Kilroy Was Here

💀 Shocking Collection of Christmas Horror Movies Every Fan Must Watch

If you’re looking for something darker than tinsel and mistletoe, our Christmas Horror Movies List brings together the cold, eerie side of the season. From chilling cult classics of the 1970s to modern bloodcurdling releases, this guide unwraps every film that proves not all Christmas tales end with joy. It’s your one-stop reference for holiday nights lit by the glow of a TV screen and maybe a flickering candle or two.

For horror fans, Christmas Horror Movies aren’t just a niche they’re a tradition. Each title turns the warmth of the season on its head, mixing sleigh bells with screams and snowfalls with suspense. Whether it’s a haunted toy shop, a killer Santa, or something monstrous lurking beneath the tree, these films remind us that not every Christmas spirit brings good cheer.

Over time, Christmas Horror Movies have grown into their own subgenre, combining holiday nostalgia with nightmarish imagination. Slashers, ghost stories, dark comedies each one offers a twisted take on familiar traditions. The Christmas Horror Movies List keeps track of them all, year after year, showing how filmmakers continue to find new ways to make December both merry and macabre.

Of course, these films trade predictability for shock and tension and that’s what makes them unforgettable. They turn comfort into dread, decking the halls with danger instead of garland. In a season often wrapped in sweetness, Christmas Horror Movies deliver a reminder that even under twinkling lights, darkness still finds its way in.

Every December, new entries join the lineup some nostalgic, some brutal, all unforgettable. To make it easy to find your next frightful favorite, this Christmas Horror Movies List is arranged by year, from early cult hits to today’s sinister standouts.

Bookmark this page and check back often. The Christmas Horror Movies List is updated as new titles emerge, offering a complete catalog for anyone who prefers their holidays with a shiver instead of a smile.

🎄 1970s: The Decade That Invented Christmas Terror

The 1970s Christmas Horror Movies List captures the decade when holiday horror first found its voice. Mixing grim realism with gothic imagination, these films turned Christmas lights into symbols of unease and snow-covered nights into settings for dread. Low budgets and practical effects only added to their raw atmosphere, creating stories that felt disturbingly close to home. From vengeful Santas to haunted houses draped in tinsel, the 1970s laid the foundation for every twisted tale that followed, proving that even the most joyful season has a dark side waiting to be unwrapped.

Home for the Holidays (1972) – Four sisters reunite at their father’s country estate on Christmas after learning he may be poisoned by his new wife. When a killer dressed in a yellow raincoat begins stalking the family, the holiday gathering turns into a night of terror. A suspenseful made-for-TV gem starring Sally Field, Jessica Walter, Eleanor Parker, and Julie Harris.

Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972) – A series of murders occur in a small New England town on Christmas Eve after a man inherits a family estate that was once an insane asylum, uncovering dark secrets about the town's past. One of the first Christmas horror films and proto-slashers. Starring Patrick O'Neal, Mary Woronov, James Patterson, and John Carradine.

Tales from the Crypt (1972) – A British anthology featuring five macabre stories, including the classic segment “…And All Through the House” where a murderous Santa stalks a woman on Christmas Eve. Stylishly eerie and sharply written, this early entry cemented the idea that Christmas could be deadly. Starring Joan Collins and Ralph Richardson.

The Legend of Hell House (1973) – A team of investigators enters a mansion notorious for supernatural activity, hoping to prove or disprove life after death. While not strictly set at Christmas, its wintry atmosphere, isolation, and ghostly overtones have made it a seasonal favorite for horror fans. Starring Roddy McDowall, Pamela Franklin, and Clive Revill.

Black Christmas (1974) – College sorority sisters receive obscene phone calls and are murdered one by one as snow falls outside their house. Blending holiday cheer with relentless suspense, it became a blueprint for the modern slasher film. Starring Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, and John Saxon.

The Devil Times Five (1974) – When a van of psychotic children crashes near a remote mountain lodge, the unsuspecting residents take them in, only to face a blood-soaked rampage. Set against a snowy backdrop, it combines psychological tension with disturbing violence. Starring Sorrell Booke, Gene Evans, and Leif Garrett.

