47 Christmas Horror Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

Rudolph’s nose isn’t the only thing getting splashed with red this year!

Christmas is known for its tranquility and cheer, a seasonal reprieve from the ills of the world…making it of course a prime target of some nasty, very naughty movies. The killers in our guide to the best- and worst-reviewed Christmas horror movies range from jilted psychos (Black Christmas) to fantastic beasts (Krampus) to artfully murderous clowns (Terrifer 3) to even so-not-jolly St. Nick himself (Rare Exports). And naturally no ho-ho-horror holiday would be complete without the classics (Gremlins), alongside the new contenders banging on the window to get in (Silent Night, Better Watch Out, Anna and the Apocalypse). After gathering all the movies, we ranked them by Tomatometer, with Certified Fresh films first.

For our most recent update, we’d simply go to pieces if we didn’t add Terrifier 3, as we see Art the Clown go slashing through the snow in a new gory genre classic.

Go ahead and make your list, check it twice, chances are you’re not surviving this holiday night!

#1

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
95% 92%

#1

Adjusted Score: 105664%

Synopsis: The film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved pumpkin king, who has become bored with the same annual... [More]

Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey

Directed By: Henry Selick

#2

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
89% 70%

#2

Adjusted Score: 92749%

Synopsis: A young boy named Pietari (Onni Tommila) and his friend Juuso (Ilmari Järvenpää) think a secret mountain drilling project near... [More]

Starring: Onni Tommila, Jorma Tommila, Ilmari Järvenpää, Peeter Jakobi

Directed By: Jalmari Helander

#3

Better Watch Out (2016)
89% 64%

#3

Adjusted Score: 91286%

Synopsis: Ashley travels to the suburban home of the Lerners to baby-sit their 12-year-old son Luke at Christmastime. She must soon... [More]

Starring: Levi Miller, Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, Dacre Montgomery

Directed By: Chris Peckover

#4

Gremlins (1984)
86% 78%

#4

Adjusted Score: 93294%

Synopsis: A gadget salesman is looking for a special gift for his son and finds one at a store in Chinatown.... [More]

Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Frances Lee McCain

Directed By: Joe Dante

#5

Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
77% 63%

#5

Adjusted Score: 83544%

Synopsis: A zombie apocalypse threatens the sleepy town of Little Haven - at Christmas - forcing Anna and her friends to... [More]

Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Sarah Swire, Christopher Leveaux

Directed By: John McPhail

#6

Terrifier 3 (2024)
77% 85%

#6

Adjusted Score: 84310%

Synopsis: After surviving Art the Clown's Halloween massacre, Sienna and her brother are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives. As the... [More]

Starring: David Howard Thornton, Lauren LaVera, Samantha Scaffidi, Chris Jericho

Directed By: Damien Leone

#7

Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022)
77% 42%

#7

Adjusted Score: 78823%

Synopsis: It's Christmas Eve and fiery record store owner Tori Tooms just wants to get drunk and party, until the robotic... [More]

Starring: Riley Dandy, Sam Delich, Jonah Ray, Dora Madison

Directed By: Joe Begos

#8

The Lodge (2019)
75% 51%

#8

Adjusted Score: 84187%

Synopsis: During a family retreat to a remote winter cabin over the holidays, the father is forced to abruptly depart for... [More]

Starring: Riley Keough, Jaeden Martell, Lia McHugh, Richard Armitage

Directed By: Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala

#9

The Curse of the Cat People (1944)
89% 65%

#9

Adjusted Score: 93644%

Synopsis: In this sequel to "Cat People," Oliver Reed (Kent Smith) is married to the lovely Alice Moore (Jane Randolph). The... [More]

Starring: Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Ann Carter, Jane Randolph

Directed By: Robert Wise, Gunther von Fritsch

#10

Carnage for Christmas (2024)
89% 0%

#10

Adjusted Score: 89262%

Synopsis: When true-crime podcaster and sleuth transwoman Lola visits her hometown at Christmas for the first time since running away and... [More]

Starring: Chris Asimos, Dominique Booth, Lewi Dawson, Olivia Deeble

Directed By: Alice Maio Mackay

#11

Inside (2007)
87% 75%

#11

Adjusted Score: 58732%

Synopsis: A scissor-wielding psychopath (Béatrice Dalle) terrorizes a pregnant widow (Alysson Paradis) on Christmas Eve.... [More]

