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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
24/7 Tempo
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
24/7 Tempo
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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