Rotten Tomatoes’ December 9, 2025 countdown names 31 Christmas films with low Tomatometer scores, from Ernest Saves Christmas at No. 31 to Christmas With the Kranks at No. 1. It is a critics’ ranking, not an objective verdict on what anyone should watch: Rotten Tomatoes says entries needed at least 20 reviews and a score below 40%, though its page displays Ernest Saves Christmas at exactly 40%.
How to read Rotten Tomatoes’ worst Christmas movies list
Rotten Tomatoes’ Alex Vo introduced the roundup as films that “scored less than 40% on the Tomatometer.” The page says it includes 31 films and requires at least 20 reviews for each. The displayed 40% for Ernest Saves Christmas sits at the threshold rather than below it, so the score and the stated rule do not align perfectly at that boundary. Rotten Tomatoes’ list is the source for the rankings and displayed percentages below.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![The Original Christmas Specials Collection [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51rmm4ViuoL._SL160_.jpg)
|
The Original Christmas Specials Collection [Blu-ray] | $19.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Christmas Story, A (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) | $16.12 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51vMO3DPChL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas [Blu-ray] | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - DVD, BLURAY, Digital | $14.04 | Buy on Amazon |
The countdown order is not a strict sorting of the displayed scores: for example, Unaccompanied Minors is placed above Noel even though its displayed score is higher. Rank and percentage are therefore best read as separate details from the publisher’s list, not as interchangeable measures. The page’s latest update added Red One, Bad Santa 2 and Jack Frost; it says Saving Christmas and Nativity 3: Dude, Where’s My Donkey?! were excluded for not meeting the review-count rule.
The 31 films in the countdown
These are Rotten Tomatoes’ displayed ranks and Tomatometer percentages, transcribed in the page’s countdown order. A Tomatometer score represents critics’ reviews; it does not by itself tell you whether audiences liked a film or whether you will enjoy it.
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| Rank | Film | Year | Displayed Tomatometer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Ernest Saves Christmas | 1988 | 40% |
| 30 | Oh. What. Fun. | 2025 | 35% |
| 29 | Home Alone 3 | 1997 | 36% |
| 28 | The Nutcracker and the Four Realms | 2018 | 32% |
| 27 | A Bad Moms Christmas | 2017 | 32% |
| 26 | Red One | 2024 | 29% |
| 25 | Unaccompanied Minors | 2006 | 30% |
| 24 | Noel | 2004 | 28% |
| 23 | Four Christmases | 2008 | 24% |
| 22 | Santa Claus Conquers the Martians | 1964 | 25% |
| 21 | Bad Santa 2 | 2016 | 23% |
| 20 | I’ll Be Home for Christmas | 1998 | 23% |
| 19 | The Mean One | 2022 | 22% |
| 18 | Santa Claus | 1985 | 22% |
| 17 | The Christmas Candle | 2013 | 22% |
| 16 | Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas | 2013 | 21% |
| 15 | Fred Claus | 2007 | 20% |
| 14 | Jingle All the Way | 1996 | 20% |
| 13 | Love the Coopers | 2015 | 19% |
| 12 | The Perfect Holiday | 2007 | 19% |
| 11 | The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause | 2006 | 17% |
| 10 | Mixed Nuts | 1994 | 16% |
| 9 | Jack Frost | 1997 | 16% |
| 8 | Home Sweet Home Alone | 2021 | 15% |
| 7 | Black Christmas | 2006 | 14% |
| 6 | A Merry Friggin’ Christmas | 2014 | 14% |
| 5 | Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights | 2002 | 13% |
| 4 | An American Carol | 2008 | 13% |
| 3 | Surviving Christmas | 2004 | 8% |
| 2 | Deck the Halls | 2006 | 6% |
| 1 | Christmas With the Kranks | 2004 | 5% |
What the list says about the films—and what it cannot say
The entries range from a 1964 science-fiction Christmas comedy to newer releases such as Red One (2024) and Oh. What. Fun. (2025). That range makes “worst” a broad label covering very different kinds of holiday film, rather than a single genre or style.
Rotten Tomatoes’ consensus blurbs add more detail than the scores alone. The page describes Santa Claus Conquers the Martians as endearingly cheesy for viewers looking for a sub-competent sci-fi holiday adventure. Its sharpest verdict is reserved for the No. 1 entry: the Critics Consensus calls Christmas With the Kranks “A mirthless movie as fresh as last year’s fruit cake, Christmas with the Kranks is a coarse, garish comedy that promotes conformity.” That is the site’s consensus text, not a quotation attributed to one individual critic.
A low critics’ score is one way to approach the lineup, not a reliable prediction of a particular viewer’s reaction. The ranking supplies neither audience scores nor current streaming or home-video availability, so it cannot answer whether a title is easy to find or worth watching for a specific taste.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the world. They lie, steal & bully?and now they?ve hijacked the town Christmas pageant. Grace (Judy Greer) is directing the performance for the very first time, but she and her family are in over their heads, especially against a town that wants the Herdmans out. But the play?s mischievous stars might just teach the town the true meaning of Christmas.
Rank #3
- Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas - Blu-ray Brand New
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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