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The Most Disliked Christmas Movies Ever Made

The Most Disliked Christmas Movies Ever Made

There’s an argument to be made that it’s better to put on the worst holiday movies than the best ones as you celebrate the Christmas season. After all, the holidays are a time to gather the family and catch up with loved ones, not sit down and watch TV. Put on something too good and everyone might be collectively absorbed by what’s onscreen and where’s the fun in that? By contrast, the worst holiday movies encourage a spirit of mockery or distraction, allowing people to focus on the things that matter most: each other. Awwwwww…

To determine the worst holiday movies ever made, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of December 2022, weighting all ratings equally. Directorial and acting credits are from IMDb. (On the other hand, these are the best Christmas movies of all time.)

As it turns out, however, some of the lowest-rated holiday movies are still relatively watchable. Examples include the 2008 comedy “Four Christmases” starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, which goes a bit too far with the gross-out humor but nevertheless pulls off plenty of laughs. Or consider Steven Spielberg’s 1979 misfire “1941,” a bonkers satire about public panic that still has plenty of defenders to this day. (See where it falls on the list of 32 Steven Spielberg movies ranked worst to best.)

Those looking for pure dreck, on the other hand, won’t have to look far. From 2019’s abysmal “Black Christmas” remake to the 2004 family comedy “Christmas With the Kranks” and more, some holiday movies went straight onto Santa’s naughty list and have remained there ever since. Does that mean you should put them on so that you and your loved ones can get together and poke fun at their shortcomings? It probably depends on whether you want to spend more quality time or less with your family during the festivities. We’d understand either way. 

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

50. The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 5.7/10 (53,071 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 42% (202,554 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 56% (122 reviews)
> Directed by: Michael Lembeck
> Starring: Tim Allen, Spencer Breslin, Elizabeth Mitchell

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

49. Why Him? (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (106,247 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 51% (22,375 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 39% (156 reviews)
> Directed by: John Hamburg
> Starring: Zoey Deutch, James Franco, Tangie Ambrose

Source: Courtesy of Focus Features

48. The Ice Harvest (2005)
> IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (23,652 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 43% (60,366 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 47% (134 reviews)
> Directed by: Harold Ramis
> Starring: John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

47. Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
> IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (12,197 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 66% (18,974 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 20% (20 reviews)
> Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc
> Starring: Dudley Moore, John Lithgow, David Huddleston

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

46. Holiday in the Wild (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (13,263 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 49% (237 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 38% (8 reviews)
> Directed by: Ernie Barbarash
> Starring: Rob Lowe, Kristin Davis, Fezile Mpela

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

45. 1941 (1979)
> IMDb user rating: 5.8/10 (32,543 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 48% (24,124 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 42% (24 reviews)
> Directed by: Steven Spielberg
> Starring: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Treat Williams

Source: Courtesy of Anchor Bay Films

44. Silent Night (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 5.2/10 (7,908 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 32% (1,933 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 64% (11 reviews)
> Directed by: Steven C. Miller
> Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King, Donal Logue

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

43. The Princess Switch: Switched Again (2020)
> IMDb user rating: 5.4/10 (8,589 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 35% (126 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 58% (24 reviews)
> Directed by: Mike Rohl
> Starring: John Jack, Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

42. Holidate (2020)
> IMDb user rating: 6.1/10 (52,776 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 40% (643 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 44% (57 reviews)
> Directed by: John Whitesell
> Starring: Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Kristin Chenoweth

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

41. Operation Christmas Drop (2020)
> IMDb user rating: 5.8/10 (9,855 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 39% (134 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 47% (17 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Wood
> Starring: Kat Graham, Alexander Ludwig, Trezzo Mahoro

Source: Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

40. Black Nativity (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 4.6/10 (2,166 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 51% (10,454 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 50% (90 reviews)
> Directed by: Kasi Lemmons
> Starring: Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

39. Office Christmas Party (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 5.9/10 (73,006 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 40% (21,923 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 41% (185 reviews)
> Directed by: Josh Gordon & Will Speck
> Starring: Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn, T.J. Miller

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

38. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
> IMDb user rating: 5.9/10 (14,407 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 39% (8,797 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 42% (24 reviews)
> Directed by: Charles E. Sellier Jr.
> Starring: Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick, Toni Nero