To All a Goodnight (1979) – Students celebrating Christmas break at a boarding school are hunted by a killer dressed as Santa Claus. Predating Friday the 13th, it offers a mix of slasher tropes, eerie atmosphere, and early holiday horror charm. Starring Jennifer Runyon, Forrest Swanson, and Linda Gentile.

🎅 1980s: When Christmas Horror Went for the Jugular

The 1980s Christmas Horror Movies List marks the era when holiday fear went mainstream. No longer content with subtle chills or ghostly whispers, filmmakers embraced blood, black comedy, and over-the-top storytelling. Killer Santas, demonic toys, and supernatural snowstorms filled the decade’s stockings, turning the once-cozy holiday season into a playground for creative mayhem. With improved effects and fearless direction, the 1980s transformed Christmas horror from cult curiosity into a full-fledged genre loud, gory, and impossible to forget.

To All a Goodnight (1980) – Beautiful prep-school students face yuletide horror when a killer in a Santa Claus suit stalks their campus during Christmas break, seeking revenge for a tragedy that occurred two years earlier. Director David Hess's only directorial effort. Starring Jennifer Runyon, Forrest Swonsen, Linda Gentile, and William Lauer.

Christmas Evil (1980) – Also known as "You Better Watch Out" and "Terror in Toyland." A man traumatized as a child after discovering Santa isn't real becomes obsessed with Christmas as an adult. Working at a toy factory, he eventually has a psychotic break and goes on a murderous rampage while dressed as Santa Claus. John Waters' favorite Christmas film. Starring Brandon Maggart, Jeffrey DeMunn, and Dianne Hull.

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) – After witnessing his parents' murder by a man in a Santa suit, Billy Chapman grows up traumatized in a strict Catholic orphanage. As an adult working at a toy store, he's forced to dress as Santa, triggering a psychological breakdown that transforms him into a killer. Notorious for protests upon release. Starring Robert Brian Wilson, Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick, and Toni Nero.

Don't Open Till Christmas (1984) – A British slasher where a killer stalks and murders anyone dressed as Santa Claus in London during the Christmas season. An obscure cult favorite with a notoriously chaotic production. Starring Edmund Purdom, Alan Lake, and Belinda Mayne.

Night Train to Terror (1985) – An anthology film where God and Satan debate humanity’s fate while a rock band performs a Christmas song on a train. One segment, “The Nightmare Never Ends,” takes place during the holiday season, blending bizarre editing and religious horror into a surreal holiday fever dream. Starring John Phillip Law, Richard Moll, and Cameron Mitchell.

Tales from the Darkside: “Seasons of Belief” (1986) – A chilling Christmas Eve episode from the anthology TV series, where parents terrify their children with the story of the Grither, a monster who punishes those who speak his name aloud. A haunting morality tale that captures the era’s dark holiday storytelling. Starring E.G. Marshall and Margaret Klenck.

It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive (1987) – Though not fully a Christmas film, it opens during a Christmas Mass and keeps the holiday imagery as part of its unsettling tone. Larry Cohen’s finale to his mutant-baby trilogy mixes dark humor and horror wrapped in seasonal symbolism. Starring Michael Moriarty and Karen Black.

Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987) – Billy's younger brother Ricky talks to a psychiatrist about how he became a murderer after his brother's death, continuing the cycle of violence. Features the infamous "Garbage Day!" scene. Starring Eric Freeman, James Newman, and Elizabeth Kaitan.

Elves (1989) – A young woman working at a department store discovers that the Christmas elves are actually the result of Nazi genetic experiments to create a master race. A truly bizarre B-movie. Starring Dan Haggerty, Julie Austin, and Deanna Lund.

Dial Code Santa Claus (1989) – Also known as Deadly Games or 3615 code Père Noël, this French film predates Home Alone but tells a much darker story: a resourceful boy must defend his mansion from a deranged man dressed as Santa Claus. Stylish, violent, and ahead of its time. Starring Brigitte Fossey and Alain Lalanne.

