Movies
10 Christmas Horror Movies You Can Stream for Free This Holiday Season
We know entertainment shouldn’t be the thing that breaks the bank when you’re burning the candle at both ends. And though we love talking about the great films you can find to stream on Shudder and beyond, we would be remiss if we didn’t address the repository of free horror you could be tapping into as well. We are of course talking about Tubi, the free streaming service with more movies on it than you can probably watch in your lifetime. It’s known for some of its cornier offerings and shot on video dreck, yes, but it’s also an invaluable source of well-made films you can watch for free. And in particular, well-made horror films for all seasons. So, today, we introduce you to ten of the best Christmas horror movies you can stream on Tubi this holiday season.
The food, the gifts, the ugly Christmas sweaters. The holiday season demands you spend a lot to make the good times roll. But here at Horror Press, we want you to stretch that dollar.
We know entertainment shouldn’t be the thing that breaks the bank when you’re burning the candle at both ends. And though we love talking about the great films you can find to stream on Shudder and beyond (with plenty of out-of-this-world streaming guides by Sharai Bohannon in our It Came From Shudder series!), we would be remiss if we didn’t address the repository of free horror you could be tapping into as well.
We are of course talking about Tubi, the free streaming service with more movies on it than you can probably watch in your lifetime. It’s known for some of its cornier offerings and shot on video dreck, yes, but it’s also an invaluable source of well-made films you can watch for free. And in particular, well-made horror films for all seasons. So, today, we introduce you to ten of the best Christmas horror movies you can stream on Tubi this holiday season.
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toymaker (1992)
Okay, just for fairness’ sake, I’m going to limit myself to TWO Silent Night, Deadly Night films on this list, because Tubi has every single one in the franchise available at your fingertips. If you wanted, you could marathon them all like I did a few years back for my Silent Night, Deadly Night ranking article.
But Toymaker is no normal Silent Night, Deadly Night film. Which, you might be asking, “Wasn’t the fourth one about winter solstice witches setting people on fire and putting bugs inside them?” Which, yes, obviously that one is not normal, but this one is actually focused on Christmas! As the title implies, it follows a sinister toymaker with an unfortunate shop name, his creepy son, and the many people he terrorizes with his violent robotic toys.
This film has some hilarious moments, but played straight so you don’t have any of that wink-and-nudge routine that ruins your usual so-bad-it’s-good films. You absolutely will not see its ending coming from anywhere, so I encourage you to dive in and let it immerse you in its unique eggnog of weirdness.
Silent Night (2012)
And this Silent Night, Deadly Night remake is the other entry on the list I mentioned above. I promise it is also the only Santa slasher I’m putting on this list! Billy Chapman’s goofy love-hate relationship with Christmas has been replaced with a silent killer more akin to Michael Myers, whose mysterious motivations tie him to policewoman Aubrey Bradimore closer than she would think.
While Silent Night recreates a few of the original kills from its source material, it is mainly a special effects extravaganza that slams on the gas and cuts the brake line in terms of how brutal it can get. What collides with your eyes is a competent and fairly fun holiday horror. And if you need any more reason to watch it, Donal Logue plays a surprisingly significant role here as a drunken, rude Santa Claus screaming about figgy pudding. What else could you want?
Better Watch Out (2017)
Recently highlighted in another article ranking great Holiday horror kills, I didn’t have the pleasure of watching Better Watch Out without having the twist spoiled for me. But even lacking that experience, it’s still a film I was hooked on just due to its performances and one I will be watching again.
The film follows an insecure boy, Luke, who tries to impress his babysitter and long-time crush, Ashley, while his parents are away on Christmas Eve. His floundering attempts at acting like an adult get halted when intruders descend on the home. Both Olivia Dejonge and Levi Miller give stellar performances in this, with their dynamic driving the film’s best moments. You won’t regret going in blind on this one, trust me.
