The 1980s were a golden age for Christmas TV. Networks rolled out original holiday specials, and every major character seemed to get a festive showcase. Then many of them vanished. They were seldom rerun, rarely released on home video, and today most are missing from streaming. For anyone who grew up in the glow of a tube TV, these are time capsules worth rediscovering.
Here are some of the lost 80s Christmas specials audiences still talk about.
A Garfield Christmas (1987)
Garfield and Odie visit the Arbuckle family farm for a story about tradition and memory. Sarcasm gives way to sentiment in one of the decade’s warmest specials.
He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985)
Two Earth kids land on Eternia and cross paths with Skeletor at his most unlikely. Pure toy-era energy that still plays as cheerful, earnest fun.
ALF’s Special Christmas (1987)
The Melmac wisecracker spends Christmas Eve at a hospital and learns some hard truths. This is an unexpectedly emotional hour that stands out in the series.
The Smurfs Christmas Special (1982)
Gargamel plots, the Smurfs rally, and a storybook winter setting carries the day. Cozy, musical, and very much of early 80s Saturday-morning TV.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)
Debuted in theaters, then became a TV staple through the 80s. Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge remains a perfect entry point to Dickens for younger viewers.
Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special (1988)
A glittery guest-packed hour that includes Oprah and Grace Jones. Wild, playful, and surprisingly sincere in between the gags.
The Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987)
Will Vinton’s stop motion showpiece, famous for the California Raisins performing “Rudolph.” A delightful mix of musical numbers and visual invention.
The Christmas Toy (1986)
Jim Henson’s gentle fable about toys that come alive when people leave the room. Tender and imaginative, with the unmistakable Henson warmth.
The Cabbage Patch Kids’ First Christmas (1984)
An animated snapshot of the decade’s biggest toy craze. Lightweight today, but pure 80s holiday pop culture.
The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
Aired only once on CBS in November 1978 and never rebroadcast. Not an ’80s special by date, but its underground VHS life made it a legend for ’80s kids. Chewbacca’s family celebrates Life Day in the strangest curiosity of the galaxy.
Why These 1980s Christmas Specials Went Missing
Most were one-night events built on time-limited rights. Music clearances, toy and character licensing, and archival issues kept them off reruns and streaming. A few survive in restored clips or broadcast recordings, but many remain unavailable through official channels.
