Movies

5 Naughty Christmas Movies That Would Make Santa Blush

5 Naughty Christmas Movies That Would Make Santa Blush
Image credit: Miramax Films, Warner Bros.

These Christmas movies might just become your new guilty pleasures.

While we all have our feel-good favorite Christmas movies, sometimes it's nice to indulge in some not-so-traditional festive films. If you're looking to venture off the beaten path this holiday season, here's a list of Christmas movies that are not exactly filled with sugar, spice, and everything nice.

Bad Santa (2003)

Picture Santa — jolly, kind, and filled with holiday cheer. Now, imagine the exact opposite. Willie Stokes, a hard-drinking, foul-mouthed fraudster working as a mall Santa by day, uses his role to scout the mall for a perfect heist.

His gruff exterior starts to crumble a little when a lonely kid, Thurman, befriends him. It’s a twisted take on the redemption story, drenched in dark humor and unexpected feel-good moments.

The Night Before (2015)

Three best friends (portrayed by Seth Rogan, Anthony Mackie, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt), one wild Christmas Eve night, and a boatload of drugs. This comedy might make you think twice about attending parties. The movie's central theme is “drugs = fun”. Perhaps not the best message for the kiddos.

Gremlins (1984)

Adorable critters turn into nightmare-inducing monsters and wreak havoc on a small town during Christmas. This is definitely not a classic warm and fuzzy holiday film. Its sly critique on consumerism mixed with the Gremlins' chaos makes this a holiday film with a difference. Gremlins may be small, but they sure do wreak big havoc.

Violent Night (2022)

Ever thought Santa would square off against mercenaries? In Violent Night, when a little girl gets a walkie-talkie that supposedly connects her to Santa, she didn’t expect to be calling for backup.

In this movie, Santa is not the jovial gift-bringer, — he is an action hero going against armed bad guys. With David Harbour portraying Santa, this action-packed film offers a unique twist on a holiday tale.

A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)

The pressure of creating the perfect Christmas can be overwhelming, especially for moms. This movie sees three stressed-out moms deciding to ditch the high expectations of the holidays. But as they try to reclaim the festive season, their own mothers join the fray, adding to the mayhem.