10 Holiday Movies So Bad They’re Good: The Ultimate Christmas Hate-Watch List

“Four Christmases” is a holiday comedy about a couple, Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon), who are forced to spend Christmas with all four of their divorced parents. Instead of enjoying a relaxing holiday getaway, they end up attending four chaotic and dysfunctional family gatherings, each more awkward and hilariously uncomfortable than the last. As the couple navigates the madness of family drama, they are forced to confront their own relationship issues and what they truly want out of the holiday season. With its mix of slapstick humor and heartwarming moments, “Four Christmases” is a funny, albeit frantic, take on the pressures and joys of family during Christmas.

“Fred Claus” stars Vince Vaughn as Fred, the estranged older brother of Santa Claus (Paul Giamatti). When Fred’s troubled life leads him to fall into financial trouble, he is reluctantly called to the North Pole to help Santa with holiday operations. As Fred struggles to adapt to the Christmas spirit, he inadvertently learns lessons about family, generosity, and redemption. Like “Four Christmases”, “Fred Claus” was met with mixed reviews from critics, who found its humor to be hit or miss.

However, both films share a certain charm, with Vaughn’s signature comedic style bringing a quirky, often heartwarming dynamic to the holiday chaos. While they might not be the highest-rated Christmas classics, there’s something undeniably fun and nostalgic about watching them—offering laughs, ridiculous moments, and a reminder that, sometimes, the most imperfect Christmas films are the ones we love to revisit year after year.

“Candy Cane Lane” is a festive holiday comedy starring Eddie Murphy as a man named Nick, who, after moving to a new neighborhood, becomes obsessed with winning the annual Christmas decoration competition. Determined to outshine his rivals and impress his family, Nick goes to extreme lengths to create the most extravagant holiday display, only to encounter a series of magical and chaotic obstacles along the way.

Directed by Reginald Hudlin, the film blends Murphy’s signature humor with holiday magic, delivering plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments. With its fun premise and a touch of Christmas enchantment, “Candy Cane Lane” adds a fresh, comedic twist to the holiday movie lineup, proving that even the most over-the-top holiday plans can lead to unexpected and joyful results.

“Bad Santa 2” is the raunchy sequel to the 2003 holiday comedy Bad Santa, once again starring Billy Bob Thornton as Willie T. Soke, the crude, alcoholic, and mischievous mall Santa. This time, Willie is roped into a scheme to rob a charity on Christmas Eve, with his old partner-in-crime Marcus (Tony Cox) and a new accomplice—his mother (Kathy Bates).

As chaos and dark humor ensue, Willie must confront his dysfunctional relationships and perhaps even find a sliver of redemption. With its edgy humor, irreverent characters, and unapologetic crudeness, “Bad Santa 2” is not your typical holiday fare, but for fans of the first film, it delivers the same twisted, yet oddly heartwarming, blend of Christmas mischief.

“A Madea Christmas” is a holiday comedy written, directed, and starring Tyler Perry as the iconic character Madea. The film follows Madea as she is invited to spend Christmas with her niece (Chandra Currelley) and her family in the rural South. What begins as a festive gathering quickly turns into a chaotic and humorous affair as Madea helps her family navigate personal dramas, misunderstandings, and holiday mishaps. With its signature mix of slapstick humor, heartfelt moments, and Perry’s over-the-top performance as Madea, the movie delivers a raucous yet touching celebration of family, forgiveness, and Christmas spirit.

“Home Alone 3” is the third installment in the Home Alone franchise, but it introduces a new protagonist, Alex Pruitt (played by Alex D. Linz), a young boy who must defend his home from a group of international thieves after they mistakenly target his house. Despite its connection to the beloved original films, “Home Alone 3” was widely panned by critics and audiences alike, who felt it lacked the charm and chemistry of the first two films, which starred Macaulay Culkin and Catherine O’Hara.

The movie was also the last in the series written by John Hughes, who had created the original “Home Alone” and “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”. While the Home Alone franchise has continued with several sequels—including the most recent, “Home Sweet Home Alone” (2021)—none have quite recaptured the magic or the iconic performances of Culkin and O’Hara in the first two films, which remain the undisputed highlights of the series.

“The Perfect Holiday” is a Christmas romantic comedy that follows a young girl named Emily (Khail Bryant) who, in an effort to help her divorced mother (Gabrielle Union) find love, enlists the help of a department store Santa (Morris Chestnut). As the holiday season unfolds, Emily’s plan to set her mother up with Santa leads to unexpected romance, humor, and heartwarming moments. The film blends holiday cheer with family dynamics and is a lighthearted tale about love, second chances, and the magic of Christmas. While it received mixed reviews, “The Perfect Holiday” has earned a place as a cozy, feel-good movie for fans of holiday rom-coms.

“Christmas in Compton” is a holiday comedy that brings a fresh twist to the Christmas genre by blending heartwarming family drama with humor. The story follows a successful music producer, Charles (Keith David), who returns to his hometown of Compton for the holidays to reconnect with his estranged family. As he navigates family tensions and attempts to repair broken relationships, Charles learns valuable lessons about love, forgiveness, and the true meaning of Christmas.

The film features a mix of comedy, music, and heartfelt moments, offering a unique and culturally rich take on the holiday season. While it may not have received widespread attention, “Christmas in Compton” delivers a message of family unity and redemption with a distinctive flavor.

“Meet Me Next Christmas” is a romantic comedy starring Christina Milian as Layla, a woman in New York City determined to attend a sold-out Pentatonix Christmas Eve concert. After a chance encounter with two men, James and Teddy, Layla makes a pact with James to meet again at the next year’s concert if they are both single.

When Layla’s life takes an unexpected turn, she teams up with Teddy, who works at a concierge service, to track down concert tickets. As they navigate a series of quirky challenges and bond over the course of the holiday season, Layla begins to question her feelings and what she truly wants. “Meet Me Next Christmas” is a heartwarming and festive story about love, fate, and second chances.

“Falling for Christmas” is a romantic holiday comedy starring Lindsay Lohan as Sierra Belmont, a wealthy and spoiled hotel heiress who suffers from amnesia after a skiing accident. Struggling with memory loss, Sierra is taken in by Jake (Chord Overstreet), a charming lodge owner, and his daughter. As she adjusts to her new life, Sierra begins to rediscover the simpler joys of Christmas and reevaluate her priorities. The film focuses on themes of self-discovery, family, and love during the holiday season, offering a modern take on the classic Christmas romance.

While these Christmas movies may not be winning any awards, they’ve earned a special place in our holiday tradition. Whether it’s their cheesy plots, over-the-top characters, or laughable moments, we can’t help but watch them year after year. After all, sometimes the most enjoyable holiday films are the ones we love to hate—because, in the end, they remind us that the holiday season is all about fun, laughter, and embracing the imperfect. So, grab some popcorn and enjoy these guilty pleasures this Christmas!