Once the kids are tucked in bed, the toys stop singing, and you’ve finally stepped over the last rogue Lego, it’s officially time to get in the Christmas spirit the adult way. This magical moment calls for cosy blankets, a glass of something festive, and a Christmas movie that isn’t animated.
Whether you’re craving laugh until you cry comedy, nostalgia with a grown-up twist, or something a little more chaotic than the family-friendly lineup, we’ve rounded up the best adult Christmas films to enjoy once the tiny humans are dreaming of sugarplums. So dim the lights, grab the snacks you don’t have to share, and let’s get jingly with it.
our favourite Christmas movies for adults
Bad Santa
This movie follows Willie, a gloriously miserable, booze-fuelled conman who poses as a mall Santa so that he can rob department stores along with his equally questionable partner, Marcus. But this year’s scam goes sideways when he accidentally forms a weirdly heartwarming (and slightly chaotic) relationship with a lonely young boy who thinks he’s the real deal. What follows is a hilarious mix of bad decisions, even worse behaviour, and the surprising possibility that even the grumpiest Santa might have a slither of human decency buried under all that booze.
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
If you’ve ever tried to create the perfect Christmas but instead ended up with chaos, confusion, and a seriously burnt Christmas dinner, then National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is the one for you. The movie follows Clark Griswold (the most enthusiastic and dangerously optimistic dad) as he attempts to deliver a picture-perfect family Christmas. Unfortunately, his plans are no match for exploding turkeys, catastrophic light displays, wild animals in the house, and relatives who put the meaning into the word “dysfunctional.”
Four Christmases
Four Christmases is the holiday movie for anyone who’s ever tried to dodge a family get together and failed miserably. Brad and Kate, a couple who prefer holidays on a beach far away from both sets of their divorced parents, get caught on live TV when their flight is cancelled, completely ruining their annual escape plan. Their punishment? A marathon tour of four very dysfunctional family Christmases… all in one day. What could possibly go wrong?
Krampus
If you’ve ever wished for less Christmas magic and more Christmas monsters, then Krampus is here to grant your wish (but remember, be careful what you wish for). The movie follows young Max, whose holiday spirit gets crushed by arguing relatives, overcooked tradition, and general festive misery. In a moment of desperation, he accidentally summons Krampus (a horned, hooved, anti-Santa) who doesn’t bother with naughty lists… he just makes it his mission to come for you.
Die Hard
Can it be classed as a Christmas movie? The debate continues. Does it involve more explosions than ornaments? Most definitely. Die Hard delivers holiday cheer in the most chaotic, action-packed way possible. The film follows John McClane, an off-duty NYPD cop, who is trying his best to patch things up with his wife at her company’s Christmas party. But instead of the usual eggnog and awkward small talk, he gets a skyscraper taken over by impeccably dressed terrorists and all hell breaks loose.
Love Actually
Love Actually is the ultimate holiday comfort movie and the cinematic equivalent of a cosy Christmas jumper (slightly itchy but impossible not to love). Set in London during the festive season, the film weaves together a tangle of storylines showing that love pops up in the most unexpected (and sometimes awkward) places. There’s a Prime Minister falling for his tea lady, a grieving widower helping his stepson pull off the grandest school-play crush confession in history, a rock star trying to stage a comeback with the world’s most unhinged Christmas single, and at least three cases of romantic miscommunication that could’ve been solved with just one text.
Violent Night
This unhinged action Christmas movie for adults follows an extremely fed up Santa who’s overworked, underappreciated, and just trying to get through one more night of cookie-fuelled deliveries. But when a wealthy family’s estate is taken over by a group of very naughty criminals, Santa finds himself in the middle of the situation and decides he’s had quite enough of holiday lawlessness. What follows is a crazy rampage as he turns into the North Pole’s answer to John Wick.
Better Watch Out
This adult Christmas movie starts off looking like your classic cosy Christmas babysitting scenario and then swerves so hard you might just spill your hot chocolate. An apparent home invasion spirals into a shocking, wickedly clever chain of events that reveals Luke isn’t the innocent child he claims to be. Suddenly Ashley is fighting not just for control of the situation but for her life. Better Watch Out proves the holidays aren’t always merry, especially when the babysitter has underestimated the “child”.
Gremlins
Gizmo, a fluffy little Mogwai with big eyes and even bigger ‘goody two shoes’ rules. Naturally, all of those rules get broken and suddenly the town is overrun by mischievous, green gremlins who treat Christmas like their personal demolition derby. These tiny terrors turn carolling into carnage, and peaceful snowy nights into popcorn-fuelled pandemonium. Keep your lights on, and whatever you do… don’t feed them after midnight.
Black Christmas
If you thought the festive period is supposed to be all warm and cosy, think again. Black Christmas is here to show you that sometimes Christmas comes with a little more scream. If you’re a fan of American sorority movies then we’ve found the one for you, it follows a group of sorority sisters preparing for Christmas break, only to find themselves stalked by a mysterious presence that’s lurking inside their house. What starts with unsettling phone calls quickly escalates into a tense, spine tingling nightmare. We guarantee it will have you on the edge of your seat.
Christmas movies for adults: final thoughts
While at Christmas the focus is very much on the little ones in our lives, there's plenty of laughter, jump scares, and festive fun out there for adults too. Whether you're seeking a Christmas horror, or just a relatable plot line, one of these movies should fit the bill.
Happy adult Christmas movie night eve enthusiasts. Grab a duvet and a pillow, snuggle up, and enjoy. Until next time, eve Sleep.