Starring: Alysson Paradis, Béatrice Dalle, Nathalie Roussel, François-Régis Marchasson

Directed By: Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury

#12

The Retaliators (2021)
86% 89%

#12

Adjusted Score: 87279%

Synopsis: In THE RETALIATORS, an upstanding pastor uncovers a dark and twisted underworld as he searches for answers surrounding his daughter's... [More]

Starring: Michael Lombardi, Marc Menchaca, Joseph Gatt, Katie Kelly

Directed By: Bridget Smith, Samuel Gonzalez Jr.

#13

A Christmas Horror Story (2015)
83% 48%

#13

Adjusted Score: 83210%

Synopsis: Not even Santa Claus is safe from the evil that descends on Bailey Downs, a small town that is suddenly... [More]

Starring: William Shatner, George Buza, Rob Archer, Percy Hynes White

Directed By: Grant Harvey, Steven Hoban, Brett C. Sullivan

#14

Hosts (2020)
82% 26%

#14

Adjusted Score: 55789%

Synopsis: A family falls victim to unimaginable terror when they invite their sweet young neighbors over to celebrate Christmas Eve.... [More]

Starring: Neal Ward, Nadia Lamin, Frank Jakeman, Jennifer K Preston

Directed By: Adam Leader, Richard Oakes

#15

Await Further Instructions (2018)
81% 29%

#15

Adjusted Score: 81236%

Synopsis: On Christmas Day, a family wakes up to find a mysterious black substance surrounding its house, and its TV screen... [More]

Starring: David Bradley, Abigail Cruttenden, Holly Weston, Sam Gittins

Directed By: Johnny Kevorkian

#16

The Advent Calendar (2020)
80% 64%

#16

Adjusted Score: 80858%

Synopsis: Eva has been paraplegic for the past three years. When her birthday arrives, she receives a strange advent calendar as... [More]

Starring: Eugénie Derouand, Honorine Magnier, Clément Olivieri, Janis Abrikh

Directed By: Patrick Ridremont

#17

Red Snow (2021)
80% 87%

#17

Adjusted Score: 43319%

Synopsis: When an injured bat transforms into a handsome vampire, struggling horror novelist Olivia Romo hides him in her garage to... [More]

Starring: Dennice Cisneros, Nico Bellamy, Laura Kennon, Vernon Wells

Directed By: Sean Nichols Lynch

#18

Dead End (2003)
78% 59%

#18

Adjusted Score: 28105%

Synopsis: When a family en route to a Christmas Eve gathering decides to takes a shortcut down a wooded road, an... [More]

Starring: Ray Wise, Alexandra Holden, Lin Shaye, Mick Cain

Directed By: Jean-Baptiste Andrea, Fabrice Canepa

#19

The Day of the Beast (1995)
77% 85%

#19

Adjusted Score: 77100%

Synopsis: A heavy-metal fan (Santiago Segura) and a psychic (Armando De Razza) help a priest (Alex Angulo) seek the infant Antichrist... [More]

Starring: Álex Angulo, Armando De Razza, Santiago Segura, Terele Pavez

Directed By: Alex de la Iglesia

#20

The Children (2008)
75% 50%

#20

Adjusted Score: 53866%

Synopsis: Two families gather at an upscale English estate in late December. Elaine (Eva Birthistle) and her sister, Chloe (Rachel Shelley),... [More]

Starring: Eva Birthistle, Raffiella Brooks, Stephen Campbell Moore, Jake Hathaway

Directed By: Tom Shankland

#21

I Trapped the Devil (2019)
71% 44%

#21

Adjusted Score: 71959%

Synopsis: Hoping for a joyful family reunion, Matt and his wife pay a surprise visit to the home of his estranged... [More]

Starring: AJ Bowen, Jocelin Donahue, Scott Poythress, Susan Burke

Directed By: Josh Lobo

#22

Black Christmas (1974)
71% 76%

#22

Adjusted Score: 75235%

Synopsis: As winter break begins, a group of sorority sisters, including Jess (Olivia Hussey) and the often inebriated Barb (Margot Kidder),... [More]

