Christmas is right around the corner, meaning there’s no better time to cozy up with loved ones and watch your favorite holiday movie. With so many PG-rated classics, there’s no shortage of holiday films that are suitable for the whole family. But when adults need some alone time, they may want to watch something that’s a little edgier, a little raunchier, but still chock-full of Christmas spirit.
Here, we list some of the best Christmas movies with more adult themes, perfect for when the kids go to bed. These include some classics along with new films from the last decade, from raunchy comedies to horror. Keep in mind that some of these movies may be suitable for older teenagers. But if you want something to curl up to with just adults, these aren’t your garden-variety holiday movies.
20
‘Bad Santa’ (2003)
If you’re into dark comedies, 2003’s Bad Santa certainly delivers. Every year, Willie (Billy Bob Thornton) and Marcus (Tony Cox) pose as a mall Santa and elf to rip off nearby stores. This year, Willie is more depressed and vulnerable than ever, leading to an onslaught of shenanigans. Between a romantic fling and an unexpected friendship with a troubled kid, Willie may ultimately find the true meaning of the holiday season if he doesn’t find it at the bottom of a bottle first. Brett Kelly, Lauren Graham, Bernie Mac, and John Ritter co-star. Interestingly, the Coen brothers originally conceptualized the film before enlisting Glenn Ficarra and John Requa to flesh out the screenplay.
With sexy scenes and downright naughty laughs, Bad Santa is as R-rated as Christmas movies come. Billy Bob Thornton always shines in these pessimistic, down-on-their-luck characters, and Bad Santa is no exception, even if he believed the role would be a career ender. While the character is a conman, he also serves as a reflection of every dejected Santa actor kids may have encountered at their local mall. His chemistry with Lauren Graham also helps move the story forward. But it’s the relationship between Willie and a little boy named Thurman that truly makes the movie. Although it’s not a typical sappy Christmas movie, the ending does offer a healthy dose of Christmas positivity.
19
‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ (1989)
How can you go wrong with a classic like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? It follows the Griswold family as they try (and fail) to have a perfect, traditional Christmas celebration. Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) is desperate to make this Christmas the best for his family. Despite worrying about work and getting his yearly bonus, he goes all out. Naturally, plenty of hijinks ensue as he attempts to make his house the best on the block. The arrival of his eccentric extended family only complicates things further. Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, John Randolph, William Hickey, and Randy Quaid are just a handful of famous names attached to the film’s cast.
With its slapstick comedy and goofy fun, it’s no wonder the movie has become a holiday season staple. This vintage Christmas classic is perfect for those seeking plenty of laughs, memorable quotes, and a touch of nostalgia. Any family dealing with the pressures of Christmas will relate to Clark Griswold’s plights, regardless of how over-the-top they might be. Additionally, John Hughes’ screenplay ensures a comedic conclusion that also ties into the true meaning of the holiday season. It takes some wild turns as well that make the film pure, unadulterated fun.
18
‘Four Christmases’ (2008)
In Four Christmases, Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn shine as Brad and Kate, a married couple with severely dysfunctional families. After their original plans for a vacation are canceled, the two are now left to visit their families for the holiday season. Since both Brad and Kate also come from divorced households, their Christmas is spent traveling between four different houses, with each adventure full of mayhem and chaos. Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, Tim McGraw, Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen, and Kristin Chenoweth co-star alongside Witherspoon and Vaughn.
This Christmas classic is perfect for lovers of the romantic dramedy genre. It’s relatable in so many ways. Those who come from quirky and chaotic families can completely understand the frantic nature of trying to fit everyone in for the holidays. Still, there are touching moments to be found in the chaos, and the overarching theme about the importance of family, no matter how much of a headache it can be. Four Christmases also marked the feature-length directorial debut of Seth Gordon, who would go on to direct Horrible Bosses in addition to working on Parks and Recreation and For All Mankind.
17
‘The Night Before’ (2015)
The Night Before takes place on Christmas Eve when three childhood best friends reunite to find the best party in New York City. Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen), and Chris (Anthony Mackie) have made it a tradition to spend Christmas Eve chasing parties, and decide that this year, they’re going to outdo themselves and somehow make it to the best party: the Nutcracker Ball. However, the journey may ultimately put their friendship to the test. Lizzy Caplan, Jillian Bell, Mindy Kaling, and Michael Shannon co-star.
Full of drugs and booze, The Night Before certainly brings a different kind of holiday spirit. The three leads excel in their comedic performances, and together, they form a hilarious trio with genuine chemistry. The supporting and guest cast list adds to the fun, including a surprise appearance by Miley Cyrus at the Nutcracker Ball. Jonathan Levine both directed and co-wrote the screenplay, having previously directed 2013’s Warm Bodies. Evan Goldberg also shares some of the writing credit, initially rising to prominence from his work on Superbad and Pineapple Express.
16
‘Office Christmas Party’ (2016)
Office Christmas Party takes corporate America back to college. The interim CEO of Zenotek, Carol Vanstone (Jennifer Aniston), has declared that, if the team can land a massive contract, she won’t follow through with her promise to cut a significant portion of the workforce. When the entire firm is at risk of losing their jobs, they devise a festive solution. It includes throwing a mega-Christmas bash to win over a major client, all while bringing everyone together as a team for what may be the last time. Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn, and T.J. Miller co-star along with Jillian Bell, Vanessa Bayer, Courtney B. Vance, Rob Corddry, and Kate McKinnon.