Maniac Cop 2 (1990)
You didn’t remember this one was a Christmas movie did you? I can’t blame you, since most of the holiday horror genre is saturated by killer santas and poorly puppeteered elves, whereas Maniac Cop 2 is a straightforward sequel to Officer Matt Cordell’s rampage in the first film (rest in peace to unsung horror legend Robert Zdar). After driving into a river with a beam pinned through his chest, he’s back! Somehow! Look, the mechanics of it don’t really matter, this movie has Bruce Campbell, Tom Atkins and Richard Roundtree in it. It’s surging with classic B-movie energy, has some pretty great action sequences in it, and its demanding to be seen.
It Cuts Deep (2020)
Breakups during the holidays are a nightmare as is, fraught with emotional turmoil during an already stressful time. But It Cuts Deep shows that staying together can be so, so much worse. Following Sam and Ashley, a couple whose relationship is on the verge of collapse while on a Christmas vacation, the film presents a dark comedy scenario of dwindling love turned into a psychological horror. As Sam loses his grip on their love life, an old friend reemerges and threatens to steal his girlfriend away from him, causing him to lose his grip on his sanity.
This is an ingenious horror comedy that I can’t recommend enough. It takes a while to fire up even with its brisk runtime, but around the end of the first act you will be hooked by how it takes awkward humor and turns it into thriller fuel with pinpoint comedic acting. The best comes from the interactions between Charles Gould’s Sam and John Anderson’s Nolan, whose comedic sensibilities synthesize into a perfect play between two deeply unlikable characters.
Rare Exports (2010)
A personal favorite of my friends, you might just become a holiday hero by introducing a horror lover in your life to this now-classic Norwegian film. Rare Exports follows a young boy, Pietari, and his reindeer-hunting friends and family as they discover that a research group might be tampering with the land and killing the local wildlife.
The truth about who has been doing this is much stranger than fiction, however, as what was unearthed from the local fell’s ice turns out to be much less friendly than legends have made them sound. With a dash of eldritch monstrosity spice, and a pinch of existential dread caused by the concepts it has on offer, Rare Exports delivers dark comedy through its unique premise and execution.
Black Christmas (1974)
At this point, what can even be said about Black Christmas that hasn’t been said? Forgive this exceptionally short entry on the list, but there’s only so many times you can expound the virtues of Bob Clark’s slasher masterpiece. If you have somehow never heard of or gotten to see Black Christmas, its haunting atmosphere, and its surprisingly dense and nuanced themes of reproductive agency, your homework is to watch it as soon as possible.
P2 (2007)
Being stuck at work on Christmas Eve is a fate I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemies (but hey, maybe I should get worse enemies). P2 takes that premise to a whole new level, as it follows beleaguered worker Angela being stalked by the parking lot night security guard Thomas. What results is a fun thriller led by a Wes Bentley performance that makes for a villain you love to hate. It has one of my favorite horror movie set pieces to boot, involving a very creative use of a fire hose. You also won’t find a more cathartic ending on this list.
Hosts (2020)
Hear me out since this doesn’t sound that complementary: Hosts is a film I wasn’t even aware of until I began writing this article. But in my search for something new, I found it to be an interesting piece of indie horror, reminiscent of one of my personal favorite horror films of all time, You’re Next.
It’s effectively about a family that invites their neighbors to spend Christmas eve with them, though an unexplainable event at the visiting couple’s home causes dinner to spiral into a nightmare even the Sawyers from Texas Chainsaw Massacre couldn’t cook up. Its effects are amateurish, but that doesn’t hamstring the rest of the film, which is horrifying in some of its moments.
Dead End (2003)
A film I had put off for a good long while, it was fellow Horror Press ghoul and or goblin Brendan Jesus who pushed me to actually watch Dead End (check out his very good review of it here!). Twin Peaks veteran Ray Wise stars in this one, as the head of a very dysfunctional family traveling on Christmas Eve and enduring one of the most uncomfortable car rides known to mankind.
