18 of the best anti-Christmas movies to watch if you're over the holidays already
Miramax
- If you're sick and tired of "Love Actually" and "It's a Wonderful Life," you're not alone.
- There are plenty of holiday movies that are full of blood, guts, laughs, and more.
- Here are 18 of the best anti-Christmas Christmas movies.
Christmas movies are a huge industry and some, like "The Holiday," "Elf," or "Home Alone" are both wholesome and were huge box-office smashes. Others made less impact at the box office — see "A Christmas Story" and "It's A Wonderful Life" — but still became beloved classics.
But for every movie that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, there are horror, action, or black comedy films set around the holidays that might make you feel a bit differently about the holiday season.
Here are some of the best anti-Christmas Christmas films to watch when you've heard enough angelic carols and drank enough eggnog for lifetime.
Netflix
"Carry-On" is essentially "Die Hard" in an airport — don't worry, "Die Hard" also appears on this list. It stars Taron Egerton as a lone TSA worker who is blackmailed into helping a terrorist known only as The Traveler (Jason Bateman) smuggle nerve gas onto a plane, all while his wife, Nora (Sofia Carson), is being held hostage.
What else could you ask for? We ranked this as our favorite of Netflix's six new holiday films this year. It should not be missed.
"Carry-On" is streaming on Netflix.
Paramount Pictures
When Liam, a sixth-grader who has dyslexia, accidentally addresses his letter to "Satan" instead of "Santa," hijinks ensue. Instead of St. Nick, Satan, a low-level demon played by Jack Black, shows up to help Liam gain back some confidence ... for the low price of his soul, of course.
Anyone who loves to see Black going wild should fire this movie up. It will not disappoint.
"Dear Santa" is streaming on Paramount+.
Amazon MGM Studios
In the world of "Red One," Santa Claus (JK Simmons) is totally ripped and loves to lift weights. He's also protected by a Secret Service-esque agency that knows him by the codename Red One. When Santa is kidnapped, his best agent, Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson), teams up with a talented hacker and bounty hunter, Jack O'Malley (Chris Evans), to get him back.
"Red One" is streaming on Prime Video.
Universal Pictures
"Violent Night" stars David Harbour as Santa Claus, but not like any Santa you've seen before. When a rich family is targeted by a band of mercenaries at their mansion on Christmas Eve, Santa decides to stick around and take them down.
The mercenaries all have Christmas-themed code names, including their leader Scrooge, played by the always-great John Leguizamo.
If you're looking for some very visceral action and a Santa who used to be a bloodthirsty Viking, turn on your TV now.
"Violent Night" is streaming on Starz.
20th Century Fox
"Die Hard," released in 1988, stars Bruce Willis as John McClane, an NYPD detective traveling to Los Angeles to attend his estranged wife's holiday party at her building, Nakatomi Plaza. That same night, radical German terrorist Hans Gruber, played by Alan Rickman, decides to execute his plan to take the entire building hostage to steal hundreds of millions of dollars.
There's been much debate over the years whether "Die Hard" is a real Christmas movie, or a movie that just happens to take place on Christmas Eve.
Whichever side you fall on, it works as a thrilling action movie.
"Die Hard" is steaming on Disney+, Hulu, and Tubi.
Warner Bros. Pictures
The sequel to 1989's "Batman," 1992's "Batman Returns" stars Michael Keaton once again as Bruce Wayne, aka Batman. This time, he's joined by Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, Danny DeVito as the Penguin, and Christopher Walken as sleazy businessman Max Shreck.
Director Tim Burton's gothic version of Gotham City is all decked out for the holidays in "Batman Returns," covered in snow, Christmas lights, and a huge tree.
Plus, one of the most famous lines from the movie involves the potentially lethal nature of mistletoe.
This sequel isn't for the faint of heart, with the Penguin's overall disgusting vibe, the multiple attempted murders of Catwoman, and the overall dour vibes of Gotham City.
"Batman Returns" is streaming on Max.
Miramax
In the 2003 black comedy "Bad Santa," Billy Bob Thornton plays Willie, a small-time crook who secures a gig as a mall Santa every year — and this year, it works out in his favor as he meets Sue (played by Lauren Graham), a woman with a full-blown Santa fetish.
Along the way, Willie meets a young boy, Thurman, who he takes under his wing, gets blackmailed by a mall security guard (played by Bernie Mac), and learns a bit about the meaning of Christmas.
The less we say about 2016's "Bad Santa 2," the better.
"Bad Santa" is streaming on Paramount+ and Pluto TV.
Archive Photos/Getty Images
A true '80s classic, "Gremlins" is the tale of Billy Peltzer, played by Zach Galligan, who receives a mogwai for Christmas from his dad, accompanied by three simple rules: Don't expose the mogwai to sunlight; don't let it touch water; and don't let it eat after midnight.
