The Best Christmas Movies for People Who Hate Christmas Movies

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As a movie critic, I get it – the holidays are about family, relaxation, and maybe a little overindulgence before those New Year’s resolutions kick in. And, naturally, we all watch movies! But let’s be honest, if you’re on vacation and just trying to soak up the holiday spirit, sometimes you don’t want to watch the same classics – Home Alone, The Grinch, It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf – for the millionth time. You want something… different.

It just doesn’t feel like Christmas without watching at least one holiday movie. But if you’re not really in the Christmas mood and traditional films aren’t your thing, we’ve put together a list of movies that offer a bit of seasonal cheer without all the typical sweetness – perfect for those who can’t stand regular Christmas movies!

We’ve put together a variety of films that approach Christmas from all angles. This includes action movies that take place during the holidays, horror films that use Christmas as a setting for scary events, comedies simply set at Christmastime, and dramas that reveal the darker side of the season.

These movies use Christmas as just a backdrop – they don’t offer heartwarming messages about peace and goodwill, and most won’t leave you feeling very happy. If you’re not a fan of typical Christmas cheer, these films are perfect for you.

(Note: Die Hard is not on this list. As has long been established, Die Hard is a Christmas movie.)

Great Christmas Movies for People Who Hate Christmas Movies

Black Christmas (1974)

The Canadian horror film Black Christmas is a classic holiday slasher that remains influential today. Often considered one of the very first films in the slasher genre, it paved the way for movies like John Carpenter’s Halloween and countless home invasion thrillers, especially those set during the holiday season. It’s the ideal Christmas movie for anyone who isn’t feeling festive and prefers a terrifying story about a group of sorority sisters stalked by a killer – give us suspense and thrills over heartwarming tales of love and family any day!

12 Monkeys (1995)

There’s a popular idea that the movie 12 Monkeys is actually a Christmas film. It’s largely set in December 1996, and it makes a strange kind of sense – the holiday travel season would be the perfect time for terrorists to release a deadly virus. You can catch glimpses of this festive atmosphere throughout the film, like when Bruce Willis’s character is buying his Hawaiian shirt in a department store with a brightly lit Christmas tree in the background. Unbeknownst to everyone, that Christmas in 1996 would be the last one humanity would ever experience.

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

It’s no surprise to find Eyes Wide Shut on this list. The film follows a man grappling with the suspicion that his wife is unfaithful, and his attempt to uncover the truth leads him into a mysterious secret society. Despite being a dark and unsettling story about sex, greed, and violence, the movie is visually filled with Christmas trees, decorations, and lights. While the original story, Dream Story, took place during Carnival in the 1920s, director Stanley Kubrick cleverly set his film during Christmas in 1990s Greenwich Village, creating a striking contrast between the festive atmosphere and the film’s troubling themes.

Go (1999)

With a complicated story about a woman trying to make rent by selling drugs and getting caught in an undercover operation, Go isn’t your typical holiday movie. Surprisingly, it is set during Christmas, which actually fits the film’s chaotic energy – the holidays can be incredibly stressful. It’s filled with mature themes like sex, drugs, strong language, and violence – things we often try to avoid during a time of peace and goodwill. Despite all that, Go technically qualifies as a Christmas movie.

Bad Santa (2003)

It’s no surprise that Bad Santa is on this list – it’s practically the opposite of a traditional holiday movie! Billy Bob Thornton plays Willie, a cynical thief who poses as a mall Santa each December. He and his partner, disguised as an elf, use the job as a cover to rob the store. Willie’s also battling addictions, which makes him a terrible Santa and a risky partner in crime. While set during Christmas, Bad Santa is really a hilarious crime comedy that intentionally clashes with the warm, fuzzy feelings of the season. It’s a wonderfully outrageous take on the holidays!

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

As a huge Shane Black fan, I’ve always known his films have a Christmas thing going on, but Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is probably his most twisted take on the holiday. It’s this wild story about a thief posing as an actor who’s learning to be a cop from a real private eye. Then, to win over a girl from his past, he becomes a private investigator and gets tangled up in a serious crime. Honestly, the Christmas setting feels almost accidental, but it’s where Black first started experimenting with mixing festive cheer and gritty crime. It’s definitely not your typical Christmas movie, but it’s still a wonderfully chaotic ride.

In Bruges (2008)

You might be surprised, but In Bruges can actually be considered a Christmas movie! While it definitely isn’t a cheerful one, the story takes place during the Christmas season. It follows Ray, a hitman played by Colin Farrell, who messes up a job and is sent to hide out in Bruges, Belgium with his partner, Ken (Brendan Gleeson). The film is full of dark themes like guilt, punishment, and everyday struggles, giving it a somewhat biblical feel. And, like the Grinch, the main character finds a bit of redemption by the end – so we’re including it on the list. Just be warned, it’s not exactly a family-friendly film!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

The first trailer for David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo famously called it “THE FEEL-BAD MOVIE OF CHRISTMAS,” and it definitely lives up to that billing. While it’s far from a cheerful holiday film, the movie has a surprising link to Christmas. The story revolves around a strange form of gift-giving – a Swedish family patriarch receives unsettling framed flowers each year, seemingly from his grandniece’s killer – which leads him to hire a journalist to solve the mystery. The film even ends with a Christmas gift exchange that never happens. Combined with its snowy setting and intense romance, some might even argue that Dragon Tattoo is a Christmas movie in disguise.

