15 Christmas Movies We’re Not Looking Forward to Watching Again This Year
Christmas movies are supposed to put us in a festive mood, but some of them have the exact opposite effect. Maybe we’ve seen them too many times, maybe the jokes haven’t aged particularly well, or maybe the story was never as charming as people remember. Whatever the reason, certain holiday films feel like a chore when they show up on television or start appearing in everyone’s seasonal watchlists. And yet, every December, they somehow come back. With endless holiday classics to choose from, there are definitely a few movies we’d happily leave off this year’s Christmas viewing schedule.
The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020)
Kate and Teddy return for another adventure with Santa, but the sequel’s predictable storyline and excessive holiday magic make it a difficult one to revisit.
Four Christmases (2008)
Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn play a couple forced to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas Day, in a comedy that relies heavily on awkward family situations and increasingly exhausting arguments.
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis play a couple who decide to skip Christmas celebrations and take a vacation, only to face an entire neighborhood determined to make them regret it.
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)
Tim Allen returns as Santa Claus, dealing with Jack Frost’s attempts to take over the North Pole in a sequel that stretches the franchise’s original premise a little too far.
Deck the Halls (2006)
Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito play neighbors whose ridiculous competition to create the brightest Christmas decorations in town turns into an increasingly irritating holiday rivalry.
A Christmas Story 2 (2012)
This direct-to-video sequel follows a teenage Ralphie trying to get his dream car, but it lacks the charm and memorable moments that made the original a holiday favorite.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
Mackenzie Foy stars in this fantasy adventure inspired by the classic Nutcracker story, featuring elaborate sets and costumes that cannot quite compensate for its confusing plot.
Surviving Christmas (2004)
Ben Affleck plays a wealthy man who pays a stranger’s family to pretend to be his own for Christmas, creating an uncomfortable comedy built around a premise that quickly wears thin.
The Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding (2018)
Amber and Prince Richard prepare for their royal wedding, but the sequel’s predictable romantic conflicts and endless royal clichés make it a particularly forgettable holiday watch.
Jingle All the Way 2 (2014)
Larry the Cable Guy stars in this sequel as a father competing with his daughter’s stepfather to get her the Christmas gift she wants, in a film that never comes close to matching the original’s appeal.
The Holiday (2006)
Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz play two women who swap homes for Christmas and unexpectedly find romance, although its lengthy runtime and overly polished romantic situations can make a rewatch feel like a commitment.
Fred Claus (2007)
Vince Vaughn plays Santa’s troublemaking older brother, who travels to the North Pole and causes problems for the entire Christmas operation in a comedy that struggles to find its festive spirit.
Last Christmas (2019)
Emilia Clarke stars as a struggling Christmas shop employee whose romance with a mysterious man takes an unexpectedly sentimental turn, although the film’s big reveal can feel more frustrating than moving.
The Star (2017)
This animated retelling of the Nativity story follows a donkey and his animal friends, but its overly familiar jokes and predictable adventure make it a less exciting choice for family movie night.
The Princess Switch: Switched Again (2020)
Vanessa Hudgens returns playing multiple royal lookalikes in a sequel filled with mistaken identities, royal drama, and so many plot twists that keeping track of everyone becomes part of the challenge.