“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” returns to its original home of NBC for the second consecutive year.
The classic stop-motion Christmas special has been charming TV audiences of all ages since it debuted on NBC in 1964. It continued airing on the network every holiday season through 1972 before moving to another network.
The movie returned to NBC in 2025 after more than 50 years and it’s back again this year to spread more holiday cheer.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” tells the heartwarming story of a shy reindeer who becomes the leader of Santa’s sleigh pack thanks to the very thing — his glowing red nose — that once made him an outcast.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” this year.
How to Watch ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ on TV in 2025
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” airs on NBC on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
If you miss the special, or simply want to enjoy it again, catch an encore presentation on Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
What Is ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ About?
The timeless holiday special tells the story of a doe-eyed, red-nosed reindeer, who learns to love the unique attribute that separated him from his reindeer peers after it allows him to lead Santa’s pack of sleigh reindeers through dicey weather on Christmas Eve.
One of the most iconic lines from the stop-motion film is when Santa turns to Rudolph and says, “Rudolph, with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
The story of Rudolph is based on a story created by Robert L. May in the 1930s, and it gained more popularity when Johnny Marks wrote a song about it in the 1940s.
In 1964, NBC released its TV special, which included more characters and a more detailed storyline.
An Impact That’s Lasted More than 60 Years
When “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2024, NBC’s Joe Fryer spoke to one of the movie’s original voice actors about how the movie still resonates with fans today.
“We had no idea that we would be seeing this for 60 years afterward,” said Corinne Conley, who voiced Rudolph’s mother.
Conley added, “It’s nice to have been involved in something that affects people so warmly.”