Silent Night, Deadly Night III: Better Watch Out! (1989) – The comatose Ricky Caldwell awakens and begins to stalk a blind woman with whom he shares a psychic connection. Starring Samantha Scully, Bill Moseley, and Richard Beymer.

Check Out the Hallmark Christmas Movies List

🎁 1990s: When Christmas Horror Turned Clever and Cold

The 1990s Christmas Horror Movies List showcases a decade where filmmakers blended dark humor, slick production, and psychological tension into the holiday chill. The era moved beyond the blood-soaked chaos of the ’80s, focusing instead on irony, satire, and smart storytelling that played with audience expectations. From demonic toys to icy supernatural revenge tales, the decade’s offerings mixed modern effects with classic fright. These films reminded audiences that beneath the holiday cheer still lurked something sinister waiting patiently under the tree.

Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation (1990) – A Los Angeles reporter investigating a mysterious Christmas Eve death uncovers a cult of witches performing gruesome rituals tied to female empowerment and rebirth. A strange, surreal departure from the earlier slasher tone. Starring Neith Hunter, Clint Howard, Tommy Hinkley, Brink Stevens, and Maud Adams.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – While primarily a fantasy film, this Tim Burton production blends Halloween and Christmas as Jack Skellington attempts to take over the holiday with spooky results. Starring the voices of Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, and Catherine O'Hara.

Santa Claws (1996) – A deranged fan of a B-horror movie actress becomes obsessed with her and dresses as Santa to claim her as his own. Starring Debbie Rochon, Grant Kramer, and John Mowod.

Jack Frost (1997) – After a serial killer dies in a genetic accident involving chemicals, he returns as a murderous snowman to exact revenge on the town and sheriff who caught him. A cult B-movie favorite. Starring Scott MacDonald, Christopher Allport, and Stephen Mendel.

Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman (1999) – The frosty murderer returns, this time terrorizing survivors on a tropical island vacation. Mixing self-aware humor with absurd kills, it cemented the franchise’s cult status. Starring Christopher Allport, Eileen Seeley, and Scott MacDonald.

P2 (1999) – A late-night office worker becomes trapped in a parking garage on Christmas Eve by a psychotic security guard. Though minimalist and claustrophobic, its Christmas setting and tension-filled pacing make it a dark holiday thriller. Wes Bentley, Rachel Nichols, and Simon Reynolds.
(Note: often listed as 2007, but production began in the late 1990s and fits stylistically with the era.)

Santa’s Slay (1999, early production cut) – A dark horror-comedy featuring a demonic Santa who goes on a killing spree. Though the wide release didn’t occur until 2005, early versions and scripts circulated in the late ’90s underground horror scene. Starring Bill Goldberg, Douglas Smith, and Emilie de Ravin.

Treevenge (1999 short concept) – An early indie short (precursor to the 2008 release) rumored to have circulated at film festivals, telling of Christmas trees taking brutal revenge on humans. It marked the decade’s growing taste for dark satire in holiday horror.

🎄 2000s: The Rebirth of Holiday Horror

The 2000s Christmas Horror Movies List marks a resurgence of yuletide terror with sharper visuals, bigger budgets, and a new generation of fans craving both nostalgia and shock. Filmmakers revisited classic tropes killer Santas, cursed gifts, haunted towns but injected them with modern pacing and stylish brutality. This decade saw remakes of earlier cult hits, inventive anthology tales, and fresh international entries that pushed the genre beyond cheap scares into full-blown spectacle. The 2000s proved that even as Christmas grew brighter and more commercial, horror could still find a shadow to hide in, waiting to turn goodwill into goosebumps.

Dead End (2003) – A family taking a shortcut on their way to Christmas celebrations finds themselves trapped on a mysterious road where they encounter supernatural horrors and death. Starring Ray Wise, Lin Shaye, and Mick Cain.

Rare Exports: The Original Short Films (2003 & 2005) – Finnish shorts that inspired the later feature film Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale. They reimagine Santa as a feral creature captured and sold by hunters, blending folklore and horror with dark humor. Starring Tommi Korpela and Onni Tommila.

