Discuss: The Worst Holiday Movies
Filed under: Lists, Holiday Movie Junk
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Guess this is a good topic to get out of the way now, seeing as we love to do all sorts of seasonal stuff here at Cinematical. Plus EW just posted a pretty solid piece on The 20 Worst Holiday Movies, and by "holiday," they mean December, not year 'round.
On one hand, the EW staff focuses on most of the easy (recent) targets like Deck the Halls, Surviving Christmas, and Christmas with the Kranks -- and I thank them for remembering to include the vile Jingle All the Way and the unwatchable Eight Crazy Nights -- but, um, the original Black Christmas does NOT belong on this list. (Why? Because it's a good horror film!) They give the flick a bankhand by saying "it's not that terrible," but include it on the list because it kick-started the (generally terrible) slasher sub-genre. That makes no sense to me, especially when there's a perfectly terrible remake of Black Christmas that could have made the list. (Oooh, and high-five to whomever remembered New Year's Evil.)
So take a look through the list and let us know what you think. Mostly naughty, not much nice. I mighta nominated Mixed Nuts, seeing as how many great people it wastes. Or most of The Santa Clause trilogy, for sheer awfulness. And for even more yuletide torture, heck, here's a two-year-old piece I wrote called The World's Most Obnoxious Xmas Comedies. Bah humbug indeed.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-30-2008 @ 6:56PM
Ben said...
Santa Claus the Movie (the one with Dudley Moore) is my favourite Christmas film ever. Can't believe that it's in the list. I love it.
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11-30-2008 @ 7:12PM
Kurt said...
That's nothing, the one film lauded in this list was A Christmas Story, and I freaking hate that movie.
11-30-2008 @ 7:14PM
Meh said...
uhh, Jingle All The Way was awesome!
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11-30-2008 @ 8:28PM
MCW said...
Agreed. I guess you have to be of a certain age to love it, but being that this was one of Phil Hartman's final films, you have to appreciate it for what it is.
Sinbad and Schwarz running through the mall cracked me up.
- http://UncoveredFilms.blogspot.com
11-30-2008 @ 7:23PM
cough said...
There are 4 home alones? 2 doesn't belong in that list. The third one, however, should burst in flames. I mostly avoided 4.
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11-30-2008 @ 8:30PM
MCW said...
The first 3 were pretty good, #4, the direct-to-TV version was atrocious and unwatchable.
Anyone who says three isn't good has not watched it. It has the same physical comedy as the first 2, and some really hilarious scenes to go with that. Most people ignore it because Culkin isn't in it, so it got lost in the shuffle.
I shouldn't even bother trying to convince anyone, but I just know that Christmas classics are few and far between, so you'd better appreciate the few good ones available.
12-01-2008 @ 1:23PM
cough said...
That's the thing, i didn't ignore it. I tried, i really tried. But it sucks, i didn't enjoyed one bit. But i guess if you go so far as to call it a christmas classic, then there's no point arguing.
Let's just agree that Home alone 2 doesn't belong there.
11-30-2008 @ 9:00PM
chuck said...
NO way should Home Alone 2 be on that list. That was a solid sequel to a classic film!
Chuck
http://blog.entertainmenttodayandbeyond.com/
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11-30-2008 @ 8:58PM
kevin said...
I would REALLY like any movie critic over the age of 25 to make a movie list with the 20 BEST Christmas movies of the past 25 years. A few of the movies that were in this list, maybe 3 or 4, will likely be on Top x (x being 5, 10, 20, etc.) Christmas movie lists in the next 15 years or so, when the tired, old, cranky critics who hate newer movies retire or are forced to stop writing due to natural causes.
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12-01-2008 @ 2:25AM
Eric said...
Jingle All The Way isn't vile. It's essential Christmas toy consumer love... a 1990's toy-focused Christmas Story complete with all the badness and triviality of the 1990s. It also has a lot of fans... great score, funny scenes, great for kids and all the usual bad/goodness of Arnold. Why the hate?
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12-01-2008 @ 6:55AM
Peter Hall said...
Scott, I think you accidentally selected the banner picture for Greatest, Bestest, Most Amazingist Holiday Movie in the Universe. Please correct.
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12-01-2008 @ 12:46PM
JM said...
I agree with the list for the most part (Home Alone 2? Really?), but they missed one. A Christmas Story should be on there, absolutely. It's a terrible film- mock sentimentalism, flat performances especially by Darren McGavin, and the annoying voiceover that portends a heartwarming trip back to the good ole days but serves no real purpose. A movie that is unfunny and a colossal waste of time.
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12-01-2008 @ 6:28PM
skr111lz said...
I agree with most of the people here that. loved jingle all the way when I was a kid, It probably isn't nearly as funny as I remember it being though. Also I must be a freak or something because I really like 8 crazy nights.
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12-01-2008 @ 7:33PM
CDrive said...
Jingle All the Way is intentionally campy and ridiculous, not to mention pretty funny for all ages. I agree with Eric that it is actually a great satire of the 90's "Tickle-Me-Elmo" and other must-have toys holiday craze. In fact, I take issue with the use of the image as the lead in to this article.
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12-05-2008 @ 9:59PM
tom said...
no way should jingle all the way or home alone 2 should be on this list. phil hartmans mannerisms are hilarious in jingle all the way and how can you not laugh at the mall scenes with sinbad and arnold fighting their way through the stores?! home alone 2 of course isnt as good as the original, but its much better than half of the christmas/holiday movies out there. try to watch that movie at the part when kevin is walking down the street and gets into the cab and the guy says " aint much better in here kid" his face is hilarious. that movie has so many one-liners. "suck brick kid" hahahah i still cant watch that part without laughing for a good few minutes. great classic for any age person to enjoy. this list seriously sucks.
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12-02-2008 @ 12:19PM
Tucker said...
Wow, it looks like the two people on the planet who dislike "A Christmas Story" showed up for this post!
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12-03-2008 @ 12:20AM
Jake said...
Home Alone 2?
Suck brick, kid!
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12-09-2008 @ 2:46PM
DQ said...
This list should be on a list - The Worst Worst of Lists. Jingle all the way, Jack Frost, The Grinch, and Home Alone 2 to me were all pretty good holiday movies that I watch every year with my kids but the holiday season wouldn't be complete with out watching A Christmas Story... come on people that is a great Christmas movie! It is right up there with Christmas Vacation!
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