![worst and best christmas movies]()
- Some holiday movies are beloved by critics but others have been ripped to shreds.
- Classics like "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (1967) and "Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944) have a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Other holiday-centric movies like "All I Want for Christmas" (1991) and "Christmas Eve" (2015) fill the bottom of the barrel with a 0% critical rating.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
Every year during the holiday season, friends and family gather around the television to watch holiday classics.
And although some films continue to top critics' lists as holiday favorites, other movies may be better left unwatched.
Here are the 15 of the best and 15 of the worst holiday movies of all time, according to critics.
Note: All scores were current on the date of publication and are subject to change.
Critics said "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (1967) has remained a classic for a reason.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Summary: Based on the children's book by Dr. Seuss, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" tells the story of a cold-hearted Grinch (voiced by Boris Karloff) who grows to love Christmas and the local Whos from Whoville that live beneath his twisty mountain.
Critics said the wonderfully animated film never failed to melt hearts, no matter how many times it was viewed.
As IndieWire critic Jamie Righetti wrote: "The story might be familiar, but watching The Grinch tiptoe around to 'You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch' always brings a surge of fuzzy nostalgia every Christmas season that never seems to get old."
"Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944) was called warm and delightful.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Summary: The musical family film "Meet Me in St. Louis" centers around four sisters (Judy Garland, Lucille Bremer, Joan Carroll, and Margaret O' Brien) throughout the four seasons leading up to the World's Fair of 1904.
Film critics adored the holiday musical for its strong female performances and irresistible charm.
Classic Film and Television critic Michael E. Grost wrote that the musical "mixes feminism with joyous color, music and composition."
Critics described "Holiday Inn" (1942) as merry and magnetic.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Summary: In the musical drama "Holiday Inn," performing partners Jim (Bing Crosby) and Lila (Virginia Dale) find themselves entangled in a love affair with Ted (Fred Astaire) and Linda (Marjorie Reynolds) as they run a hotel that doubles as a performance venue.
Critics celebrated "Holiday Inn" for its festive charm and magnetic performances.
"Loaded with a wealth of songs, it's meaty, not too kaleidoscopic and yet closely knit for a compact 100 minutes of tiptop film-musical entertainment," wrote the Variety in their staff review for the film.
"Remember the Night" (1940) was hailed as a stylistic tale of redemption.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Summary: In the romance drama "Remember the Night," Lee Leander (Barbara Stanwyck) is caught stealing a diamond bracelet on Christmas Eve and is left to sit the holidays out in jail until her attorney (Fred MacMurray) welcomes her into his family's home.
"Remember the Night" was commended by critics for its smart script and dazzling directorial style.
"Playing superbly on the personae of his leads, Leisen creates a movie of warmth and immense style, which never quite trips over into excessive sentimentality," film critic Geoff Andrew wrote for Time Out.
Critics called "The Shop Around the Corner" (1940) sweet and satisfying.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Summary: In the romantic comedy "The Shop Around the Corner," Alfred Kralik (James Stewart) and his new hire Klara Novak (Margaret Sullavan) are at each other's throats from the moment they meet, unaware that they have been writing love letters to one another.
Dave Kehr wrote for the Chicago Reader: "This 1940 film is one of Ernst Lubitsch's finest and most enduring works, a romantic comedy of dazzling range."
"Tangerine" (2015) was praised as a unique and inventive drama.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
Summary: Set on Christmas Eve, "Tangerine" follows working girl Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) as she strikes out through Tinseltown to confront her cheating boyfriend and pimp Chester (James Ransone).
Critics praised the independent drama for breaking new ground in its genre and handling its subject matter with humor and intelligence.
"It radiates a candour, immediacy and tongue-scalding sex appeal that a bigger budget would have only smothered,"Robbie Collin wrote for The Telegraph.
"Miracle on 34th Street" (1947) remains a favorite with critics for its whimsy and heart.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
Summary: In the treasured holiday film "Miracle on 34th Street," Macy's supervisor Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara) hires Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) on as the new department Santa and is surprised when she learns that he genuinely believes himself to be the real Saint Nick.
"Miracle on 34th Street" has been a critical favorite for decades due to its irresistible whimsy and warmth.
"It is light, it is charming, it is delightfully funny and completely captivating,"Kate Cameron wrote in her review for the New York Daily News. "It is all that, and something more."