If that isn’t stressful enough, their journey becomes an unending drive where the road never seems to close out, and tensions only seem to rise higher and higher as they fail to make progress. Also, there’s a spooky ghost hearse there! Predictability in its plot and ending aside, it’s still a pretty great film for the sheer atmosphere it generates and Wise’s killer performance. You’d do well slotting this one into your rotation when the wind chill hits, and things start getting dark early.
Halloween season is over, and many streamers have forgotten about us horror kids. While they take their 11-month hiatus from the genre, we can be grateful that we still have an app that cares. We are so lucky that Shudder remains that girl year-round. Whether you’re finishing their new original show Guts & Glory, catching up on The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans, or running at some of their deep cuts like I am, Shudder has your best interests at heart. As usual, she has quite a few titles fighting for our attention. Which is why I am here with five titles I think should be at the top of all of our watch lists this November. So, cancel your holiday plans and pick up your remote because we have got horrifying things to watch.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
Habit (1995)
An alcoholic unwittingly enters into a relationship with a succubus in New York City. If you ever wondered what Larry Fessenden was getting up to in his youth, you need to see this ’90s gem. I lucked out and caught it at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival last year, and I lived my best life. While watching it on the small screen will not be the same, I plan to hit play anyway. Mostly because I love to see 1990s succubi leaving their mark on men…and also the horror genre. Shudder is also adding The Last Winter and Depraved, so we can spend a whole day with Uncle Larry’s work.
Sew Torn (2024)
A seamstress happens upon a failed drug deal and steals a briefcase. She soon finds herself caught in a deadly situation where all roads lead to death. I caught Sew Torn at SXSW last year and have been wondering what happened to it. So, I am very happy this odd little bird has found her way to Shudder. I cannot wait to make my friends who are looking for something cute and deadly watch. I knew nothing when I hit play on this, and I encourage you to know as little as possible, too. I fear I have already written too much in this blurb to be completely honest.
You can watch Sew Torn on November 1st.
The Retreat (2021)
A couple goes on a pre-wedding retreat and unwittingly becomes targets of a group of serial killers. We have seen too many movies about retreats, and I thought this one would be more of the same. This title does not completely reinvent the wheel, but it does set itself apart within this oversaturated subgenre. The Retreat is a surprisingly fun and tense little thriller that feels made for the winter watches. Come for the lesbian characters leading the film, and stay for the violence. I also encourage you to check it out while it is on Shudder, because it is usually on apps with ads.
You can watch The Retreat on November 1st.
The Creep Tapes (Season 2)
Peachfuzz returns with more tapes, chaos, kills, and WTF moments. Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice have reentered the TV arena and are making things weird again. If award shows were real, this duo would be leading the Emmys charge. I saw the first three episodes, and Josef/Peachfuzz is still the serial killer after our own hearts. Our Wolfie is still cutting up (literally and figuratively) in the most amazing ways. Guest stars in danger this season include David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil), Katie Aselton (The League), and Robert Longstreet (The Haunting of Hill House).
You can watch The Creep Tapes (Season 2) on November 14th.
Krampus (2015)
A kid accidentally summons demons during the holidays in this horror comedy. Krampus remains one of the top-tier Christmas horror titles for me. It is also my favorite Michael Dougherty film. Not only because it has the star power of Adam Scott and Toni Collette, either. This movie is wicked, and even the kids are in danger. I do not have many holiday horror movies I revisit every year, but Krampus is one of the very few. It still holds up, and I cannot wait to rewatch it with a festively boozy beverage.
You can watch Krampus on November 15th.
Those are a few reasons I am grateful for Shudder this holiday season. While the rest of you are fighting with your family and friends, I will be parked in front of my TV. You can have your turkey because I would rather gorge myself on episodes of The Creep Tapes anyway.
Let me know what Shudder shenanigans you have got your little eye on. I am nosy and want to make sure I am not missing anything on my favorite streamer.
