Even the most die-hard Christmas enthusiast will have to admit that the season and commercialism go hand-in-hand, a fact that extends to entertainment. Every year, countless movies, songs, cartoons, and books are all put out in the hopes of capturing the magic of the season in a way that also pads the wallet of its creator. However, numerous awful holiday-themed movies get pushed aside and forgotten for everyHome AloneorGremlinsthat become annual traditions themselves.
For those who like digging a bit deeper, and wholove watching ‘so-bad-its-good’ cinema, online access and streaming services give ample opportunity to scrap the bottom of the barrel of the genre to find those hidden gems that perfectly balance cheesiness with entertainment. These ten films are far from classics in the typical sense, but they will surely entertain during the holidays.
10The Christmas Dragon (2014)
We start with the worst of the worst. A young orphan, Ayden, is gifted a magical crystal from a dying elf. The artifact is the secret to saving Father Christmas, and she and her friend embark on a journey with a dragon to save the Christmas season.
There is nothing remarkable aboutThe Christmas Dragon; it is dull, uninspired, and a stretch of a Christmas movie with bad CGI. So why does it make this list? The film ended off season 13 ofMystery Science Theater 3000, and it marks one of the better episodes from the 2022 season of the program.
Most of the movies on this list that have not been riffed on are still perfectly enjoyable to watch on their own with a few friends, but this one highlightshow the cult TV show can elevate a bad filmwith no redeeming qualities.You can catch theMST3Kversion on Netflix as part of their original programming, and streamThe Christmas Dragon(without the commentary) on Prime.
9Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)
The people of Mars become obsessed with Earth’s entertainment and celebration of the holidays, leading to the abduction of Santa Claus so that they can have their own Christmas and save a lethargic population. They succeed in capturing Santa along with two children, and the three must work to save both the children of Mars and make it back in time for Christmas on Earth.
Related:20 Best Christmas Movies of All Time
Santa Claus Conquers the Martiansis thePlan 9 from Outer Spaceof Christmas movies. The film is considered a classic within the ‘so bad it’s good’ space. This is bolstered by its public domain status, which has led to the film being rediscoveredby movie hosts like Elviraand poked fun at by the likes ofMystery Science Theater 3000.
For newcomers, this means there is more than one way to enjoySanta Claus Conquers the Martians.The movie itself is a bizarre mix of ’60s sci-fi and family film, making it a one-of-a-kind mess of a movie.StreamSanta Claus Conquers the Martianson Amazon Prime.
8Feeders 2: Slay Bells (1998)
An alien invasion comes to Earth on Christmas Eve, wreaking havoc on a family trying to celebrate the season. However, this is not the first time the cast has faced off against the aliens, and they won’t allow the little human-eating creatures to ruin their holidays.
The Polonia brothers are pioneers in the shot-on-video format, with over 80 films to their credit. Most of these are Z-grade oddities, and the ‘Feeders’ films are no different, with awkward acting, dialogue, and budgeted alien designs that border on being adorabledespite their vicious nature.
Still, like most Polonia brothers' projects,Feeders 2: Slay Bellsis entertainingly bad and endearingly underscored by the evident passion for cinema and the home movie style of filmmaking. If anything, withFeeders 2: Slay Bellsyou can revel in the few bloody attacks from the adorable little critters passed off as terrifying aliens.StreamFeeders 2: Slay Bellson Tubi.
7Elfette Saves Christmas (2019)
Needing a break from her work and the lack of respect she gets from her job at the North Pole, Elfette decides to take a vacation to sunny California. However, her vacation is disrupted prematurely when Santa gets kidnapped by the mafia, and it is up to Elefette to save Christmas.
Elfette Saves Christmasis one of those baffling holiday films that begs the question of who the intended audience is. Much of the delivery is that of a children’s film, but there is enough mature content, including constant use of guns and mentions ofchopping up elves for food, that this would terrify the little ones (if it does not bore them first).
Still, there is a peculiar balance of charm, awkwardness, and jokes that either land completely flat or offer clever moments of humor. It is one of those push-and-pull type films where, at points, you can see what they are going for, and there was talent involved. However, there are an equal amount of eye-rolls and goofy moments, so the film is far from traditionally ‘good’ but still entertaining to the right crowd.StreamElfette Saves Christmason Prime Video.
6A Karate Christmas Miracle (2019)
After his father disappears during a mass shooting at a local theater, 10-year-old Jesse begins to have visions that tell him that his father is still alive, and to save him, he must get a black belt before Christmas. This also pushes the boy’s mother to launch her own investigation, including getting the help of a psychic-turned-college professor to track down her husband’s potential whereabouts.
Related:Best Christmas Movies of the 2010s, Ranked
The image of Eric Roberts filming somewhere in a warehouse delivering cryptic lines about a ‘day of reckoning’ in a children’s movie is enough to have this hit those sweet cheesy notes. However, moments with a cryptic Eric Roberts and a cruel Martin Kove telling the kid he needs to earn his black belt to see his father are baffling when considering these images come from the dreams of a 10-year-old.
