Celebrated as the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas is all about sweet gingerbread, toasty warm hot chocolates, and visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads. With movies likeHome Alone,Elf, andThe Grinch, cinematic Christmases never fail to appeal to children. With presents stacked up to the ceiling and the whimsy of a snow day, Christmas is marketed as one of the most wholesome of holidays.
But not all Christmas movies share the same sentiment. While it is a holiday most commonly associated with children, there are some movies that depict a very different holiday experience.Whether they are targeting a notoriously mature audience with genres such as action or horror, or are displaying highly mature themes or premises not fit for children, these R-rated Christmas movies are definitely not family-friendly.With their R-rating and more mature content, these Christmas movies are certainly more naughty than nice.
12‘Violent Night’ (2022)
Director: Tommy Wirkola
For a healthy dose of “season’s beatings,” Santa goes up against armed mercenaries inTommy Wirkola’s action comedyViolent Night. On Christmas Eve, young Trudy (Leah Brady) is gifted a walkie-talkie which her parents tell her is a direct line to Santa. So when armed mercenaries break into the wealthy family’s home, it’s up to Santa (David Harbour) to deliver the gift of justice to anyone he finds on his naughty list.
From the producers behindNobodyandBullet Train,Violent Nightis a festive take on a classic action story with plenty of creative Christmas stunts to spread the holiday spirit. While chock-full of all the classic action sequences that are to be expected from these producers,the implementation and usage of Christmas items, magic, and characters makeViolent Nighta hilariously fun action comedy to watch. While the premise of an action movie with Santa as the lead seems too nonsensical to actually work, the film manages to get a great deal of mileage and genuine moments from this premise.
Violent Night
When a group of mercenaries attack the estate of a wealthy family, Santa Claus must step in to save the day (and Christmas).
Watch on Amazon Prime
11‘Lethal Weapon’ (1987)
Director: Richard Donner
Reckless young cop Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) teams up with the experienced LAPD detective Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) inRichard Donner’s buddy cop action comedyLethal Weapon. Set during Christmastime in Los Angeles,Lethal Weaponunderscores its action-packed thrill ride with holiday classics like “Jingle Bell Rock,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and “The First Noel.”
Exploring a lot of well-known holiday feelings - the pressures of the perfect family holiday and feeling lonely at the thought of Christmas without a special someone -Lethal Weaponis filled with enough hope, heart, and joy to bring the holiday cheer. This is on top of the film’s status as one of the most recognizable and beloved buddy copaction movies of the 80s. The Christmas theming and time period only further add to the excitement and thrills to be found throughout this icon of the 80s.
Lethal Weapon
Rent on Amazon
10‘Black Christmas’ (1974)
Director: Bob Clark
BeforeHalloweenandScreamcame Bob Clarks’Black Christmas; one of the earliest slasher films that was unique with its festive setting. Set during the Christmas season, a sorority house is terrorized by a stranger who makes frightening phone calls before picking off each of the sorority members one by one. The film’s simple premise and cold and calculated execution made it an all-time classic slasher film that still holds up to this day, even when compared to modern slashers andBlack Christmas’multiple reboots.
Based on the 1960s urban legend “the babysitter and the man upstairs,” and inspired by real-life murders that took place in Montreal,Black Christmaswielded its cultural influence to earn itself a cult following for its broader influence on the slasher genre. Balancing classic slasher tropes with a Christmas setting,Black Christmasgives a whole new and horrifying meaning to “he sees you when you’re sleeping.”
Black Christmas
During their Christmas break, a group of sorority girls are stalked by a stranger.
Watch on Peacock
9‘Anna and the Apocalypse’ (2017)
Director: John McPhail
Nearing the end of the school year, Anna (Ella Hunt) is close to graduating from high school and dreams of traveling before attending university. But on the night of the school’s Christmas show, her plans take a different turn as a zombie apocalypse threatens the quiet town of Little Haven. With the world continuing to crumble around them, Anna and her friends realize that in order to survive the night, they have to embrace the Christmas spirit and rely on the comfort of one another.
