The Top 10 Holiday Horror Movies Of All Time According To IMDb And Rotten Tomatoes

The holiday season isn’t just good for egg nog and decking the halls. There are quite a few Christmas movies geared toward horror hounds. Every childhood memory is primed to be picked apart and distorted into a hellish nightmare of red-cloaked killers, toymaking psychopaths, and supernatural baddies. So if you are looking for the best holiday horror movies of all time, according to IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, look no further. We’ve compiled the list for you so you can cut through the crap and find the hidden gems in the lump of coal.

10. Sint or Saint in English (2010)

This Dutch horror film takes the legend of Sinterklaas (the Dutch version of Santa Claus) and turns it into a tale of terror, as the jolly gift-bringer is revealed to be a murderer. The horror comedy is an unexpected delight that is criminally underseen. The fresh take on the holiday subgenre isn’t just your traditional Santa with an axe standard. The English dubbed version can be streamed on Prime Video right now.

9. Silent Night (2012)

This horror film is a loose remake of the 1984 movie Silent Night, Deadly Night, and follows a killer Santa Claus on a rampage. I’m not usually into remakes, but this is a rare example of a retooling that works. Mainly it works because of the stellar cast, including Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King, Donal Logue, Rick Skene, and Ellen Wong. In addition, the reimagined storyline pays homage to the original while forging new ground. Not to be confused with Silent Night 2021, which can only be found on AMC+, this one can be streamed on Apple TV+, Roku, Prime Video, and Shudder.

8. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

In this dark fantasy, a group of Finnish children discovers that the real Santa Claus is not the jolly figure from their holiday traditions but a monstrous being. This is my personal favorite of all the holiday horror movies. Another Scandanavian horror that spins the sleigh-driving present bringer, this one takes a decidedly grittier angle. It’s weird and grimy and unlike anything you’ve seen before. You can stream it on Shudder.

7. Christmas Evil (1980)

This cult classic follows a mentally unstable man who becomes obsessed with the idea of being Santa Claus and begins a killing spree. It has a cult following for a reason. It’s bloody and raunchy and quintessentially 80s. A toymaker snaps when he is bullied one too many times, and the subsequent body count is a thing of Christmas glory. The low-budget film has one of the best thought-out killers of all holiday horror antagonists. His arch is one wild ride. You can catch it on Shudder or TubiTV

6. Better Watch Out (2016)

In this twisted holiday tale, a babysitter must defend herself and the children she’s watching from a home invasion on Christmas Eve. Think Halloween only without Jamie Lee Curtis and at Halloween. The young cast is excellent, and the interesting take on the typical slasher makes it a fun Christmas watch. It isn’t the best holiday horror movie out there, but it is a worth a watch, and it is the kind of movie you could easily watch year after year. You can stream it on Shudder.

5. A Christmas Horror Story (2015)

This anthology film features four interconnected stories set during the holiday season, each with a horror twist. I’m down for anything with William Shatner, and this grouping of stories is tied together cleverly. Fun fact: the fictional town of Bailey Downs, where each of the stories takes place, is the same town as Ginger Snaps and the suburb in Orphan Black. You can get it on Shudder or Prime Video.

4. Krampus (2015)

Based on the folklore of the demonic holiday figure, this film tells the story of a family who must fight for their lives against the evil Krampus. The one that started them all, Krampus, is an excellent movie, even if the ones that came after weren’t so perfect. The ambiguous ending is still debated for a reason. It’s a dark movie that’s possible ending meanings are very grim. You can stream it on Peacock TV or Prime Video.

3. Gremlins (1984)

This dark comedy follows a man who receives a strange creature as a Christmas gift, which quickly multiplies and causes chaos in the town. There is no more iconic holiday horror movie than this one, with adorable furry singing sweeties that turn into nasty beats when fed after dark. The rules are simple but hard to follow evidently. This is the one holiday horror movie you can show the entire family. You can watch it on HBO Max right now.

2. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

In this controversial film, a young boy who witnesses his parents’ murder on Christmas Eve grows up to become a killer Santa Claus. 1984 was an excellent year for horror, with The Nightmare On Elm Street debuting. The often copied but never equaled killer Claus in Charles E. Sellier Jr.’s film features one pretty murderer that you can’t help but feel sympathy for, even as you are terrified of him. Watch it on Prime Video.

The Top Holiday Horror Movie-Black Christmas (1974)

This classic horror film follows a group of sorority sisters who an unknown caller terrorizes during the holiday season. This slasher is creepy and suspenseful throughout. It’s easy to see how this film influences horror films even today. It’s funny and scary, and the dialogue is great. Director Bob Clark is a trailblazer, and this movie proves it. Widely regarded as the best of all time, the recent remake isn’t half bad, but the original stands above them all. You can stream it on Peacock TV, TubiTV and Freevee.

The list above should satisfy your twisted desires if you love a little sick with the saintly. Any films on this holiday horror movies list will entertain you. Whether you are looking for a hybrid or an unsettling creeper, there is something for every appetite. Best of all, most of them can be found for free. Happy Horrordays and Merry Slashmas.