Every December, as holiday playlists start looping Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas," something strange happens. People willingly queue up some of the worst Christmas movies ever made. These are the misfit toys of holiday cinema. The films that critics roasted, yet somehow remain part of our annual viewing traditions.
Maybe it's the exaggerated cheer or the unintentional hilarity of A-listers trying too hard in tinsel-covered disasters that keep people coming back. But whether we watch them ironically or out of genuine nostalgia, these flawed festive films, which can be found on Netflix, Hulu, andmore, own a special place in our hearts.
Jingle All the Way (1996)
If Christmas consumerism ever needed a mascot, it would be Arnold Schwarzenegger in Jingle All the Way. This classic holiday comedy follows a desperate dad racing through Minneapolis on Christmas Eve to find a Turbo Man action figure for his son. But his quest spirals into full-blown madness when another dad (Sinbad) is eying the same toy. Critics slammed the movie for its uneven tone, calling it a cynical commentary on capitalism wrapped in slapstick humor.
But that's exactly what makes Jingle All the Way irresistible. Schwarzenegger's over-the-top performance, Sinbad's manic energy, and the sheer absurdity of grown men wrestling over a toy perfectly capture the stress of the holiday rush. It's the cinematic equivalent of last-minute shopping at Target, which makes it super relatable. It's ideal for families who love their Christmas movies with a dash of cartoonish charm, sort of like The Santa Clause (1994).
Jack Frost (1998)
Few Christmas movies are as unintentionally disturbing as Jack Frost. Michael Keaton stars as a dad who dies in a car accident, only to be reincarnated as a snowman so that he can spend time with his young son. And it's as weird as it sounds. Critics dismissed the movie as bizarre, calling its CGI snowman nightmare fuel. Yet, over time, the story has melted its way into a strange corner of pop culture nostalgia.
The film's clumsy attempt at heartfelt sentimentality, mixed with dated late-90s effects, gives it an earnest charm newer Christmas films rarely attempt. It's a snow-covered fever dream that's so wrong it's right once you get over the odd premise. If you can look past the odd Groundhog Day (1993) adjacent story arc, Jack Frost is a great viewing for the whole family.
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Based on John Grisham's novel Skipping Christmas, Christmas with the Kranks should have been a cozy satire about the pressure of holiday conformity. Instead, it became one of the most critically maligned Christmas movies of all time. Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen star as a couple who decide to skip the Christmas celebrations altogether, until their daughter decides to come home for the holidays, which forces them back into the festive spirit.
Critics tore into the movie for its mean-spirited tone, calling it a nightmare version of small-town cheer. And yet, that heightened hysteria is what makes it weirdly watchable. There's a campy delight in seeing Allen and Curtis drenched in fake snow, battling decorations, and screaming about ham. It makes for perfect comfort viewing for anyone who has felt the pressure that comes with the holidays.
Deck the Halls (2006)
If neighborly rivalry ever needed a Christmas anthem, Deck the Halls would be it. Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick star as suburban dads locked in a holiday light war so intense it could literally be seen from space. Critics loathed the film's shrill humor and implausible premise, calling it a soulless battle of egos.
Still, Deck the Halls remains a guilty holiday pleasure. DeVito is gleefully unhinged, Broderick plays the idealistic family man with perfect exasperation, and the whole thing feels like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) on too much eggnog. It's best enjoyed with friends and a sense of humor, especially if your own neighborhood's holiday decorating contest gets a little competitive.
Four Christmases (2008)
Four Christmases follows an unhappy couple (Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn) trying to avoid Christmas by going on vacation to Fiji, only to be roped into visiting all four of their divorced parents after their flight gets canceled. Critics called it cynical and joyless. But audiences didn't care because families argue, and not every gathering is picture-perfect.
Vaughn's sardonic vibe paired with Witherspoon's exasperation turn this awkward comedy into a therapeutic watch for anyone who's ever survived an overstuffed family Christmas. It's not heartwarming in the traditional sense, but it does remind us that messy holidays are usually the most memorable ones. If you enjoyed Surviving Christmas (2004), this movie is a must.