Directed byJohn McPhail,Anna and the Apocalypsesees Anna and her friends fight, slash, and sing their way to survival. While horror and Christmas have always had a strange connection with one another,few films have been able to perfectly balance the complete opposite styles quite likeAnna and the Apocalypse. Blending a classic Christmas musical style with a gory zombie outbreak narrative,Anna and the Apocalypseisa genre-bending moviethat transcends tradition.
Anna and the Apocalypse
A zombie apocalypse threatens the sleepy town of Little Haven - at Christmas - forcing Anna and her friends to fight, slash and sing their way to survival, facing the undead in a desperate race to reach their loved ones. But they soon discover that no one is safe in this new world, and with civilization falling apart around them, the only people they can truly rely on are each other.
Watch on Shudder
Directors: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
A lot of work goes behind creating the perfect Christmas. From the present wrapping, to the shopping, cooking, and decorating - duties that often fall onto the mom of the family. But when three under-appreciated and over-burdened moms have had enough of the seasonal pressure, Amy (Mila Kunis), Kiki (Kristen Bell), and Carla (Kathryn Hahn) rebel against the tough expectations placed on them to finally enjoy the holidays.
Scott MooreandJon Lucas’ holiday sequel,A Bad Moms Christmashighlights the struggles of being a mother during the festive season. Allowing themselves to let loose and enjoy the holidays, Amy, Kiki, and Carla celebrate Christmas in their own way.A Bad Moms Christmasworks especially well for those sick of the preparation and planning required of the holiday season, and need a good excuse to relax and have a good time with a raunchy comedy.
Watch on Fubo
7‘The Night Before’ (2015)
Director: Jonathan Levine
From the creators behindNeighborsandThis is the End,Jonathan Levine’sThe Night Beforeis a celebration of Christmas where children aren’t allowed. The film follows the story of three lifelong best friends - Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen), and Chris (Anthony Mackie), as they run through the streets of New York on Christmas Eve for their annual tradition of seasonal debauchery. In what may be their last yearly reunion before Isaac becomes a father, the trio are on a mission to find the Holy Grail of Christmas parties.
Rogen’s signature style of comedy has rarely seen itself cross over with holiday films, yetThe Night Beforemakes the argument for them being a perfect fit for one another. The film combines the highly raunchy and risque style of humor with the iconography and emotions of the holiday spirit to create a genuinely enthralling and engaging raunchy Christmas film.From tipsy karaoke bars to drug-fuelled encounters with Jesus,The Night Beforeis theperfect stoner Christmas movie.
The Night Before
Watch on Tubi
6‘Better Watch Out’ (2016)
Director: Chris Peckover
Better Watch Outis a Christmas-themed horror comedy that follows a babysitter and a young twelve-year-old on a seemingly normal night on a quiet suburban street in a ‘safe neighborhood’. However, when mysterious strangers appear to begin breaking into the house, the babysitter must defend the child from all things dangerous and keep them from entering the home. As the terrifying night continues to play out, it becomes apparent that this robbery is far from an ordinary breaking and entering.
While there have certainly been a number of iconic Christmas horror films and Christmas comedies that have stood the test of time, rarely has a film so successfully balanced both horror and comedy in a Christmas setting.Better Watch Outsucceeds spectacularly thanks to its inspiration and evolution of classic Christmas stories likeHome Alone, creating a more cynical and violent approach to the always cheery holiday season. It’s also the rare film that is best experienced not knowing much going in, as its brilliant twist makes the entire experience that much better.– Rob Lee
Better Watch Out
On a quiet suburban street, a babysitter must defend a twelve-year-old boy from intruders, only to discover it’s far from a normal home invasion.