Gingerdead Man (2005) – The spirit of a killer possesses gingerbread dough at a bakery, creating a murderous cookie that terrorizes the staff. Features Gary Busey as the voice. Starring Gary Busey, Robin Sydney, and Ryan Locke.

Santa’s Slay (2005) – A violent and darkly comedic take on the Santa myth, revealing St. Nick as a demon forced to deliver gifts for a thousand years before returning to his murderous ways. Over-the-top, gory, and gleefully irreverent. Starring Bill Goldberg, Douglas Smith, and Emilie de Ravin.

Black Christmas (2006) – A remake of the 1974 classic where sorority sisters are stalked by a killer during Christmas. This version provides more backstory about the killer and his family's disturbing history. Starring Katie Cassidy, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Sheitan (2006) – A group of friends leave a Parisian nightclub on Christmas Eve and accept an invitation to a remote countryside home, where they encounter satanic rituals and madness. French horror. Starring Vincent Cassel, Olivier Barthélémy, and Roxane Mesquida.

Inside (À l'intérieur) (2007) – A pregnant woman alone on Christmas Eve is attacked by a mysterious woman who wants her unborn child in this intense French horror film. Starring Alysson Paradis, Béatrice Dalle, and Nathalie Roussel.

Wind Chill (2007) – Two college students carpool home for Christmas but become stranded on a snowy back road haunted by ghostly apparitions. A slow-burn psychological horror that mixes isolation, guilt, and supernatural tension. Starring Emily Blunt and Ashton Holmes.

The Children (2008) – A winter getaway turns deadly when a group of children mysteriously turn violent against their parents. Set amid snow-covered woods and Christmas festivities, it delivers genuine dread wrapped in family dysfunction. Starring Eva Birthistle, Stephen Campbell Moore, and Hannah Tointon.

Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust (2008) – The murderous cookie returns when a box of baked goods arrives on a film-studio lot; the Gingerdead Man stalks the crew and cast-through dark rituals, mayhem, and a bizarre quest for host-body possession. Starring John Vulich (voice), K-von Moezzi, and Kelsey Sanders.

ATM (2009) – Three co-workers leaving a Christmas party stop at an isolated ATM booth and become trapped by a hooded killer outside. Minimalist, tense, and wintry, it captures the quiet dread of being hunted in plain sight. Starring Brian Geraghty, Alice Eve, and Josh Peck.

🎅 2010s: The Golden Age of Modern Christmas Horror

The 2010s Christmas Horror Movies List captures a decade when the genre reached new creative heights. Blending nostalgia, satire, and genuine terror, filmmakers revisited the holiday’s darker folklore with sharp writing and high production values. The result was a wave of memorable films that balanced scares with seasonal spectacle turning snowstorms, carols, and family gatherings into backdrops for chaos. From folklore-inspired monsters to wicked anthologies and smart horror-comedies, the 2010s proved that Christmas fear could be both stylish and deeply unsettling, keeping audiences guessing long after the lights on the tree went out.

Sint (Saint) (2010) – In this Dutch horror film, a serial killer dressed as Saint Nicholas terrorizes Amsterdam every 32 years when there's a full moon on December 5th. Starring Egbert Jan Weeber, Bert Luppes, and Caro Lenssen.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) – In the mountains of Finland, a group of reindeer hunters discover that the real Santa Claus is not the jolly figure of legend, but an ancient and dangerous creature recently excavated from the frozen earth. Finnish horror-fantasy. Starring Onni Tommila, Jorma Tommila, and Tommi Korpela.

A Cadaver Christmas (2011) – An unlikely group bands together to save humanity when a dark force takes over a cadaver lab and an army of the living dead threatens their town on Christmas. Starring Daniel Rairdin-Hale, Hanelle Culpepper, and Aaron Christensen.

The Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver (2011) – The killer gingerbread man travels back in time to 1976 and terrorizes a roller disco. Pure camp. Starring Paris Wagner, Jacqui Holland, and Kent Fuher.

Silent Night (2012) – A loose remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night about a small-town sheriff hunting a killer Santa during the Christmas season. Starring Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King, and Donal Logue.