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1964) is a top-tier stop-motion classic for many critics.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%
Summary: A reindeer named Rudolph (voiced by Billie Mae Richards) feels sidelined by other reindeer at the North Pole when he's turned away because of his glowing, red nose. Determined to find a place where he belongs, Rudolph and his friends set out in search of the Island of Misfit Toys.
The oft-repeated children's story found a new life as a stop-motion Christmas special and has remained a staple during the holiday season ever since.
"Rudolph set the template for dozens of specials to come, from the theme of acceptance to celebrity narrators and original songs, but few ever matched the captivating high of the godfather of Christmas specials," wrote Ryan Voyles in his review for Paste magazine.
Although technically a Halloween film, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993) is a holiday favorite for critics who love its unconventional story and dazzling design.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%
Summary: Jack Skellington (voiced by Chris Sarandon) has long reigned as the Pumpkin King of Halloweenland and is satisfied by another successful year of spooks and scares. But when he accidentally discovers a portal to nearby Christmastown, Jack Skellington tries to bring a bit of festive cheer into his own world.
When "The Nightmare Before Christmas" was first released in 1993 it blew critics' away with its production value and undeniable, oddball charm.
"Part avant-garde art film, part amusing but morbid fairy tale, it is a delightfully ghoulish holiday musical that displays more inventiveness in its brief 75 minutes than some studios can manage in an entire year,"Kenneth Turan wrote for the Los Angeles Times.
"The Apartment" (1960) is still hailed as a classic comedy by critics.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
Summary: "The Apartment" is a classic comedy in which office worker C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) discovers that he and his ruthless boss (Fred MacMurray) are dating the same woman (Shirley MacLaine) during the Holiday season.
Critics praised the directorial vision of Billy Wilder and the chemistry between leads Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon.
As critic Shaun Munro wrote for What Culture, "Even over a half-century on, 'The Apartment' remains a biting classic due to its modern romantic sensibilities and Lemmon's commanding, thoroughly charming central performance."
"Carol" (2015) stunned critics with its rich, emotional storytelling.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
Summary: Based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith, "Carol" is a romantic drama about the powerful connection shared between Therese (Rooney Mara), a department store employee, and beautiful Manhattanite Carol (Cate Blanchett).
An unconventional Christmas film centered around love, class, and identity, "Carol" has received a lot of love from critics.
"It's a joy to see female characters written with such depth and played so achingly well by actors at the top of their game," wrote Di Golding in her review for Dear Cast and Crew.
"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) has gone on to become a cherished Christmas classic.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
Summary: When good-hearted George Bailey (James Stewart) faces arrest and financial ruin for operating a small bank that's on the edge of collapse, he feels he has nowhere to turn. Thankfully, an angel appears in his darkest hour to remind him of the goodwill he's spread throughout his life.
Although "It's a Wonderful Life" was not initially popular upon its first release, the film has become a treasured film in decades since.
"By now everyone knows Frank Capra's holiday classic and the tears it so effortlessly conjures up year after year — but it's easy to forget how truly vicious the film is, and how brilliantly James Stewart rises to the challenge," wrote Jeffrey M. Anderson for Combustible Celluloid.
Critics think "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (1965) is a wholesome and charming classic.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
Summary: In the animated television special "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts crew gather together to put on a festive Christmas play, but first they have to find the perfect Christmas tree.
Short and sweet, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" has become an annual, must-watch movie for critics and audiences alike.
"The special ends on a joyous note, and the lo-fi charms of its non-professional voice cast and simple-yet-expressive animation retain a pleasantly transportive power," wrote the staff of the AV Club.
Critics say "Die Hard" (1988) still influences action films today.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
Summary: In the action film "Die Hard," Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) flies to Los Angeles to attend his wife's work Christmas party, but shortly after he arrives a group of terrorists overtake the office building. McClane then works to keep the hostages safe.
Although the internet has often debated "Die Hard's" place in the Christmas genre, critics can agree that it delivers a solid action-packed plot with compelling characters.
"What sets 'Die Hard' apart from most action movies is the depth of characterization," wrote Marylynn Uricchio for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "[Detective John] McClane is not a macho toy with a bullet-proof body. He is a thinking, feeling man who can't believe he's doing most of what he does."
"About a Boy" (2002) earned rave reviews from critics for its moving story and smart script.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
Summary: In "About a Boy," playboy bachelor Will (Hugh Grant) seeks out emotionally-detached relationships with single mothers until he unexpectedly befriends the son (Nicholas Hoult) of one of his dates (Toni Collette). As Will grows closer to young Marcus, he finds his outlook on life and love changing for the better.
