Few people take holiday movies seriously, and these films are the reason. Whether it’s a hammy headlining actor, terrible directing or bad screenwriting, these holiday movies make us want to fling giant lumps of coal at whoever thought they’d be great entertainment. (Contact [email protected])
1. Elf
In this Christmas comedy gone wrong, Will Ferrell employs his signature brand of loud, obnoxious “acting” while parading around as an elf with daddy issues. This film is sure to remind you of everything you hate about the holidays.
2. Christmas with the Kranks
If you sit through this unfunny, painful experience that lies calling itself a Christmas comedy, you may want to go Ebenezer Scrooge every Christmas for the rest of your life.
3. The Santa Claus (entire series)
We thought this movie was great when we were kids (just like we thought Spy Kids was great), but when we grew up and gained any concept of predictability and inspiration, we realized that we like these movies less and less the older we get.
4. Jingle All The Way
We really wish the directors of this movie started with the end and said “okay, let’s make the rest of the movie as good as this,” but alas, the first two acts of this story don’t jingle at all. This movie also killed Sinbad’s acting career single-handed.
5. Eight Crazy Nights
Adam Sandler and Christmas values go together like eggnog and motor oil, but Adam Sandler and Hanukkah? Adam Sandler parodies himself, he’s so bad in this animated but not-for-kids (or any age) film.
6. The Christmas Shoes
It’s the nature of holiday movies to be on the sappy side, but this film goes overboard with holiday sentiment. Based off the song The Christmas Shoes by Newsong, watching this movie is like seeing an e-mail chain letter brought to life.
7. Bad Santa
This movie achieves its goal of being profane without actually managing to be interesting in the process. And Billy Bob Thornton is in it. Nothing more needs to be said.
8. AMadea Christmas
As far as “best examples of acting in drag” go, if Robin Williams in “Mrs. Doubtfire” is a 10, Tyler Perry is in some other dimension. This play is lousy with musical numbers and filled with gimmicks.
9. Santa Who?
We would rather be run over by a reindeer than watch this movie again. When Santa begins suffering from amnesia on Christmas Eve, everybody in the audience forgets why they are contributing to the commercialization of Christmas when all it gives them back is a bad taste in their mouth.
10. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (2000)
Jim Carey tries his best to steal the show in a weirdly suggestive fuzzy green suit and demonic makeup for this big budget remake of the classic cartoon.