Source: Courtesy of Acteurs Auteurs Associés

37. Noel (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (9,561 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 48% (6,557 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 28% (36 reviews)
> Directed by: Chazz Palminteri
> Starring: Susan Sarandon, Penélope Cruz Cruz, Paul Walker

Source: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

36. A Madea Christmas (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 4.9/10 (6,105 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 70% (53,410 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 20% (35 reviews)
> Directed by: Tyler Perry
> Starring: Tyler Perry, Chad Michael Murray, Tika Sumpter

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

35. Wind Chill (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 5.8/10 (22,496 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 31% (8,220 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 46% (24 reviews)
> Directed by: Gregory Jacobs
> Starring: Emily Blunt, Ashton Holmes, Martin Donovan

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

34. Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
> IMDb user rating: 5.7/10 (10,489 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 42% (48,222 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 36% (14 reviews)
> Directed by: John R. Cherry III
> Starring: Jim Varney, Douglas Seale, Oliver Clark

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

33. Unaccompanied Minors (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 5.3/10 (10,878 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 53% (45,497 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 29% (90 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul Feig
> Starring: Dyllan Christopher, Tyler James Williams, Gia Mantegna

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

32. A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 5.3/10 (9,653 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 34% (150 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 47% (17 reviews)
> Directed by: John Schultz
> Starring: Rose McIver, Ben Lamb, Alice Krige

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

31. Daddy’s Home 2 (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 6.0/10 (66,722 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 51% (15,145 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 21% (129 reviews)
> Directed by: Sean Anders
> Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson

Source: Courtesy of Film & TV House

30. A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 5.6/10 (47,117 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 44% (13,375 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 32% (129 reviews)
> Directed by: Jon Lucas & Scott Moore
> Starring: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn

Source: Courtesy of Summit Entertainment

29. P2 (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 5.9/10 (33,057 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 36% (67,883 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 35% (72 reviews)
> Directed by: Franck Khalfoun
> Starring: Rachel Nichols, Wes Bentley, Simon Reynolds

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

28. Four Christmases (2008)
> IMDb user rating: 5.7/10 (67,726 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 47% (254,654 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 25% (145 reviews)
> Directed by: Seth Gordon
> Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Mary Steenburgen

Source: Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

27. All Is Bright (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 5.6/10 (6,272 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 23% (768 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 49% (41 reviews)
> Directed by: Phil Morrison
> Starring: Paul Giamatti, Paul Rudd, Sally Hawkins

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

26. All I Want for Christmas (1991)
> IMDb user rating: 6.0/10 (4,756 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 58% (9,727 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 7% (15 reviews)
> Directed by: Robert Lieberman
> Starring: Harley Jane Kozak, Jamey Sheridan, Ethan Embry

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

25. Fred Claus (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 5.6/10 (41,576 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 45% (371,569 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 21% (143 reviews)
> Directed by: David Dobkin
> Starring: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Elizabeth Banks

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

24. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 5.6/10 (31,054 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 34% (2,386 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 32% (202 reviews)
> Directed by: Lasse Hallström & Joe Johnston
> Starring: Mackenzie Foy, Keira Knightley, Morgan Freeman

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

23. I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1998)
> IMDb user rating: 5.5/10 (9,904 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 41% (44,476 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 23% (43 reviews)
> Directed by: Arlene Sanford
> Starring: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jessica Biel, Adam LaVorgna

Source: Courtesy of Yari Film Group Releasing

22. The Perfect Holiday (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 4.7/10 (3,064 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 52% (159,648 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 19% (59 reviews)
> Directed by: Lance Rivera
> Starring: Gabrielle Union, Morris Chestnut, Queen Latifah

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

21. Screwed (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 5.7/10 (8,919 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 48% (7,163 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 10% (29 reviews)
> Directed by: Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
> Starring: Norm MacDonald, Dave Chappelle, Elaine Stritch

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

20. Eight Crazy Nights (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 5.3/10 (22,328 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 49% (289,703 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 12% (109 reviews)
> Directed by: Seth Kearsley
> Starring: Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, Jackie Sandler

Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate

19. Love the Coopers (2015)
> IMDb user rating: 5.8/10 (22,663 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 36% (11,800 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 18% (122 reviews)
> Directed by: Jessie Nelson
> Starring: Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, John Goodman