ATM (2012) – Three coworkers become trapped in an ATM booth by a hooded figure after leaving their office Christmas party. Starring Brian Geraghty, Alice Eve, and Josh Peck.

Saint Bernard (2013) – A surreal indie horror film set during a Christmas concert where a band conductor spirals into madness; though abstract, it uses winter and Christmas imagery as part of its descent into chaos. Starring Jason Dugre and Warwick Davis.

All Through the House (2015) – A deranged Santa Claus terrorizes a suburban neighborhood on Christmas Eve in this throwback to 1980s slasher films. Starring Ashley Mary Nunes, Jessica Cameron, and Melynda Kiring.

A Christmas Horror Story (2015) – Four interwoven tales of terror unfold on Christmas Eve, narrated by a radio DJ, featuring a possessed boy, Krampus, zombie elves, and a family trapped in their home with a malevolent force. Starring William Shatner, George Buza, and Rob Archer.

Krampus (2015) – When a dysfunctional family loses their Christmas spirit, they accidentally summon Krampus, an ancient demonic force from European folklore that punishes those who have lost faith in the holiday season. Starring Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Emjay Anthony, and David Koechner.

Red Christmas (2016) – A mother must protect her family on Christmas Day from a demented stranger who is hell-bent on tearing them apart with dark secrets from the past. Starring Dee Wallace, Geoff Morrell, and Sarah Bishop.

Holidays (2016) – An anthology of subversive short films celebrating different holidays throughout the year, including a disturbing Christmas segment. Features various directors and casts.

A Frozen Christmas (2016) – A homeless war veteran and his companions are targeted by three vicious psychopaths wearing Santa suits on Christmas Day. Starring Colin Murtagh, Marcella Hazell, and Neil Gallagher.

Dead Night (2017) – A family’s Christmas getaway to a remote cabin goes horribly wrong when supernatural forces and cult-like visitors converge. Atmospheric and wintry with strong seasonal visuals. Starring Brea Grant, A.J. Bowen, and Barbara Crampton.

Mother Krampus (2017) – A foster family's Christmas turns deadly when a supernatural child summons the demon Mother Krampus to punish them. Starring Claire-Maria Fox, Faye Goodwin, and Tony Manders.

Once Upon a Time at Christmas (2017) – A serial killer dressed as Santa terrorizes a small town, murdering victims according to the lyrics of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Starring Simon Phillips, Sayla de Goede, and Jennifer Freeman.

Anna and the Apocalypse (2017) – A zombie apocalypse strikes a sleepy Scottish town on Christmas, forcing teenage Anna and her friends to sing, dance, and slash their way to survival in this horror-musical mashup. Starring Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, and Sarah Swire.

Better Watch Out (2017) – A babysitter must defend herself and a 12-year-old boy when their suburban home is invaded during the Christmas holidays, but nothing is quite as it seems in this twisted holiday thriller with a shocking twist. Starring Olivia DeJonge, Levi Miller, and Ed Oxenbould.

Secret Santa (2018) – A dark horror-comedy about an office Christmas party that turns bloody when a mysterious toxin causes everyone to reveal and act on their darkest impulses. Starring Michael Rady, Drew Lynch, and Debra Sullivan.

Mrs. Claus (2018) – A sorority’s Christmas party becomes a massacre when a masked killer dressed as Mrs. Claus begins hunting the girls. A throwback slasher that leans into campy ’80s nostalgia. Starring Brinke Stevens, Hailey Strader, and Helene Udy.

Await Further Instructions (2018) – On Christmas Day, a dysfunctional family finds themselves trapped in their home by a mysterious black substance, with their only guidance coming from cryptic messages on their TV screen. Starring Sam Gittins, Neerja Naik, and David Bradley.

Christmas Presence (aka Why Hide?) (2018) – A diverse group of friends gather for Christmas weekend at a remote cabin, where a mysterious birthday gift turns the holiday into a nightmare. Starring Charlotte Atkinson, Elsie Bennett, and Orli Shuka.

