’Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, the emos chose to get mildly bummed out. Sure, some people hit Hallmark-level festive during the holidays — the full “move to Candycane Lane” fantasy. Others take … a darker approach. I do both. But maybe that’s because I’m a Gemini with dueling personalities.
You might still be dreaming about Halloween when December rolls around, or maybe you dread the holidays entirely and want to commiserate with a dark Christmas movie. Either way, audiences have been gravitating toward morose, off-kilter holiday films for decades.
For anyone craving that doom-and-gloom Christmas vibe, there’s no shortage of options from spooky musicals like “The Nightmare Before Christmas” to campy horror like “Gremlins” to twisted takes on Christmas lore like “Krampus.” Here are the best dark Christmas movies to stream this holiday season (or any other day of the year — we don’t judge).
'Edward Scissorhands'
Whether it’s my birthday or Christmas, I have a habit of kicking off holidays with a good cry sesh. Enter my annual tradition of watching “Edward Scissorhands” around midnight on Christmas. It’s basically sadness in a snow globe — and I’m obsessed.
This one’s for all the loners who’ve ever felt judged and misunderstood. Set in a pastel, cookie-cutter town, “Edward Scissorhands” is a tragic love story baked into the very origin of snow. Edward (Johnny Depp) may be the outcast with scissors for hands, but it’s the town’s pitchfork-ready mentality that proves to be the real villain.
The real magic, though, isn’t just the snow Edward creates from ice carvings — it’s the score. Danny Elfman’s music serves as the film’s melancholic heartbeat, making Kim’s “Ice Dance” one of the most joyful and achingly heartbreaking moments in the movie. Essentially, “Edward Scissorhands” is steampunk “Romeo and Juliet,” complete with judgmental townsfolk determined to keep Kim and Edward apart. But hey — they’ll always have snow. And trauma.
Watch on Disney+
'Gremlins'
When Chris Columbus penned the ’80s cult classic “Gremlins,” he probably didn’t expect the world would still be cooing over Gizmo 40 years later. The sweet, fuzzy Mogwai only turn into scaly gremlins when people can’t follow three simple rules: no bright lights, don’t get them wet and absolutely no food after midnight.
Naturally, when our irresponsible teen hero Billy receives Gizmo as a Christmas gift, he breaks the rules almost immediately. Enter a new batch of mischievous Mogwai who trick Billy into feeding them after midnight. From there, murder, mischief and mayhem rip through the town as the creatures fully transform.
The movie is a perfect blend of campy horror, creature-feature chaos and one fluffy critter with undeniable main-character energy. Gizmo just wants to hum his little tunes and follow the rules — not become the unwilling father of demon spawn who throw darts at him. Justice for Gizzy.
'Krampus'
What happens when you cram a massive, bickering family under one roof for Christmas? An evil anti-Santa shows up to kill them all — obviously. “Krampus” didn’t get much love when it debuted in 2015, but hear me out: Adam Scott. I also love a good folklore story, and it’s surprising there aren’t more movies exploring the darker mythologies tied to Santa and his counterparts — many of which predate Christianity.
From Austria’s horned Krampus to the Netherlands’ Black Pete, these figures traditionally focus on punishing the naughty rather than rewarding the nice. That’s exactly where “Krampus” thrives, both in real mythology and in its cinematic remix. The film blends slasher energy, family holiday drama and folklore into one chaotic package. Critics weren’t wrong to call it a little disjointed — but between the animated retelling of the Krampus legend and the strong aesthetic choices, it remains a uniquely entertaining dark Christmas entry.
You may also spiral into an existential crisis by the end, which honestly feels on-brand for dodging Christmas dinner. I could’ve done without Krampus tonguing Grandma’s face, though. Unlike many movies in the genre, “Krampus” avoids cheap effects and cringeworthy performances.
Watch on Peacock
'The Nightmare Before Christmas'
What’s this? A gothic musical masterpiece, Jack. Of all the movies on this list, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is the one that immediately comes to mind. For a film released in 1993, its grip on pop culture is wild. You can’t walk down a single Halloween or Christmas aisle without running into piles of merch.
The movie famously can’t decide whether it’s a Halloween or Christmas film — and that’s exactly why it works. Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, stumbles upon Christmas Town and promptly kidnaps Santa, putting his own spooky spin on the holiday. The results … do not go over well.
Danny Elfman’s score bounces between edgy bangers like “What’s This?” and haunting ballads like “Sally’s Song.” It helps that Elfman also provided Jack’s singing voice.
Watch on Disney+
'Batman Returns'
The sequel to Tim Burton’s Batman sees Michael Keaton return to face the Penguin (Danny DeVito), Max Schreck (Christopher Walken) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer). Gotham is as gothic as ever — even around the holidays — and "Batman Returns" has an even darker tone than the original.
Pfeiffer really owns her role, as the mousy and timid Selina Kyle reincarnates as the powerful and self-assured Catwoman. This was the last Batman movie made by Tim Burton, and arguably the last good one until Christopher Nolan rebooted the franchise. — MP
Watch on HBO Max or Paramount+
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