"About a Boy" tells its story across two holiday seasons and it won critics over with its moving character development and talented cast.
"'About a Boy' is better than a feel-good movie, it's a feel-great movie," wrote Joe Morgenstern for the Wall Street Journal. "Genuinely clever, affecting when you least expect it to be and funny from start to finish."
Alternatively, critics found "Jack Frost" (1998) to be cloying and nonsensical.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 19%
Summary: Traveling blues musician Jack Frost (Michael Keaton) never makes time for his family, but he's given a second chance to reconnect with his son when a bizarre car accident causes him to be reanimated as a snowman.
Critics dragged the family film "Jack Frost" for its predictable plot and overly sentimental script.
Bob Fenster summed the movie up simply in his review for the Arizona Republic: "No story, not enough humor, a silly setup, and a guy in the snowman suit who looks like he didn't make the first cut at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade."
"Love the Coopers" (2015) did not earn a lot of love from critics.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 18%
Summary: The family comedy "Love the Coopers" tells the story of four generations of the Cooper family as they gather together for the holidays with bickering parents Sam (John Goodman) and Charlotte (Diane Keaton).
Critics collectively shook their heads at "Love the Coopers," questioning how such a talented cast could be dragged into such a contrived comedy.
"The biggest disappointment is the waste of such an excellent cast," wrote Independent critic Geoffrey Macnab. "This is terminally treacly fare in which the writing is often very trite indeed."
Critics said "The Perfect Holiday" (2007) was far from perfect.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 17%
Summary: In the family comedy "The Perfect Holiday," the young daughter of single mother Nancy (Gabrielle Union) asks a mall Santa (Morris Chestnut) to give her mom a new husband for the holidays.
Despite the undeniable efforts put forth by the film's stars, "The Perfect Holiday" was not a perfect fit for critics, with some even calling it unwatchable.
"'The Perfect Holiday' makes the safest, blandest choices possible in delivering some Christmas cheer for the whole family," wrote Scott Tobias for AV Club.
"The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause" (2006) was ripped apart by critics.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 17%
Summary: In the third installment of "The Santa Clause" franchise, Santa Claus (Tim Allen) finds his usual Christmas festivities rudely interrupted by mischievous visitor Jack Frost (Martin Short), who hopes to take over the holiday for himself.
Critics said that the oversaturated "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause" barely counts as entertainment for children, let alone for the parents who dare watch the film with them.
"Christmas cheer is in short supply in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, a feeble festive farce that's more no-no-no than ho-ho-ho,"wrote film critic Neil Smith for the BBC.
"Black Christmas" (2006) horrified critics with its terrible script and ill-conceived plot.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 15%
Summary: In the dark horror thriller "Black Christmas," six sorority sisters take up residence in a house that was once the site of a brutal double murder years prior. As the girls are harassed by a mysterious caller and picked off one by one, they try to arm themselves against the intimidating murderer.
Critics said that "Black Christmas" suffered from a poorly thought out plot, weak characters, and a witless script.
"As yuletide counterprogramming goes, here's one smelly lump of coal," wrote Michael Rechtshaffen in his review for The Hollywood Reporter.
"Jingle All the Way" (1997) assaulted the senses of even the most lenient of film critics.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 15%
Summary: Desperate to please his son (Jake Lloyd) during the holidays, workaholic father Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) goes to great lengths to procure the perfect Christmas gift: a Turbo Man action figure.
The loud, raucous film was criticized by film reviewers for its overstuffed plot and cartoonish violence.
The Telegraph critic Anne Billson described the film as "very loud and festooned with the sort of comic violence far more disturbing than anything in an 18-rated movie."
Critics felt that "A Merry Friggin' Christmas" (2014) did its lead actors a disservice.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 14%
Summary: In "A Merry Friggin' Christmas," Boyd Mitchler (Joel McHale) is dreading spending Christmas with his estranged father Mitch Mitchler (Robin Williams), especially when a last-minute road trip forces them to spend the holidays in close quarters.
Critics heralded the efforts of the cast, with particular praise given to McHale and Williams, but picked apart about everything else in the humorless comedy.
"The makers of 'A Merry Friggin' Christma' sprung for the fancy wrapping but skimped on the gift inside," wrote Geoff Berkshire for Variety. "How else to explain the gathering of such a talented and likable cast in service of such undercooked, utterly laugh-free material?"
