When you’re a parent, there’s a huge amount of pressure to make the holidays magical for the whole family all season long. But once the kids are snuggled up in their beds, take some time for yourself and soak up some holiday cheer from this list of Christmas movies just for you that doesn’t have a Rankin/Bass title.
From scary movies about a murderous snowman on a rampage to folkloric Christmas demons terrorizing mean families, there are plenty of adult-only holiday movies to make for an exciting movie night without the kids.
Get into the seasonal spirit and enjoy these films that aren’t afraid to look at the holidays from an adult’s perspective.
Jack Frost
Did someone say Frosty, the killer snowman? This iconic, iconic Christmas horror film tells the story of Jack Frost, a convicted serial killer who dies in a freak accident only to be reincarnated as a murderous snowman bent on revenge. Full of blood and dark humor, Jack Frost (1997) is one you’ll want to put the kids to bed before watching — unless you want them to be afraid of snowmen forever!
Watch Jack Frost on Tuba
The happiest season
There’s nothing more romantic than popping the question to your partner during the holidays, right? Well, unless you’re Abby (Kristen Stewart), whose plan to propose to her girlfriend Harper (Mackenzie Davis) at the family’s holiday party takes an awkward turn when she discovers that Harper is out of touch with her conservative parents. With themes of love, acceptance and the fear of accepting your true self, The happiest season (2020) puts a grown-up and heartfelt twist on the holiday rom-com.
Watch The happiest season on Hulu
The Holdovers
Set in New England in the 1970s, The Holdovers (2023) follows a grumpy prep school teacher (Paul Giamatti) who reluctantly oversees students stranded on campus during Christmas break. Unexpectedly, he forms deep friendships with the sympathetic school cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph in an Oscar-winning performance) and a mischievous student (Dominic Sessa). Against the isolated backdrop of a snowy winter, the unlikely trio form an unimaginable bond over their personal struggles and shared humanity.
Watch The Holdovers on Amazon Prime Video
Bad Santa Claus
A penchant for bawdy humor is a must in this 2003 dark comedy directed by Billy Bob Thornton. Bad Santa Claus follows an alcoholic con man named Willie (Thornton) who poses as Santa Claus and plans to rob stores on Christmas Eve with his sidekick Marcus (Tony Cox). However, Willie’s plans are thwarted when he runs into Sue (Lauren Graham) and “The Kid” (Brett Kelly) with an advent calendar. It’s the perfect refresher when your inner cynic has had enough of artificial holiday cheer. After enjoying Willie’s first adventure, you’ll definitely want to catch him again in the 2016 sequel.
Watch Bad Santa Claus on Paramount+
Black Christmas
Miss Halloween? Relive the bloody days with this slasher flick that still fits the season. The 1974 fear-inducing horror classic follows a group of sorority girls who become the victims of gruesome murders during the Christmas holidays after receiving a series of disturbing phone calls. The original has a special place in our black hearts, but its remakes have just as much jump scares. So for more Christmas carnage, check out the 2006 adaptation on Amazon Prime Video and the 2019 version on Max.
Watch Black Christmas on the Peacock
A real Harold and Kumar Christmas
Everyone’s favorite best friends, Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn), try to mitigate the holiday disaster in their third big screen adventure, reuniting after years of estrangement. The cult Christmas movie from 2011 is filled with the outrageous, tongue-in-cheek humor fans have come to expect from the duo – alongside a side of heartwarming friendship moments. (If you want to enjoy other wacky bud adventures, you’re in luck: 2004. Harold and Kumar go to the White Castle is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video and 2008 Harold and Kumar escaped from Guantanamo Bay (2008) is available to stream on the Roku channel.)
Watch A real Harold and Kumar Christmas on Tuba
Gremlins
Watch with joy as a herd of little monsters ravage an idyllic town at Christmas time. Gremlins (1984) subverts the holiday clichés you’re tired of repeating every year and includes possibly the most disturbing story of all time, “How I Found Out Santa Claus Wasn’t Real.”
Watch Gremlins to Max
The night before
Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie star as a trio of lifelong friends looking for an epic last night of debauchery before committing to grown-up holiday traditions. Hilarious cameos by everyone from Miley Cyrus to Ilana Glazer will keep you on your toes during the shenanigans in this 2015 comedy.
Watch The night before on Starz
Die a man
John McClane’s (Bruce Willis) heroism in the face of a terrorist threat takes place on Christmas Eve. For this reason alone, and despite what skeptics would have you believe, Die a man (1988) is an appropriate addition here – and one that requires annual review.
Watch Die a man on Amazon Prime Video
Office Christmas party
A host of powerhouse comedians, including Kate McKinnon, Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman, join forces in this 2016 workplace comedy. Clay (TJ Miller) and his co-workers at a computer technology company embark on a more naughty than nice mission to throw an unforgettable office Christmas party to impress a potentially job-saving client.
Watch Office Christmas party on Amazon Prime Video (for rent)
Exchange places
When cocky CEO Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) and shrewd street hustler Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) find their lives upended in a high-priced bet, mischief ensues—though not without a dash of controversial humor. It’s Murphy, Aykroyd and the holiday shifter in this 1983 classic that’s definitely worth putting the kids to bed early.
Watch Exchange places on Paramount+
Bad Moms Christmas
Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Bell reprise their roles as the rebellious trio of moms who get a not-so-exciting surprise visit from their mothers for Christmas. Packed with laugh-out-loud one-liners and quips, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski and Cheryl Hines also join the fun in the raucous sequel to the 2017 film. Bad moms (2016).
Watch Bad Moms Christmas on Netflix
A violent night
A group of mercenaries will probably rue the day they decided to take a wealthy family hostage on Christmas Eve. In 2022 A violent nightlanding on the naughty list this way has deadly consequences as Santa Claus (David Harbour) arrives to save the holidays with ass-kicking action and not-so-holy hilarity like you’ve never seen before.
Watch A violent night on Starz
Krampus
You better not lose your Christmas spirit – or else! Sarah (Toni Collette) and Tom (Adam Scott) learn this lesson the hard way when their Christmastime conflict summons the folklore demon Krampus into their dysfunctional household, bringing doom and destruction in its fury in the 2015 horror film.
Watch Krampus on the Peacock
The Lodge
Merry holidays turn cold when two children are snowed in a remote winter cabin during Christmas with their soon-to-be stepmother (Riley Keough), whose visions of her iconic past drive the trio’s terrifying behavior in this 2019 horror thriller. Worse, their father’s return home seems less likely with each sleepless night.
Watch The Lodge on Amazon Prime Video (for rent)
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education