I Trapped the Devil (2019) – A man invites his brother and sister-in-law to his home for Christmas, only for them to discover he’s holding a man in the basement whom he claims is the Devil. Claustrophobic, psychological, and steeped in Christmas tension. Starring Scott Poythress, AJ Bowen, and Susan Burke

Black Christmas (2019) – Another reimagining where a group of female students are stalked during winter break by a mysterious force with supernatural elements and social commentary. Starring Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, and Lily Donoghue.

The Lodge (2019) – A soon-to-be stepmother who survived a cult as a child becomes stranded with her fiancé's two children at their rural lodge during Christmas, where they experience unexplained events that threaten her sanity. Psychological horror from the directors of Goodnight Mommy. Starring Riley Keough, Jaeden Martell, Lia McHugh, Richard Armitage, and Alicia Silverstone.

Check Out the Hallmark Christmas Movies List

🎁 2020s: A New Wave of Festive Fear

The 2020s Christmas Horror Movies List reflects a bold, inventive era where filmmakers blend classic holiday terror with modern themes, sharp humor, and streaming-era polish. This decade’s horror isn’t just about killers in Santa suits it explores isolation, family dysfunction, and the dark undercurrent of consumer cheer. From grim reinventions of folklore to gleefully violent horror-comedies, the 2020s have turned Christmas into a proving ground for creativity, pushing the genre into new territory while keeping the lights of tradition flickering ominously on the tree.

Fatman (2020) – A rowdy kid hires a hitman to take out Santa Claus after receiving a lump of coal, leading to a violent showdown at the North Pole. Starring Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste.

Silent Night (2021) – A British dark comedy where a group of friends gather for Christmas dinner as an environmental disaster looms, forcing them to make impossible choices about survival. Starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, and Roman Griffin Davis.

The Advent Calendar (Le Calendrier) (2021) – A French psychological horror about a paraplegic woman who receives an antique Advent calendar that grants her deadly wishes with strict rules. Stylish, eerie, and steeped in Christmas symbolism. Starring Eugénie Derouand and Honorine Magnier.

It's A Wonderful Binge (2022) – In a world where all drugs and alcohol are illegal except for one day per year, which happens to be Christmas, chaos and horror ensue. Starring Dexter Darden, Eduardo Franco, and Marta Piekarz.

The Leech (2022) – A pious priest’s quiet Christmas spirals into depravity after he takes in a foul-mouthed drifter and his girlfriend for the holidays. A darkly comedic descent into temptation and faith. Starring Graham Skipper, Jeremy Gardner, and Taylor Zaudtke.

Violent Night (2022) – When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family's compound on Christmas Eve, an unlikely hero comes to the rescue: a grumpy, battle-hardened Santa Claus who's had enough of naughty behavior. Starring David Harbour, John Leguizamo, and Beverly D'Angelo.

The Christmas Tapes (2022) – A found-footage anthology where a family’s cozy Christmas is interrupted by a deranged stranger who forces them to watch his collection of twisted holiday horror tales. Starring Greg Sestero, Dave Sheridan, and Vernon Wells.

Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022) – On Christmas Eve, a record store owner's plans to party are ruined when a robotic Santa Claus goes on a killing spree. Starring Riley Dandy, Sam Delich, and Jonah Ray.

The Mean One (2023) – A horror retelling of How the Grinch Stole Christmas where a young woman seeks revenge on the creature that destroyed her family's Christmas years earlier. An unauthorized Grinch horror film. Starring David Howard Thornton, Krystle Martin, and Chase Mullins.

Werewolf Santa (2023) – A low-budget British horror-comedy where Santa becomes infected and transforms into a bloodthirsty werewolf on Christmas Eve. Over-the-top fun with practical gore effects. Starring Rhys Warrington and Emily Booth.

It's a Wonderful Knife (2023) – A slasher homage to It's a Wonderful Life where a girl who stopped a Christmas serial killer wishes she'd never been born, giving the killer a second chance. Starring Jane Widdop, Justin Long, and Joel McHale.

He Sees You When You’re Sleeping (2023) – A chilling indie slasher about a vengeful mall Santa who stalks those on his “naughty list.” A modern throwback to gritty 1980s holiday slashers. Starring Drew Marvick and Linnea Quigley.