5‘Die Hard’ (1988)
Director: John McTiernan
It’s Christmas Eve in L.A., and New York cop John McClane’s (Bruce Willis) plan to reconcile with his estranged wife is thrown into chaos after her office building is overtaken by a group of terrorists led by thecalculating and ruthless Hans Gruber(Alan Rickman). McClane soon enough becomes the only person who can put a stop to Gruber’s plans, as he sets out to single-handedly rescue the hostages and bring him down from the inside out.
One of the most highly-debated Christmas movies of all time,John McTiernan’sDie Hardis a heart-racing action thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. With his iconic blood-soaked white tank top, witty remarks, and composure in the face of danger, McClane is a festive take on the typical action hero. Even to those who don’t consider it a true Christmas classic,it’s hard to deny the legacy and status thatDie Hardnow holds as an R-rated landmark for the holiday season as a whole.
New York City policeman John McClane (Bruce Willis) is visiting his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and two daughters on Christmas Eve. He joins her at a holiday party in the headquarters of the Japanese-owned business she works for. But the festivities are interrupted by a group of terrorists who take over the exclusive high-rise, and everyone in it. Very soon McClane realizes that there’s no one to save the hostages – but him.
4‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ (2001)
Director: Sharon Maguire
During the holiday season, for anyone who’s single, “how’s your love life?” is the question that strikes fear into the heart. So when Bridget (Renée Zellweger) gets introduced to Mark (Colin Firth) during her parents’ Christmas party, her New Year sets off between rekindling a possible romance with an old childhood acquaintance, and vying for the affections of her attractive boss Daniel (Hugh Grant).
Based on the novel of the same name,Sharon Maguire’sBridget Jones’s Diaryis a romantic comedy about the agony and ecstasy of being single during the holiday season. Told through Bridget’s personal diary, the movie is a humble, imperfect depiction of the holiday season without the flashy lights.Bridget Jones’s Diary’s distinct style and approach make it highly unique when it comes to both romantic comedies and Christmas movies of the era, complete with enough raunchy comedy flair to make it an all-time classic.
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Bridget, a single woman in her thirties, embarks on a mission to overhaul her life by keeping a diary, where she records her resolutions, romantic entanglements, and professional aspirations. Her love life becomes a rollercoaster as she juggles the attentions of her charming but roguish boss and a seemingly cold but earnest family friend. Amidst comedic blunders and poignant reflections, Bridget’s journey highlights themes of self-discovery and genuine love. The film offers a witty and heartwarming portrayal of personal growth and the complexities of relationships in the contemporary world.
Watch on Paramount+
Director: Terry Zwigoff
Bad Santafollows the story of Willie Soke (played byBilly Bob Thornton) a sad and miserable conman who hatches up a scheme to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. He plans to pose as Santa, accompanied by his partner posing as his little helper, as they sneak past security and walk away with all the goods, acting as the ironic reverse of Santa Claus. However, their plan runs into a problem when Soke forms a true friendship with a troubled kid, leading to the head of security discovering their dastardly plot.
While it may seem obvious and overplayed nowadays to have a raunchy comedy that follows a loud and unkempt Santa figure, the concept was highly influential and unique whenBad Santawas first released. Especially when compared to other raunchy Christmas films that attempted to fill in the shoes of Bad Santa every year after its release,Bad Santafeatured something that has helped it stand the test of time: heart.Being able to balance its most shocking and raunchy comedic moments with a genuine holiday spirit message at its center is what makesBad Santaa true holiday classic.– Rob Lee
In this dark comedy, the crotchety Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner (Tony Cox) reunite once a year for a holiday con. Posing as a mall Santa and his elf, they rip off shopping outlets on Christmas Eve. This year, however, Willie is falling apart. He’s depressed and alcoholic, and his erratic behavior draws the suspicion of mall security (Bernie Mac). But when befriending a small boy brings out his kinder side, Willie begins to wonder if there is still some hope for him.
