Some Christmas movies warm the heart. Others make you wonder what the filmmakers were thinking. From Martian kidnappers to bodybuilding Santas, these are the bizarre, misbegotten, or flat-out surreal holiday films that somehow exist. They’re not cult classics or hidden gems—they’re Christmas curiosities, each strange enough to earn a watch on sheer disbelief.
Santa Claus (1959)
In this Mexican fantasy, Santa lives in space, consults Merlin the Wizard, and battles the Devil himself. Imported to U.S. TV in the 1960s, it left generations of kids permanently confused—and later fascinated.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)
Green-painted Martians kidnap Santa so their children can have Christmas. The sets wobble, the dialogue clunks, and yet its cheery theme song still pops up in retro playlists. It’s a masterclass in joyful ineptitude.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
The Magic Christmas Tree (1964)
A boy saves a witch and receives a talking tree that grants three wishes. Shot on 16 mm with a cast of neighbors, it mixes morals, miracles, and farm animals in ways that defy logic. A true small-town oddity.
Where to watch: Not Available.
Christmas Evil (1980)
A lonely toy-factory worker slowly believes he’s Santa and begins “rewarding” or punishing everyone around him. Part horror, part psychological tragedy, it’s equal parts disturbing and strangely sympathetic.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Elves (1989)
A foul-mouthed department-store Santa fights genetically engineered Nazi elves. Yes, really. Cheaply shot and wildly plotted, it’s become midnight-movie royalty for fans of unintentional comedy.
Where to watch: Not Available.
Santa with Muscles (1996)
Hulk Hogan stars as a self-absorbed millionaire who gets amnesia and thinks he’s Santa Claus. Overacted, underwritten, and endlessly quotable, it’s the cinematic equivalent of stale fruitcake.
Where to watch: Not available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Jack Frost (1997)
Not the tearjerker with Michael Keaton—the other one. A killer snowman stalks victims using carrot-based weaponry. It’s grotesque, ridiculous, and impossible to forget once you’ve seen it.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Santa’s Slay (2005)
Wrestler Bill Goldberg plays a demonic Santa released after a thousand-year curse expires. It’s bloody, self-aware, and stuffed with celebrity cameos. Think *Gremlins* meets *WWE Raw*.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold digitally.
The Nutcracker in 3D (2010)
This lavish adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s ballet adds talking rats, totalitarian imagery, and dialogue that borders on surreal. Marketed as family fun, it feels closer to an unintentional Christmas nightmare.
Where to watch: Sold on physical media and digitally.
Jingle All the Way 2 (2014)
Larry the Cable Guy replaces Arnold Schwarzenegger in a sequel no one asked for. Straight-to-video sentimentality collides with product placement in one of the strangest follow-ups ever green-lit.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
Aired once on CBS and never again, it features Chewbacca’s family celebrating Life Day while Jefferson Starship performs. Disowned by Lucasfilm but beloved by collectors, it remains the ultimate holiday oddity.
Why These Movies Exist at All
Some were sincere misfires, others marketing experiments gone wrong. Together they prove that Christmas inspires creativity—and chaos—in equal measure. Whether you laugh, cringe, or stare in disbelief, these films make the season unforgettable in their own bizarre way.
