The holiday season is synonymous with joy and celebration, but for those who crave a dash of terror with their tinsel, Christmas horror movies offer the perfect blend of fright and festivity. Here’s a list of 31 Christmas horror films that will ensure your holidays are both merry and scary.
Violent Night (2022)
Streaming now on: Amazon Prime Video
In this thrilling twist on holiday cheer, Santa Claus (David Harbour) is portrayed as a hero with a violent streak. When a family is held hostage by a group of mercenaries on Christmas Eve, Santa turns into a savage savior. The film blends action and horror, reimagining the jolly figure as a formidable force against evil.
Red Snow (2021)
Streaming now on: Vudu, Tubi, Plex, Freevee, Xumo Play
In this blend of horror and romance, Olivia Romo, a vampire romance writer, finds her fiction turning into a terrifying reality. After nursing a wounded bat back to health, she discovers it’s a vampire, leading to a series of chilling events.
A Christmas Horror Story (2015)
Streaming now on: AMC+, Tubi, Shudder
Narrated by William Shatner, this anthology film weaves together four interrelated horror stories set during Christmas. It includes tales of ghostly encounters, demonic possessions, and zombie elves, all converging to create a uniquely terrifying holiday experience.
Mercy Christmas (2017)
Streaming now on: Fubu TV, Paramount+, Vudu, Tubi, Pluto, Freevee
This darkly comedic horror film follows Michael Briskett, a social outcast who is thrilled to be invited to a Christmas dinner. However, his excitement turns to horror when he realizes that he’s not a guest but the main course in a cannibalistic ritual. The film combines horror with a satirical take on holiday gatherings.
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
Streaming now on: Peacock, Tubi, Fubu TV, Screambox
This Finnish film offers a dark twist on the Santa Claus legend. An archaeological dig in Lapland uncovers the original Santa Claus, revealing a sinister figure who punishes naughty children, leading to a battle for survival.
Mrs. Claus (2018)
Streaming now on: The Roku Channel and Xumo Play
A departure from the traditional holiday tale, this slasher film features Mrs. Claus as a cold-blooded killer. Set in a sorority house, the movie follows a group of college students who are stalked and brutally murdered by Mrs. Claus, turning the festive season into a time of terror.
Snowmageddon (2011)
Streaming now on: Amazon Prime Video and The Roku Channel
This film revolves around a mysterious snowglobe that brings catastrophic events to life. A family discovers that each shake of the globe causes parallel disasters in the real world, leading to a desperate race against time to stop the unfolding chaos.
Christmas Presence (2018)
Streaming now on: AMC+, Shudder, The Roku Channel
Originally titled “Why Hide?”, this black comedy horror film centers on a group of friends who gather for a holiday retreat. Their festive getaway quickly turns into a nightmare as they find themselves in a deadly game of survival against an unseen menace.
The Lodge (2019)
Streaming now on: Max, Kanopy, DIRECTV
A psychological horror film where a family’s Christmas vacation at a remote lodge turns into a nightmare. Isolated by a blizzard, the family faces disturbing occurrences that test their sanity and survival.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Streaming now on: Plex
This controversial slasher film tells the story of Billy, a young man traumatized by witnessing his parents’ murder on Christmas Eve. Dressed as Santa Claus, he embarks on a murderous rampage, punishing those he deems “naughty.”
Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987)
Streaming now on: AMC+, Shudder, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Shout TV
The sequel follows Ricky, the younger brother of the first film’s protagonist. After being released from a mental hospital, Ricky takes up the Santa suit and continues his brother’s bloody legacy, seeking vengeance for his family’s destruction.
Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
Streaming now on: AMC+ and Shudder
A zombie apocalypse strikes a small town at Christmas, and a group of high school students must fight their way through hordes of the undead. This horror-comedy-musical blends catchy songs with gory zombie action.
Black Christmas (2019)
Streaming now on: Netflix
In this remake of the 1974 classic, a group of sorority girls at Hawthorne College are stalked by a mysterious killer during the Christmas break. As friends go missing, the remaining girls band together to uncover the killer’s identity and fight back.
