10 So-Bad-They're-Good Holiday Movies | ScreenRant
Plenty of holiday movies go on to become classics, but which celebratory films are loved because they're so bad they're good?
Some movies can be so bad in terms of overall quality that they become notoriously or unwatchably bad. But, there are times when those supposedly terrible films are loved by many viewers. Those "audience scores" that people see on film critic sites look starkly different from the critic scores now and then. From the comedies to the dramatic romances, some huge hits can seem so bad, and yet they're still just too good to stop watching.
Holiday classics sometimes don't need to be award-worthy to be enjoyed. Those films, rather, involve some form of a heartwarming mixture that convinces audiences to keep coming back to watch it every year. According to all critics' and audience remarks, here are some of the 10 sappiest, poor-quality, and ultimately bad holiday movies that are still too good to change the channel.
10 Four Christmases
Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon? That's certainly an interesting duo to throw into the realm of winter holiday flicks. But these two skillfully portray the couple in this film. The easygoing couple meets with both of their families for Christmas and, like with any awkward family gatherings, some questionable things happen, enough to make the two question their entire relationship.
From the scene when a baby projectile-spits onto Reese's character, Kate, to the little girl running around the bouncy castle with a used pregnancy test in her mouth, Four Christmases has some comically stupid, eye-roll-worthy scenes, but is an endearing little flick that'll surely kill two hours of time on a holiday off from work.
9 Deck The Halls
Who wouldn't want to watch Danny Devito and Matthew Broderick duke it out in a ridiculous fight over Christmas lights? The holiday favorite was obviously not the greatest quality film when it was released, but has hit the small screen every year simply because people enjoy its hilarity and family-oriented ultimatum.
According to many viewers and critics, the movie is terrible in the end, especially in the scene that involves both fathers cat-calling the girls dancing "Santa Baby" onstage until realizing that the girls are their daughters, and that is entirely disgusting. However, aside from some of its downsides, the neighbor warfare that ensues between the two is undoubtedly funny.
8 Unaccompanied Minors
The slapstick comedy successfully integrates an unrealistic storyline of what really happens in airports with unaccompanied minor travelers. A big ol' room full of little kids and teenagers wreaking havoc is a typical image that adolescents are associated with.
Portraying kids as rambunctious bullies is one of the most typical storylines that films have gone by for decades. Not only is it a genuine insult to adolescents, but the movie also just feels like it's trying too hard. Most of these bad holiday films have this in common. Despite all of this though, Unaccompanied Minors conveys that heartwarming holiday spirit combined with a modern adventurous element.
7 Christmas With The Kranks
Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen portray the Kranks couple perfectly. They're highly believable in bidding their daughter "goodbye" when she joins the Peace Corps, in sitting down to a boring dinner, and in seriously considering the idea to treat themselves to a cruise over the holidays.
However, is the film's theme of "skipping Christmas" absolutely relatable? According to many viewers, it is simply not believable how aggressive their neighbors become or how much of a modern, fake-tanned Scrooge that Allen later becomes. The entire suburban aura the film presents is considered misleading and, ergo, stupidly laughable.
6 Surviving Christmas
This film proves one thing, and that is how interesting a duo that Ben Affleck and James Gandolfini make. Affleck's affluent character, Drew, is the epitome of what a stale archetypal character is. The rich-boy persona reminds some viewers of the other holiday failure, Richie Rich's Christmas Wish.
But, at least Surviving Christmas includes some unique moments, like that memorable scene with Gandolfini hitting Affleck's character over the head with a shovel.
5 New Year's Eve
With an all-star cast, what could go wrong with this movie? That's exactly what viewers say did, indeed, go wrong with New Year's Eve because such a poor-quality, cheesy film tries to make up for its cliché storyline by throwing in a bunch of celebrities. But its method of tying in multiple people into separate little stories is successful. Every year, viewers gather on their living room couches to watch the New York City metro residents cross paths in (or near) Times Square for the holiday. Watching poor Abigail Breslin's character get her heart ripped out after watching her crush, Jake T. Austin's character, lock lips with another girl at midnight is truly a gut punch.
It's incredibly cheesy because of its themes: the woman that quits her job after realizing her worth, a teenage girl trying to break away from her overprotective mom's grasp, a couple vying for the midnight prize for the year's first newborn baby. The list goes on and on.
4 Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas
It's a shame that this film is considered one of the worst, yet easily watchable, holiday films. As the 17th film by Tyler Perry, it was expected to have been more uniquely funny. However, Perry portrays Madea effortlessly, causing various audiences to bust with laughter. The quick and witty responses from Madea are unforgettable moments, and it's difficult not to laugh along.
Nonetheless, the film has been accused of following the recognizable, formulaic family rivalry and holiday cacophony, with some critics claiming that the entire movie felt like it was rushed to hit the big screen.
3 Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
How on earth is this considered a poor quality film? Many fans of the Jim Carrey classic will contest this claim, but it is, unfortunately, one of those low-quality movies because of its darker, even somewhat violent scenes. The film was even nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award, to the dismay of fans.
The reason why it's still so good though is because of Carrey's brilliance. His cartoonish mannerisms, facial expressions, and voice complete the whole Whoville-based flick. It's difficult not to giggle at his performance, primarily the scene that fans recall him asking himself, "but what will I WEAR?!" The meme-able movie is also adorable through its portrayal of Cindy Lou Who and the Grinch's childhood history.
2 Disney's A Christmas Carol
This animated adaptation of the classic story really has become a traditional and fun family or individual watch. Jim Carrey is in another holiday role, and this time, his talent strongly conveys Ebeneezer Scrooge's initial "bah humbug" demeanor.
The critical response to the movie is half positive and half negative, with the negative reviews attributing its lower quality to the overbearing special effects. Disney's remake of the classic tale is ultimately distracted by a lot of artistic flourishes throughout the film.
1 Why Him?
A lot of people will claim that this comedy isn't a holiday film. But, it actually takes place around the holidays and weaves in the whole "conservative-father-meets-daughter's-weirdo-boyfriend" theme well. James Franco's portrayal of Laird is hard to suppress laughing at, and he and Bryan Cranston make a hysterical duo.
Despite how nice Laird is, a lot of viewers believe that this storyline is flawed due to its exhausted theme of father-versus-daughter's-fiancé.