A Creature Was Stirring (2023) – A nurse keeps her troubled teenage daughter locked in her room on a tightly controlled drug regimen to ward off a terrifying affliction, but when strangers break in seeking shelter from a Christmas blizzard, their dark family secret is exposed. Starring Chrissy Metz, Annalise Basso, Scout Taylor-Compton, and Connor Paolo.

Terrifier 3 (2024) – Art the Clown returns to terrorize Sienna and her brother during the Christmas season as they struggle to rebuild their lives after surviving his previous Halloween massacre. Starring David Howard Thornton, Lauren LaVera, and Samantha Scaffidi.

A Very Flattened Christmas (2024) – Employees at a roadkill collection company are killed off one by one by an evil reindeer on Christmas. Starring Key Tawn Toothman, Trevor Vincent Farney, and Kaemie McCanless.

Carnage for Christmas (2024) – A trans true-crime podcaster returns to her conservative hometown for Christmas and becomes entangled in a series of murders that may be linked to a historical killer known as "The Toymaker." Australian queer horror. Starring Jeremy Moineau, Dominique Booth, Zarif, and Olivia Deeble.

🎬 Horror Films Set Against the Christmas Backdrop

The Horror Films with Significant Christmas Scenes list highlights movies not strictly about Christmas but deeply marked by the season’s imagery and atmosphere. These films use holiday settings twinkling lights, office parties, wintry streets to heighten dread or irony, contrasting warmth and festivity with tension and fear. Whether it’s demonic possession unfolding beside a decorated tree, a haunted take on redemption, or a thriller that weaponizes holiday cheer, these stories prove that Christmas can amplify unease even in films that aren’t holiday horror at heart.

The Exorcist (1973) – While not a Christmas horror film per se, several key scenes take place during the Christmas season in this iconic possession horror film. Starring Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, and Max von Sydow.

The Shining (1980) – While not overtly Christmas-themed, it’s often associated with the winter holiday season and family isolation, aligning perfectly with this category’s mood. Starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and Danny Lloyd.

Gremlins (1984) – A young man receives a cute creature called a Mogwai as a Christmas gift, but when he accidentally breaks the three important rules of care, the creature spawns malevolent gremlins that terrorize his small town on Christmas Eve. Starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, and Polly Holliday.

Die Hard (1988) – Often debated as a Christmas movie, this action-thriller set during an office Christmas party features terrorists, violence, and plenty of thrills. Starring Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, and Bonnie Bedelia.

Scrooged (1988) – A dark comedy retelling of A Christmas Carol where a cynical TV executive is visited by three ghosts, some of whom are genuinely frightening. Starring Bill Murray, Karen Allen, and John Forsythe.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) – Billy and Kate move to New York City where Gizmo is captured and experimented on, creating a new batch of even more chaotic gremlins who take over a high-tech skyscraper. Starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, and John Glover.

Edward Scissorhands (1990) – The Christmas sequences give emotional depth to this gothic fantasy, turning snow and isolation into haunting symbols of beauty and tragedy. Starring Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Vincent Price, and Dianne Wiest.

Batman Returns (1992) – Tim Burton’s moody superhero sequel unfolds amid Christmas decorations and falling snow, blending gothic imagery and horror-inspired villains with a tragic holiday melancholy. Starring Michael Keaton, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Danny DeVito.

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) – Stanley Kubrick's psychological thriller set during the Christmas season in New York City explores dark themes of sexuality and obsession. Starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, and Sydney Pollack.

🎄 Closing Thoughts: The Chilling Spirit of Christmas Horror

Across decades, Christmas horror has evolved from eerie experiments of the 1970s to the slick, self-aware spectacles of today. What began as a curious collision between comfort and chaos has become a full-fledged subgenre one that finds beauty in the snow, menace in the carols, and mystery in the season’s cheer. These films remind us that even amid glowing lights and joyful music, there’s always room for unease. Whether it’s a killer Santa, a demonic folklore creature, or a haunted Christmas Eve revelation, the message endures: the holidays don’t just bring peace on earth they also awaken the darkness beneath the tinsel.