Starring: Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, Keir Dullea, John Saxon

Directed By: Bob Clark

#23

Krampus (2015)
66% 52%

#23

Adjusted Score: 71837%

Synopsis: While the holiday season represents the most magical time of year, ancient European folklore warns of Krampus, a horned beast... [More]

Starring: Emjay Anthony, Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Stefania Owen

Directed By: Michael Dougherty

#24

Silent Night (2021)
66% 47%

#24

Adjusted Score: 71404%

Synopsis: From producers Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman franchise), Trudie Styler (Moon) and Celine Rattray (The Kids Are Alright), Silent Night follows parents... [More]

Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Roman Griffin Davis, Annabelle Wallis

Directed By: Camille Griffin

#25

Maniac Cop 2 (1991)
62% 53%

#25

Adjusted Score: 62300%

Synopsis: Renegade police officer Matthew Cordell (Robert Z'Dar) once roamed the streets of New York City unleashing his murderous brand of... [More]

Starring: Robert Davi, Claudia Christian, Michael Lerner, Bruce Campbell

Directed By: William Lustig

#26

All the Creatures Were Stirring (2018)
62% 30%

#26

Adjusted Score: 47427%

Synopsis: The joyful spirit of Christmas takes one dark turn after another -- from sadistic office parties and last-minute shopping nightmares... [More]

Starring: Constance Wu, Jonathan Kite, Mark Kelly, Jocelin Donahue

Directed By: Rebekah McKendry, David Ian McKendry

#27

Who Slew Auntie Roo? (1972)
60% 42%

#27

Adjusted Score: 60559%

Synopsis: Mrs. Forrest (Shelley Winters), who's known as "Auntie Roo," has a holiday tradition of inviting orphans to her mansion for... [More]

Starring: Shelley Winters, Mark Lester, Chloe Franks, Ralph Richardson

Directed By: Curtis Harrington

#28

Silent Night (2012)
62% 32%

#28

Adjusted Score: 41991%

Synopsis: A vicious killer dressed as Santa Claus hides in plain sight during a small town's annual Christmas festivities.... [More]

Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King, Donal Logue, Lisa Marie

Directed By: Steven C. Miller

#29

Christmas Evil (1980)
57% 36%

#29

Adjusted Score: 47183%

Synopsis: Eavesdropping on mother turns a boy into a killer (Brandon Maggart) who roams the streets dressed as Santa Claus.... [More]

Starring: Brandon Maggart, Dianne Hull, Scott McKay, Joe Jamrog

Directed By: Lewis Jackson

#30

Saint (2010)
55% 29%

#30

Adjusted Score: 27365%

Synopsis: A deadly medieval legend springs to life whenever there is a full moon on the 5th of December.... [More]

Starring: Huub Stapel, Egbert Jan Weeber, Caro Lenssen, Kees Boot

Directed By: Dick Maas

#31

It's a Wonderful Knife (2023)
55% 72%

#31

Adjusted Score: 58928%

Synopsis: A year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve, Winnie Carruthers' life is less than wonderful... [More]

Starring: Cassandra Naud, Justin Long, Joel McHale, Jane Widdop

Directed By: Tyler MacIntyre

#32

The Apology (2022)
52% 32%

#32

Adjusted Score: 52235%

Synopsis: Twenty years after the disappearance of her daughter, recovering alcoholic Darlene Hagen is preparing to host her family's Christmas celebration... [More]

Starring: Anna Gunn, Linus Roache, Janeane Garofalo, Holland Bailey

Directed By: Alison Locke

#33

Holidays (2016)
50% 25%

#33

Adjusted Score: 50540%

Synopsis: Nine filmmakers present horror stories that revolve around Valentine's Day, Saint Patrick's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween, Christmas... [More]

Starring: Madeleine Coghlan, Ruth Bradley, Isolt McCaffrey, Art Campion

Directed By: Dennis Widmyer, Kevin Kolsch, Gary Shore, Nicholas McCarthy

#34

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
50% 40%

#34

Adjusted Score: 51867%

Synopsis: An orphan raised by nuns (Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick) grows up to be a killer toy-store Santa Claus.... [More]

Starring: Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick, Toni Nero, Robert Brian Wilson

Directed By: Charles E. Sellier Jr.