The year is winding down, and I don’t know about you, but I am trying to pack in as many 2025 horror movies as I can. Is this because I love making end-of-the-year lists? Yes. Is it because I am an unhealed overachiever? Also, yes. So, I am assuming some of you are also cruising the streamers to see what you may have missed. While Netflix has had my favorite new slasher Heart Eyes for a bit, and I have mentioned that in previous streaming guides, they also have other new horror titles to show you.
I do not talk about them as much because I did not have a good time with them. However, that does not mean you won’t enjoy some of these titles. That’s why I am taking the high road and finding something to be grateful for about each of them. That way, you will know there is a silver lining if you do watch them. Allow me to help you figure out what to prioritize this month and what to skip. Check out this chaotic Netflix hitlist below!
The Best Movies to Stream on Netflix This Month
28 Years Later (2025)
A group of survivors on a small island has built a fortress to protect them from the rage virus. However, a young boy discovers what is really outside the walls of their community and sets off to find a cure for his sick mother. We all loved 28 Days Later, and some of us liked 28 Weeks Later. So, 28 Years Later was never going to live up to the hype with almost thirty years of anticipation. While I didn’t love it, I did enjoy seeing Danny Boyle helm another zombie installment. What he does in the subgenre is top-tier, and we are welcome (even if the script left me wanting more). That might have gotten buried in all the talk about the dicks seen in the movie, though.
Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025)
A group of girls competing for prom queen starts disappearing, leaving the underdog to figure out what is happening to her competition. I had a lot of thoughts about this lackluster installment in Netflix’s Fear Street adaptations. As someone who grew up reading Fear Street books and wanting to adapt them myself, I do not understand how this movie came out so badly. Which made it hard to find something nice to say about this title. However, the soundtrack slaps, and it is not the soundtrack’s fault that it was wasted on a low-energy bottom-tier slasher. So, if you hit play on this, you can at least look forward to hearing some retro bangers selected by music supervisor Nora Felder. If you are familiar with her work on Yellowjackets and Stranger Things, you know Felder does not miss.
Maa (2025)
To battle a demon’s curse, a mother transforms into the legendary goddess Kali. As usual, Netflix did not advertise an international horror movie that seemed to have some potential. If they had told us Maa was an Indian Hindi-language mythological horror movie, most people who yell for intersectionality and originality would have run at it. Instead, we had to find out about it months later while looking for something we hadn’t already seen on the app. This movie is too long, and I cannot say it is good by any stretch of the imagination. However, it also made me realize how little I know about the goddess of destruction. If you are a nerd like me, this might lead you down a cool rabbit hole. You can also say you gave a view to a horror movie starring Brown people. Who knows, maybe you could be one of the few who enjoy this chaotic film.
Until Dawn (2025)
A group of friends find themselves trapped in a time loop where they keep getting killed in gruesome ways. I love the video game and was so bummed this adaptation was so bad. However, the practical effects are very cool and should be celebrated more. I think the stuff that the SFX team pulled off might be the only reason to watch the movie personally. I’m happy the actors whose work I enjoy got paid, and that’s another positive thing I can say. However, if we want to see young people in deadly time loops, we have so many movies that do it better. Excuse me as I look right at Happy Death Day and all of the movies that have tried to copy her.
Ziam (2025)
A Muay Thai fighter battles through a zombie apocalypse to save the woman he loves. Netflix fumbled the advertising for this one too, because who doesn’t want to see a Thai zombie film? So, I was excited to watch it, but then sad I did not like it. However, I think this one is on me. It is an action-horror with a lot of heartfelt moments, and that’s not my bag. I wanted more violence and zombie action because I am a broken and heartless ghoul. So, Ziam might be the only movie on this list that does not deserve my bombastic side eye. I am waiting for other people to watch it and let me know if they have a better time with it, though.
While I was not the audience for these movies, I am assuming some of you will dig them. Worst-case scenario, you cross off a few more 2025 horror movies and have something to talk about at Friendsgiving. Happy Horrordays! I will see myself out now…
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