Of course, everything goes wrong, the entire town is invaded by gremlins on Christmas Eve, and more than one person dies at the hands of Stripe, Gizmo, and the rest of them.
"Gremlins" and its sequel "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" are both quintessential anti-Christmas Christmas movies.
"Gremlins" and "Gremlins 2" are streaming on Max.
Universal Pictures
Starring Adam Scott and Toni Collette, 2015's "Krampus" follows the Engel family, who are more than a little dysfunctional. When Max, the youngest son and the only true believer in Santa, curses his family and loses his Christmas spirit, he inadvertently summons Krampus, a horned demon that punishes any family that doesn't respect the holidays.
Come for the surprisingly solid cast, stay for the festively gruesome kills and German folklore.
"Krampus" is streaming on Peacock and Max.
Warner Bros. Pictures
"Black Christmas," released in 1974, is a true '70s slasher. It follows three sorority sisters who are targeted by a mysterious caller only known as "The Moaner," who terrorizes them just before they're set to go home for Christmas break.
There won't be anything bloodier and less jolly on this list than "Black Christmas," but it has staying power — the film was remade in 2006 and 2019, though neither is as good as the original.
"Black Christmas" is streaming for free on various websites, including Peacock, Prime Video, Tubi, Crackle, YouTube, and more.
Warner Bros. Pictures
A California Christmas is already an odd combination, as many associate the holidays with cold temperatures, snow, and general coziness, not 85-degree weather, shorts, and sunshine.
Add in a dark criminal conspiracy, a thief played by Robert Downey Jr., a gay detective played by Val Kilmer, and a childhood crush played by Michelle Monaghan, and you have a solid neo-noir on your hands — and yes, it takes place at Christmas.
"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" is available to rent online.
Vertigo Releasing
Starring Ella Hunt as Anna, a student who is planning to take a gap year before university, "Anna and the Apocalypse," released in 2017, is like "High School Musical" meets "Shaun of the Dead" meets Christmas.
Anna and her friends, on the night of their school's Christmas show, discover that their town (and later country) has been infected by a zombie virus ... all while singing about their feelings.
A particularly memorable set piece takes place at a Christmas tree warehouse.
"Anna and the Apocalypse" is streaming on Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel.
Miramax Films
With a cast of A-listers like Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron, and Gary Sinise, 2000's "Reindeer Games" is filled with action, multiple plot twists, stolen identities, and Affleck dressed up as Santa attempting to rob a casino.
"Ocean's 11" this is not, but "Reindeer Games" provides the laughs and only a little bit of Christmas cheesiness at the end.
"Reindeer Games" is streaming on Paramount+.
New Line Cinema
Geena Davis plays Samantha Caine, a schoolteacher with amnesia who discovers she has the skills of an expert assassin. To figure out who she really is, she hires a private investigator named Mitch Henessey (Samuel L. Jackson).
"The Long Kiss Goodnight," released in 1996, also has an iconic action set piece at a Christmas parade where Davis dresses up as Mrs. Claus, if you needed any more convincing to turn this on.
"The Long Kiss Goodnight" is streaming on Pluto TV.
Magnolia Pictures
Sin-Dee Rella, played by Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, meets up with her friend Alexandra, played by Mya Taylor, on Christmas Eve, soon after she was released from prison. This 2015 film follows the two friends on their Hollywood escapades over the next few days as they catch up, look for clients, support each other's work, and more.
"Tangerine" is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
Focus Features
"The Ice Harvest," released in 2005, stars John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton as unlikely allies who team up to steal from their mobster boss, played by Randy Quaid. When the two are stuck in town due to icy roads, they're left to their own devices to entertain themselves in Wichita, Kansas, during the holiday season.
Rounding out the cast is Connie Nielsen as a woman who runs a strip club in town (and is the object of Cusack's affection), Oliver Platt as one of Cusack's friends, and Mike Starr as a mob enforcer.
"The Ice Harvest" is available to rent online.
Warner Bros.
The 1987 film "Lethal Weapon" is the story of LAPD narcotics sergeant Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and homicide sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) teaming up to take down a criminal conspiracy. It's also another California Christmas film.
Throughout the film, there are many reminders of the holiday season, including lights, Christmas trees — and frequent shootings, murders, and more. But it can still be considered a holiday classic!
"Lethal Weapon" is streaming on Hulu.
Universal Pictures
The Belgian city of Bruges has never looked better than in this 2008 film, as it's decorated for the holidays — too bad its charms are wasted on Ray (Farrell), who compares being in Bruges to being in hell.
This is a story of redemption and friendship, as Gleeson's character Ken sticks by his friend, even after Ray accidentally kills a kid.
If you enjoyed "The Banshees of Inisherin," which recently starred Farrell and Gleeson, try watching their first collaboration.
"In Bruges" is available to rent online.