warming Christmas film. But which movies should your military family be watching?

While any Xmas film will be fun to watch, there are a few that might be of more interest to those in the Armed Forces, especially if your little ones have an interest in what you do. Here are five great Christmas movies that you're sure to love this December:

Home Alone and Home Alone 2

We've put these two together because the premise is pretty much the same and both films are absolutely brilliant – we'll leave it to you to argue about which is the best though. 

Both Home Alone films follow Kevin McCallister, first when he is left at home on his own when his family go to Paris for Christmas, leaving him to defend the house from burglars. The second film sees Kevin make it to the airport ready for the family's festive trip but get on the wrong plane, which has him end up in New York where he runs into the same burglars.

As well as being fun and a little bit ridiculous, the film also includes some pretty good defense tactics – even if they wouldn't really work – which is sure to interest everyone. Just be careful, though, as you might find it inspires the kids to try their own traps in your home.

Arthur Christmas

This animated adventure starring the voice stylings of James McAvoy and Bill Nighy is a lot of fun and has a pretty strong military influence. It shows Father Christmas' family and how they have progressed from delivering presents via sleigh to a well-oiled mission-style Christmas, complete with elves in camouflage, a high-tech plane and mission control.

As well as being entertaining, there's a great message about the real meaning of Christmas and the importance of family. There's definitely something for everyone so it's well worth a watch. 

Gremlins

This may be a bit of an old film, but it is still as good as ever. Gremlins is about an adorable creature in a small US town who requires very specific care. When a rule gets broken, one cute Gremlin becomes a handful of nightmare ones, who then try and ruin Christmas for everyone.

A lot happens in the film as a teen tries to get rid of the gremlins before they can wreak more havoc, with plenty of action to keep big and little kids entertained. This may not be your typical festive family offering, but it's still a must-watch.

The Santa Clause

What happens when you make Santa fall off your roof on Christmas Eve? Well, it seems you put on his suit and take over his job – even if you don't really want to! The Santa Clause follows Scott Calvin as he tries to deal with becoming the legendary festive character after thinking that someone was trying to break into his house.

You'll get to see how his personality changes, advances that the elves at the North Pole make to ensure he can do his job better and Father Christmas involved in a police chase. This may not be an overtly military film, but the action and adventure elements will keep the whole family on the edge of their seats.

Jingle All the Way

Parents hunting for that elusive popular toy this Christmas will be able to relate with Arnold Schwarzenegger on this one. Swapping his Terminator credentials for some festive fun, Arnie is desperately trying to get his hands on the Turbo-Man action figure for his son.

What follows is a mad dash to find the toy, which sees Arnie fighting Father Christmas with candy-cane nunchucks, taking on the role of Turbo-Man complete with jetpack and fighting off a villain to get the toy and save his son. The whole film is a little bit ridiculous, but it will put a smile on everyone's face.

What Christmas movie does your Forces family like the most?