With its star-studded ensemble cast, Office Christmas Party is full of sex-fueled, gross-out laughs. It’s a hilarious look at the sad reality of lay-offs and cutbacks, and an attempt to impress a client that gets way out of hand. It’s a wild ride throughout, and while Office Christmas Party hangs its hat on raunchy humor, it’s ultimately treated with a level of devotion and craft that really makes it work. Like the rest of the films featured in this collection, it also features a delightfully sappy happy ending. Those familiar with the works of co-directors Will Speck and Josh Gordon (Blades of Glory, The Switch) will also find plenty of familiar territory here.
15
‘Scrooged’ (1988)
In another throwback film, Scrooged re-imagines Charles Dickens’ classic tale, A Christmas Carol. The story follows a television executive named Frank Cross (Bill Murray), who is rude, uncaring, and generally selfish. Soon, he finds himself visited by three ghosts. They warn him that he’s heading fast toward a lonely and meaningless demise. Will he change for the better and find his Christmas spirit? Karen Allen, John Forsythe, Bobcat Goldthwait, Carol Kane, and Robert Mitchum make up a portion of the main cast here.
While the messaging in Scrooged is suitable for kids, it also serves as a wake-up call for working parents who may not realize how much time they spend focusing on their jobs. It’s an enlightening movie, delivered with a dose of holiday magic, that provides a darker and more mature edge to a familiar story. Bill Murray’s performance as the grouchy boss who wants his entire staff to work overtime on Christmas Eve is second to none, even if he famously described his experience on set as being less than positive. The film also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup, ultimately losing to Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice.
14
‘Krampus’ (2015)
Sure, you’ve heard of Santa Claus, but have you heard of Krampus? A now-classic Christmas horror film, Krampus follows a young boy who loses his Christmas spirit following a nasty fight. After tearing up his Christmas wishlist, he accidentally releases an ancient demon to wreak havoc on his family. Michael Dougherty (Trick ‘r Treat, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) directed and co-wrote this film, with Emjay Anthony leading the cast alongside Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Allison Tolman, and Conchata Ferrell.
Krampus, originating from European myth, adds a darker side to Christmas lore. By incorporating unique folklore into the Christmas movie genre, Krampus offers a terrifying spin on a familiar story while maintaining a relatively bloodless tone. While the movie received mixed reviews, it topped the box office, grossing a total of $61 million on a modest budget of $15 million. It’s gory, good fun, and it’s the perfect movie to watch if you are still looking for some scares to offset all the holiday cheer.
13
‘A Bad Moms Christmas’ (2017)
Christmas can definitely be a stressful time, especially for mothers who want to make the holiday memorable for their families. When three overworked mothers decide to rebel against the expectations set on them during the holidays, things quickly take a turn in A Bad Moms Christmas. Soon, their own mothers help create more chaos as Christmas quickly goes south. A follow-up to 2016’s Bad Moms, this sequel sees Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn reprising their respective roles, with writer/director duo Jon Lucas and Scott Moore returning to helm the film’s production.
There aren’t many Christmas movies dedicated to mothers. Because of this, A Bad Moms Christmas is a raunchy comedy that’s perfect to watch with girlfriends during a sleepover. Each mom is relatable in her own way, from the desperate-to-please mom to the one who never goes out to the party animal mom. The incorporation of Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines, and Susan Sarandon into the cast feels incredibly natural, giving the leading trio a brand-new set of characters to bounce their antics off of. It’s a movie about moms taking back Christmas, which is something every mother will fist pump into the air and appreciate watching.
12
‘Die Hard’ (1988)
Yes, we believe Die Hard is a Christmas movie, and a great one at that. Taking place on Christmas Eve, John McClane (Bruce Willis) is forced to spring into action during a holiday party that is overtaken by terrorists. As a skilled police officer, McClane must save the hostages and take down a group of terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) in the ultimate Christmas thriller. Alexander Godunov, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, and Paul Gleason co-star in this iconic yuletide action film.
Die Hard is the perfect Christmas movie for adults who aren’t really into Christmas movies. The only connection to the holiday season is that the events in the action-packed film occur over Christmas. Beyond that, there’s no holiday cheer or corny holiday message. All you’ll find here is one of Bruce Willis’ most iconic performances, a fantastic action film from the same director as Predator, and a brilliant score by Michael Kamen (Road House, Highlander, Lethal Weapon). Society has spoken — Die Hard has been declared a Christmas movie worth queuing up year after year.
11
‘Black Christmas’ (2019)
In our second horror entry, Black Christmas is perfect for slasher fans. In this flick, a group of young sorority women are preparing for holiday parties and fun. However, the girls are soon preyed on by a vicious Christmas killer. With threatening text messages, talk of black magic, and sinister plans, there’s a lot to unpack in this movie. Sophia Takal directed this merry slasher, with Imogen Poots, Alyese Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany O’Grady, and Cary Elwes co-starring.
A loose remake of the 1974 horror movie of the same name, Black Christmas is full of thrills and kills. It’s certain to send shivers down your spine when you see the harrowing performances of its leads contrasting against the gruesome bloodshed. While the movie received mixed reviews, some appreciated the timely feminist themes. The sharp dialogue and urgency of the scenes throughout the plot add to the intensity, making this an unusual but interesting choice for the holiday season.
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