While She Was Out (2008)
Streaming now on: Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, Pluto TV
Kim Basinger stars as Della, a suburban housewife who faces a life-threatening ordeal during a Christmas Eve shopping trip. After witnessing a murder, she becomes the target of a gang of killers, leading to a deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
ATM (2012)
Streaming now on: AMC+, Tubi, The Roku Channel
After leaving their office holiday party, three co-workers find themselves trapped in an ATM vestibule. Stalked by a mysterious hooded figure, they must find a way to escape before their situation turns deadly.
The Curse of Jack Frost (2022)
In this British horror film, the mythical figure of Jack Frost is reimagined as a malevolent entity. A family must fight for survival against this demonic version of Jack Frost, who is far from the friendly snowman of lore.
Krampus (2015)
Streaming now on: Peacock, TNT, TBS, Tru TV
Based on the European folklore, Krampus is a demonic creature that punishes naughty children at Christmas. The film follows a dysfunctional family whose lack of holiday spirit brings the wrath of Krampus upon them, leading to a fight for survival.
Krampus: The Devil Returns (2016)
Streaming now on: Tubi, MP
In this sequel, the mythical creature Krampus returns to terrorize a small town during the holiday season. The townspeople must band together to stop the creature before it destroys everything they hold dear.
The Day of the Beast (1995)
Streaming now on: Vudu, Tubi, Pluto TV, Kanopy, Freevee, Screambox, MP
This Spanish black comedy horror film follows a priest who believes the Antichrist will be born on Christmas Day. He teams up with a death-metal fan and a TV show host to prevent the apocalypse, leading to a series of bizarre and darkly humorous events.
The Children (2008)
Streaming now on: Shudder, AMC+, Tubi, Freevee, Vudu
A family’s New Year’s celebration turns horrific when the children start exhibiting strange and violent behavior. The adults must confront the terrifying reality that their own offspring have become their worst nightmare.
Inside (2007)
A French horror film that tells the story of a pregnant woman, Sarah, who is attacked in her home on Christmas Eve by a mysterious woman. The intruder is determined to take Sarah’s unborn baby, leading to a night of intense and brutal confrontation.
Red Christmas (2016)
Streaming now on: Fubu TV, Pluto TV, Plex, Freevee, The Roku Channel, Kanopy, Crackle
A family’s Christmas gathering is disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious stranger with a vendetta. The holiday celebration quickly turns into a fight for survival as the family faces a deadly threat from within their own home.
Silent Night (2021)
Streaming now on: AMC+ and DIRECTV
A British dark comedy that revolves around a group of friends gathering for Christmas dinner in a world facing an environmental apocalypse. As they confront their impending doom, the film explores themes of friendship, love, and the human condition.
Holidays (2016)
Streaming now on: AMC+ and Shudder
An anthology film that features a collection of short horror stories based on various holidays, including Christmas. Each segment offers a unique and twisted take on traditional holiday themes.
The Gingerdead Man (2005)
Streaming now on: Roku, Tubi, Shudder, Filmrise, Freevee, Full Moon
A horror-comedy featuring a gingerbread man cookie possessed by the spirit of a convicted killer. The Gingerdead Man goes on a murderous rampage, combining humor with horror.
Wind Chill (2007)
Two college students are stranded on a deserted road during their Christmas break. As they battle the cold, they encounter a series of ghostly apparitions linked to the road’s dark history.
The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982)
A group of college students staying on campus during the Christmas break find themselves targeted by a mysterious killer. The film is a classic slasher with a holiday twist.
Await Further Instructions (2018)
Streaming now on: Shudder, Prime Video, AMC+, Roku, Tubi, Pluto, Plex
A family wakes up on Christmas Day to find their house surrounded by a mysterious black substance. As they receive ominous instructions from their TV, paranoia and tension escalate, leading to a deadly confrontation.
Silent Night (2012)
Streaming now on: Starz
A loose remake of “Silent Night, Deadly Night,” this film features a killer dressed as Santa Claus who brings terror to a small town. The local police must stop the murderer before he claims more victims.
Gremlins (1984)
Streaming now on: Max and AMC+
A classic horror-comedy that blends Christmas cheer with chaos. A young man receives a strange creature called a Mogwai as a Christmas gift, but when its care instructions are ignored, it spawns mischievous and dangerous creatures that wreak havoc on the town.