Krampus (2015)

Christmas horror isn’t super common, but when it’s done well, it’s really effective. The movie Krampus is a great example – it’s a monster movie where the monster appears because people have lost the Christmas spirit. When a frustrated boy rips up his letter to Santa after a difficult family dinner, he accidentally summons Krampus, an ancient demon who uses creepy gingerbread men and living toys to kidnap and harm anyone he finds. It’s scary, funny, and surprisingly has a heartwarming message about the meaning of Christmas. Basically, it’s about a horned monster causing trouble for a family – and Paul Rudd.

The Green Knight (2021)

If you’d choose a fantasy adventure over a holiday classic, David Lowery’s The Green Knight might be for you. It’s a unique take on a Christmas story: young Gawain, a knight in King Arthur’s court, agrees to a strange deal – a green warrior will behead him on Christmas Day. This sets him off on a dangerous quest to find the warrior and fulfill the bargain, even if it costs him his life. The film thoughtfully explores themes of honor and morality during the holidays, and its fantastical world and unusual characters will make you forget it’s a Christmas movie altogether.

The Best Christmas Movies You’ve Never Heard Of

Joyeux Noël (2005)

Inspired by actual events, the film Joyeux Noël recounts the remarkable and touching 1914 Christmas truce during World War I. French, Scottish, and German soldiers briefly stopped fighting, demonstrating a sense of camaraderie and peace during the holiday season. Amidst the horrors of war, these soldiers famously shared carols, prayers, and gifts in No Man’s Land before fighting resumed. This poignant moment of shared humanity, depicted in the 2005 film which received an Academy Award nomination, highlights the common bonds between people, especially for soldiers longing for home during a time of goodwill. It’s a truly moving story and a perfect addition to your Christmas viewing.

Klaus (2019)

Released in 2019, Klaus is a beautifully animated Christmas film that rivals the classic holiday specials of Rankin/Bass. Many consider it one of the best Christmas movies of the 21st century so far. The film has a warm, nostalgic art style and tells the story of a selfish postman who unexpectedly befriends a lonely toymaker mourning a past loss. With the help of a local girl, the postman discovers the joy of giving, while also helping the toymaker rediscover his passion for creating toys. Essentially a fresh take on the origin of Santa Claus, Klaus explores themes of grief, kindness, and the importance of friendship. Boasting a fantastic voice cast including Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, and Rashida Jones, it’s a heartwarming Christmas movie that’s sure to become a new holiday tradition.

White Reindeer (2013)

Zach Clark’s 2013 film, White Reindeer, is a very dark and humorous comedy about a woman dealing with an unimaginable loss just before Christmas. Her life is turned upside down when her husband is murdered, despite things previously going well with her job and an upcoming move. The quirky indie film offers a surprisingly funny, yet deeply moving, look at grief, hope, and the strength it takes to keep going, all set against the backdrop of the holiday season.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

Don’t miss this charming Netflix film! Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a delightful and imaginative story about a toymaker who has lost his spark. Years after a betrayal, his optimistic granddaughter helps him rediscover the joy of invention. It’s a vibrant musical set in a wonderfully creative world that blends classic Victorian charm with steampunk aesthetics, and stars Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, and Anika Noni Rose.

Tokyo Godfathers (2003)

If you haven’t seen the films of Satoshi Kon, a brilliant Japanese director who passed away too soon, you might not know his 2003 movie, Tokyo Godfathers. This funny and heartwarming film centers on three people experiencing homelessness in Tokyo—a troubled teenager, a vibrant trans woman, and a hardened alcoholic—who find an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve. They embark on a wild and emotional quest to find the baby’s parents before the New Year, and in the process, confront their own difficult histories and create an unexpected family. Tokyo Godfathers is a story about finding hope and strength, all unfolding against the beautiful, snowy backdrop of Tokyo during the Christmas season.

Crackers (1998)

What’s Christmas without a little bit of family craziness? The 1998 Australian film Crackers is a heartwarming comedy about a young boy named Joey who’s dealing with his father’s death and his mom’s new partner. After getting into trouble at school, Joey spends the holidays with his grandparents, where he ends up sharing a small shed with his great-grandfather. Despite the family’s dysfunction and hilariously messy holiday moments, the two form a surprising connection, and Joey learns valuable lessons about accepting others and the importance of family. It’s a relatable Christmas movie for anyone who’s experienced the ups and downs of the holidays with a quirky family.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

If you enjoy darker Christmas movies, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is a great choice. It’s best to go in knowing as little as possible, but the film centers around a boy who suspects Santa Claus isn’t the friendly figure we all know—but a frightening creature who kidnaps and eats naughty children. It’s a darkly comedic horror film with elements of classic monster movies, a touch of social commentary, and a hint of Christmas nostalgia.

The Ref (1994)

I absolutely love this darkly funny Christmas movie, and it’s a real shame more people haven’t seen it! It perfectly captures the craziness of the holidays, but with a really sharp, sarcastic edge. It’s called The Ref, and it’s about a clumsy burglar – played brilliantly by Denis Leary – who ends up taking a constantly fighting couple hostage on Christmas Eve after a robbery gone wrong. Things get even wilder when the couple’s family shows up for Christmas dinner! Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis are just hilarious as this unbelievably exhausting couple who drive Leary’s character crazy. He basically becomes their unwilling marriage counselor while they’re falling apart, and it’s comedy gold.

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2025-12-19 18:59