15 Christmas Movies We Wish Were Never Made

The most festive time of year has us thinking cozy thoughts, making us want little beyond getting our choice of hot beverage, sink into the couch, and watch something on the TV. Sadly, what’s often on the TV are the same movies being shown over and over again.

Streaming services have somewhat alleviated this, since we can watch whatever whenever, but the years of suffering from those Christmas movies still exist. So, to properly remember them, we’ve created this list of the Christmas movies we wished were never made. You’re welcome.

Christmas with the Kranks

This holiday comedy is often brought up as a movie that really did not need to be made. Despite its festive premise, many viewers consider it a messy attempt at humor that belongs at the bottom of the bargain bin.

Deck the Halls

Reviewers frequently call this comedy one of the most abysmal holiday films in recent memory. The mean spirited neighborhood rivalry is so painfully unfunny that many audiences openly wish they could forget they ever bothered watching it.

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Tim Allen returned for this 2006 American holiday comedy, with the magic of the previous movies being completely gone. Critics handed out heavily negative reviews, proving that this particular festive franchise should have stopped entirely after the second installment.

Surviving Christmas

This American romantic comedy earned negative reviews across the board. The awkward holiday setup was so poorly executed that it actually grabbed Golden Raspberry Award nominations for Worst Picture, Worst Actor, and Worst Screenplay.

I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Taking its name from a 1943 Bing Crosby song, the 1998 comedy film completely missed the mark. The frustrating cross country journey feels far more tedious than festive.

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

This incredibly weird science fiction adventure is considered one of the worst films ever made. It is widely labeled as the absolute worst holiday movie in history, offering a bizarre plot that confuses audiences of all ages.

Home Alone 3

After two massive hits, this sequel completely missed the mark for many fans. While some viewers argue it deserves a second chance, it is widely categorized as a heavily disliked installment that failed to capture the original magic.

Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House

Yes, they made another one, and without any contributions from creator John Hughes. Bypassing theaters for a television release, it is considered a massive downgrade that completely ignores what made the original special.

A Christmas Story 2

Directed by Brian Levant, this 2012 American comedy attempted to follow up an absolute television staple. Sent straight to DVD in October 2012, it received mostly negative reviews for trying to recycle classic jokes with zero success.

Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas

Darren Doane directed this 2014 faith based film starring Kirk Cameron. The project was so heavily criticized that it famously earned a reputation as one of the absolute worst movies ever reviewed on the entire internet.

Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever

This 2014 made for television comedy premiered on Lifetime and attempted to capitalize on an internet meme. Unsurprisingly, critics handed it generally negative reviews, proving that a viral photo does not translate into a feature length narrative.

The Star Wars Holiday Special

Originally broadcast by CBS on November 17, 1978, this science fiction special is legendary for all the wrong reasons. The bizarre variety show format completely baffled audiences, making it a piece of franchise history everyone tries to forget.

The Nutcracker in 3D

This 2010 musical fantasy was a massive commercial and critical disaster. It flopped spectacularly, earning only 20 million dollars against a 90 million dollar budget, and holds an incredibly rare 0 percent approval rating from critics.

A Madea Christmas

Tyler Perry brought his signature character to the festive season in this 2013 American comedy. Critics handed out negative reviews, finding the holiday hijinks completely exhausting and arguing that the formula had totally worn out its welcome.

Ernest Saves Christmas

Directed by John Cherry, this 1988 American comedy tries to squeeze festive cheer out of a totally exhausted character. The wacky situations and childish gags leave many adults wondering how these movies ever became a massive cultural phenomenon.