#35

Red Christmas (2016)
45% 18%

#35

Adjusted Score: 45027%

Synopsis: A widow and her bickering family gather at her remote estate on Christmas Eve. She must soon protect them all... [More]

Starring: Dee Wallace, Geoff Morrell, Sarah Bishop, Janis McGavin

Directed By: Craig Anderson

#36

Wind Chill (2007)
44% 31%

#36

Adjusted Score: 44125%

Synopsis: Just before their university campus goes quiet for the winter break, a young woman (Emily Blunt) asks a classmate (Ashton... [More]

Starring: Emily Blunt, Ashton Holmes, Martin Donovan, Chelan Simmons

Directed By: Gregory Jacobs

#37

It Cuts Deep (2020)
40% 29%

#37

Adjusted Score: 12373%

Synopsis: While on Christmas vacation, a young man with commitment issues tries desperately to hang on to his relationship when a... [More]

Starring: Charles Gould, Alison Fraser, John Anderson, Chloe Roe

Directed By: Nicholas Santos

#38

Black Christmas (2019)
40% 31%

#38

Adjusted Score: 45381%

Synopsis: Hawthorne College is quieting down for the holidays as students travel home to spend time with their families. But as... [More]

Starring: Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany O'Grady

Directed By: Sophia Takal

#39

While She Was Out (2008)
38% 17%

#39

Adjusted Score: 27292%

Synopsis: Pushed to the breaking point, an abused woman (Kim Basinger) turns the tables on the gang of thugs who want... [More]

Starring: Kim Basinger, Lukas Haas, Craig Sheffer, Jamie Starr

Directed By: Susan Montford

#40

P2 (2007)
35% 36%

#40

Adjusted Score: 37103%

Synopsis: Angela (Rachel Nichols) is working late on Christmas Eve. When she finally decides to leave, she goes down to the... [More]

Starring: Wes Bentley, Rachel Nichols, Simon Reynolds, Philip Akin

Directed By: Franck Khalfoun

#41

Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987)
30% 28%

#41

Adjusted Score: 30048%

Synopsis: The younger sibling of the teenager who killed while dressed as Santa carries on in his brother's bloody footsteps.... [More]

Starring: Eric Freeman, James L. Newman, Elizabeth Clayton, Darrel Guilbeau

Directed By: Lee Harry

#42

The Mean One (2022)
23% 49%

#42

Adjusted Score: 23529%

Synopsis: One Christmas Eve in a sleepy mountain town, Cindy's family is killed and her Christmas is stolen by a bloodthirsty... [More]

Starring: David Howard Thornton, Krystle Martin, Chase Mullins, John Bigham

Directed By: Steven LaMorte

#43

Jack Frost (1997)
16% 31%

#43

Adjusted Score: 16464%

Synopsis: As notorious serial killer Jack Frost is being driven to his execution, the truck carrying the murderer encounters a bizarre... [More]

Starring: Scott MacDonald, Christopher Allport, Stephen Mendel, Eileen Seeley

Directed By: Michael Cooney

#44

Black Christmas (2006)
13% 38%

#44

Adjusted Score: 14957%

Synopsis: The holiday season turns deadly for a group of sorority sisters (Katie Cassidy, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Lacey Chabert, Michelle Trachtenberg)... [More]

Starring: Katie Cassidy, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Lacey Chabert, Michelle Trachtenberg

Directed By: Glen Morgan

#45

ATM (2012)
12% 23%

#45

Adjusted Score: 12302%

Synopsis: A murderous assailant traps three people (Alice Eve, Josh Peck, Brian Geraghty) in a small kiosk containing an automatic teller... [More]

Starring: Alice Eve, Josh Peck, Brian Geraghty, Steve Nagribianko

Directed By: David Brooks

#46

Elves (1989)
0% 30%

#46

Synopsis: A department-store Santa Claus (Dan Haggerty) discovers a neo-Nazi plot to mate a nice girl (Julie Austin) with an elf... [More]

Starring: Dan Haggerty, Deanna Lund, Julie Austin, Borah Silver

Directed By: Jeffrey Mandel