Critics found "An American Carol" (2008) to be deeply unfunny.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 13%
Summary: The classic "A Christmas Carol" story is parodied in the David Zucker comedy "An American Carol," with Kevin Farley playing a disillusioned documentarian who is visited by the ghosts of America's past, present, and future.
Critics panned the parody as a film that was so actively unfunny that it was difficult to consider it a comedy at all.
"It's a polemic, a screed, a combination comic rant and sentimental flag-waver that doesn't work as either," wrote Roger Moore in his review for the Orlando Sentinel.
"Mixed Nuts" (1994) was slammed by critics for being absolutely absurd.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 10%
Summary: In Nora Ephron's dark comedy "Mixed Nuts," crisis-helpline operator Philip (Steve Martin) celebrates a less-than-cheery Christmas season as he realizes his crisis operation is facing eviction.
Critics described the comedic misfire as excruciating and even exhausting.
"Every character shines with such dazzling intensity and such inexhaustible comic invention that the movie becomes tiresome, like too many clowns," wrote Roger Ebert for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Critical reception was low across the board for "Surviving Christmas" (2004).
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 7%
Summary: In "Surviving Christmas," Drew Latham (Ben Affleck) travels back to his childhood home to spend Christmas with his family, not realizing that his folks have long since moved away. In a desperate attempt to surround himself with company during the holidays, Drew pays total strangers to pretend to be his family.
Critics warned audience members away from watching "Surviving Christmas," calling it a joyless affair.
"The movie is dead from the outset given the artificiality of the premise about a lonely rich guy who hires the folks living in his boyhood home to be his family for the holidays," wrote David Germain for the Associated Press.
"Deck the Halls" (2006) was difficult for critics to enjoy.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 6%
Summary: In the comedy "Deck the Halls," two warring neighbors — Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick) and Buddy Hall (Danny DeVito) — compete with each other over who can create the most outrageous, extravagant lights display during the Christmas season.
Critics called the comedy "Deck the Halls" over-the-top and too corny to be taken seriously.
Chicago Reader J.R. Jones compared it to other poorly received comedies, writing, "This one follows the depressing pattern of 'Surviving Christmas' and 'Christmas With the Kranks:' enforced holiday cheer gives way to bilious hatred, then hollow forgiveness."
Critics said "Christmas With the Kranks" (2004) was too mean-spirited for its own good.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 5%
Summary: When their dutiful daughter tells them that she won't be home in time for Christmas, Luther (Tim Allen) and Nora Krank (Jamie Lee Curtis) decide to plan a getaway vacation on a Caribbean cruise. But when their daughter announces she's coming home last minute, the Kranks have to scramble to put together the picture-perfect Christmas.
Critics accused "Christmas With the Kranks" of running audience members through the wringer with the overstuffed comedy.
As Stephanie Zacarek wrote for Salon, "Purports to kindle the warm glow of love for humankind in our hearts but actually reaffirms that the trappings of the holiday season are all that really matter."
"Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas" (2014) seemingly couldn't save itself from poor reception.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 0%
Summary: Worried that Christmas has become over-commercialized and that his folks have lost focus of Jesus Christ's place in the yuletide cheer, Kirk Cameron takes it upon himself to inform his friends and family about the real reason for the season.
"Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas" was panned as unenjoyable and difficult to watch by film critics.
"Perhaps the only Christmas movie I can think of, especially of the religious-themed variety, that seems to flat-out endorse materialism, greed and outright gluttony," wrote Roger Ebert critic Peter Sobczynski.
Critics said "Christmas Eve" (2015) lacked Christmas spirit.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 0%
Summary: In the comedy "Christmas Eve," an unexpected power outage traps six separate groups of New Yorkers in different elevators on the night before Christmas, forcing them to get to know each other under undesirable circumstances.
Critics said that "Christmas Eve" suffered from underdeveloped characters and a lack of meaningful material.
Los Angeles Times critic Martin Tasi wrote: "Who knew a movie seemingly meant to spread holiday cheer could be so off-putting in an almost sadistic way?"
Critics felt that "All I Want for Christmas" (1991) was a humorless ride.
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 0%
Summary: After asking a mall Santa to help their divorced parents fall in love again, two young children scheme to keep their mother's new boyfriend from stepping into the picture in the family comedy "All I Want for Christmas."
The slapstick-filled film was derided as unfunny and overhanded in critical reviews.
"When it comes to yuletide cheer, 'All I Want for Christmas' ranks just under dead reindeer on the roof,"Rita Kempley wrote for the Washington Post.
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