A Karate Christmas Miracleis utterly misguided, and this is before even looking at the peculiar relationship Jesse’s mother establishes with a psychic. The film sits at 1.8 on IMDB, which feels right, but those excited about those low scores will find this moviea welcome present under the tree.StreamA Karate Christmas Miracleon Tubi.
5Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
The Star Wars Holiday Special
With ‘Life Day,’ on the horizon, Chewbacca and Han Solo attempt to return to Kashyyyk so that Chewie can spend time with the family. This holiday episode aired on television once before being hidden away out of sheer embarrassment, never released or shown again, giving the infamous episode instant cult status.
We all love a royal mess-up, and theStar Wars Holiday Specialmay be one of the biggest in any franchise, instantly evoking regret the moment it hit the airwaves. The cast did not want to be there, withthe iconic Carrie Fischerseemingly struggling with her mental health and drug issues, while Mark Hamil was obviously in recovery from a recent car crash.
On top of that, the segments are equal parts dull and cheesy. Despite all this, the special has developed a cult following thanks to its many faults. The upcoming documentaryA Disturbance in the Forceexplores the history and behind-the-scenes of the special, which is all the more reason to check out the doomed feature this holiday.Watch on YouTube
4Santa with Muscles (1996)
Conceited millionaire Blake Thorn (played by WWE icon Hulk Hogan) gets amnesia after an accident and awakes to believe he is Santa Claus. Blake then sets out to save an orphanage from an evil scientist named Ebner Frost and his henchmen.
Oh yeah, Brother! We are celebrating Christmas Hulk Hogan style! Panned on release as one of the worst Christmas movies ever,Santa with Musclesis one of those few films that gets better with age. There is undeniably something so inherently cheesy about bad ’90s action/comedy, and Hogan’s bravado isoddly nostalgic for those who grew up in the era. This is still a stinker, with none of the comedy landing and a paper-thin plot, but that makes it fun to revisit for those who love bad movies.StreamSanta with Muscleson Tubi.
3Santa Claws (1996)
Santa Clawsfollows actor Ravine Quinn, played by scream queen Debbie Rochon, as she attempts to reconcile with her husband and balance her work. Things become complicated when a stalker weasels his way into her life under the guise of friendship, only to become violent towards anyone he feels is getting in the way of their destined relationship.
Santa Clawsis as trashy of a Christmas film as you will get without scrapping the bottom of the barrel with z-grade oddities. The plot is weak, a slight rip-off of William Lustig’sManiac,and the ‘horror’ elements are more an excuse to get from one nude shot to another. Moreover, the killer uses a 3-tine garden tool that kills via a series of small pokes, keeping the gore sadly low for a Christmas slasher.
Still, those who love trashy and crass cinema will enjoy this one, particularly with Debbie Rochon in the lead and still committing to the role despite how silly and rushed every aspect of the production feels. It is baffling to realize that the writer behind suchfilms asNight of the Living DeadandReturn of the Living Deaddirected and wrote this one, but it does add an extra layer of intrigue for horror fanatics.StreamSanta Clawson Tubi.
2Christmas Freak (2021)
Christmas Freak
Rudy is obsessed with Christmas, to the point where his year-round celebration of the holiday has made him a social outcast in his town. However, when Rudy stumbles upon a magic scarf, he becomes famous and has to learn to deal with his newfound popularity.
Related:12 Best Christmas Movies to Put On After the Kids Go to Bed
Sean Brown’sChristmas Freakis bad in the same sense thatJohn Waters' films are ‘bad.‘Purposely campy and over-the-top throughout, the production excels in that awkward space between comedy and borderline insufferable silliness. Much of this boils down to Sean Marlow’s performance, the aloof, forever-young persona that would annoy many.
Yet, his approach is charming and endearing to how enthusiastic Rudy is, and the initial shock of annoyance kind of melts away. This will still be a ‘just bad’ Christmas experience to some, but it is worth checking out to reach your own verdict.StreamChristmas Freakon Prime Video.
1Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987)
Another Christmas, another Santa murder, inspiring a killing spree by a troubled man.Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2builds on the previous entry by introducing a new Santa-clad killer triggered into violence by the holiday celebration.
With the single line “Garbage Day!“Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2cemented its cult status(trust us, you need to see the scene with the infamous line). That one iconic moment aside, the Christmas-themed slasher is rather baffling in its execution. It reuses scenes from the first movie and adds a few extra bits of chaos.
This is not unheard of when it comes to B-films, but typically, filmmakers give it more time, so it’s not too obvious that the film is just a cash grab. That said, the movie does highlight some of the best bits of the first, and the added kills in Part 2 make this a fantastic ‘so-bad-its-good’ Christmas film.StreamSilent Night, Deadly Night Part 2on AMC+.