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

18. Jack Frost (1998)
> IMDb user rating: 5.4/10 (34,328 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 40% (64,721 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 19% (58 reviews)
> Directed by: Troy Miller
> Starring: Michael Keaton, Kelly Preston, Joseph Cross

Source: Courtesy of Broad Green Pictures

17. Bad Santa 2 (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 5.6/10 (24,091 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 33% (10,384 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 23% (135 reviews)
> Directed by: Mark Waters
> Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates, Tony Cox

Source: Courtesy of Dimension Home Video

16. Reindeer Games (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 5.8/10 (38,866 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 27% (43,134 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 26% (89 reviews)
> Directed by: John Frankenheimer
> Starring: Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise, Charlize Theron

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

15. Jingle All the Way (1996)
> IMDb user rating: 5.6/10 (96,319 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 38% (228,690 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 17% (47 reviews)
> Directed by: Brian Levant
> Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

14. Mixed Nuts (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 5.4/10 (11,147 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 47% (9,761 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 10% (30 reviews)
> Directed by: Nora Ephron
> Starring: Steve Martin, Madeline Kahn, Robert Klein

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

13. Trapped in Paradise (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 5.9/10 (14,438 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 41% (11,754 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 5% (19 reviews)
> Directed by: George Gallo
> Starring: Nicolas Cage, Jon Lovitz, Dana Carvey

Source: Tibrina Hobson / Getty Images

12. Last Ounce of Courage (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 3.8/10 (2,027 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 69% (7,448 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 0% (16 reviews)
> Directed by: Darrel Campbell & Kevin McAfee
> Starring: Marshall R. Teague, Jennifer O’Neill, Rusty Joiner

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

11. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 4.8/10 (34,887 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 39% (150,860 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 17% (66 reviews)
> Directed by: Michael Lembeck
> Starring: Tim Allen, Martin Short, Elizabeth Mitchell

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

10. Black Christmas (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 3.4/10 (13,707 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 31% (1,356 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 39% (111 reviews)
> Directed by: Sophia Takal
> Starring: Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

9. Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 5.4/10 (45,624 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 38% (95,822 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 5% (134 reviews)
> Directed by: Joe Roth
> Starring: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

8. Black Christmas (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 4.6/10 (26,122 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 38% (137,956 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 15% (65 reviews)
> Directed by: Glen Morgan
> Starring: Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Lacey Chabert

Source: Courtesy of Ascot Entertainment Group

7. Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987)
> IMDb user rating: 3.8/10 (6,790 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 28% (6,713 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 29% (7 reviews)
> Directed by: Lee Harry
> Starring: Eric Freeman, James Newman, Elizabeth Kaitan

Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution

6. Surviving Christmas (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 5.4/10 (23,716 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 29% (28,515 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 7% (115 reviews)
> Directed by: Mike Mitchell
> Starring: Ben Affleck, Christina Applegate, James Gandolfini

Source: Courtesy of Entertainment One

5. A Merry Friggin’ Christmas (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 5.1/10 (6,266 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 21% (2,748 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 14% (21 reviews)
> Directed by: Tristram Shapeero
> Starring: Joel McHale, Lauren Graham, Clark Duke

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

4. Deck the Halls (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 5.0/10 (24,202 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 30% (55,755 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 6% (85 reviews)
> Directed by: John Whitesell
> Starring: Matthew Broderick, Danny DeVito, Kristin Chenoweth

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

3. Turbulence (1997)
> IMDb user rating: 4.9/10 (11,276 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 19% (2,847 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 17% (18 reviews)
> Directed by: Robert Butler
> Starring: Ray Liotta, Lauren Holly, Brendan Gleeson

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

2. Look Who’s Talking Now (1993)
> IMDb user rating: 4.4/10 (28,647 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 29% (185,890 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 0% (25 reviews)
> Directed by: Tom Ropelewski
> Starring: John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, David Gallagher

Source: Courtesy of Embassy Pictures

1. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)
> IMDb user rating: 2.7/10 (11,426 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 27% (6,028 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 22% (23 reviews)
> Directed by: Nicholas Webster
> Starring: John Call, Leonard Hicks, Vincent Beck

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