1. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Sure, it’s a classic, but wow, is it heavy on the bullying. Rudolph’s peers, Santa, and even his own dad treat him like garbage until his shiny nose becomes useful. It’s a “redemption” story that sends a weird message: you’re only worth something if people need you. Talk about coal in the stocking!
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Hear me out—this one’s a gem, but there’s no denying it has its awkward moments. Lucy’s casual sexism (“you think being a girl is an insult?”) and the painfully obvious budget cuts (half the characters barely move) make it feel a little rough around the edges. The heart’s there, but it’s not without its splinters.
3. Frosty the Snowman (1969)
Frosty’s eternal optimism is great, but the whole “magical hat stolen by a greedy magician” plot? A little thin. Add in some questionable parenting (who lets their kid hop on a train with a snowman?), and you’ve got a special that’s more baffling than heartwarming by today’s standards.
4. The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
Claymation magic can’t save this downer of a special. It’s about a boy whose parents are killed by raiders, making him so bitter he can only connect with animals. The redemption arc is moving, sure, but the grim tone and dated cultural depictions make it a tough watch for modern audiences.
5. Home Alone Holiday Heist (2012)
The original Home Alone movies still hold up, but this straight-to-TV attempt to milk the franchise does not. With flat acting, laughable burglars, and none of the charm of its predecessors, this one feels like a cynical cash grab—and nobody needs that during the holidays.
6. Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970)
This origin story for Santa is oddly authoritarian. The villain, Burgermeister Meisterburger, bans toys outright—okay, we get it, he’s bad. But then Santa casually breaks into people’s homes to deliver toys, and the message gets muddled. It’s meant to be whimsical, but it raises too many eyebrows today.
7. Jack Frost (1998)
This live-action special (starring Michael Keaton as a dad reincarnated as a snowman) aimed for heartwarming but landed in “creepy and weird” territory. The bizarre premise and uncanny snowman design make it more of a holiday fever dream than a classic.
8. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (2000)
This special takes a novelty song and stretches it to the breaking point. It’s riddled with over-the-top slapstick, a weird courtroom subplot, and a not-so-subtle “family values” message that feels more like a lecture. It’s fun in a kitschy way but hard to take seriously.
9. The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
If you’ve ever seen this infamous special, you know why it’s here. Between the inexplicable musical numbers, cringe-worthy dialogue, and painfully slow pacing, it’s a galaxy far, far away from being good. Even hardcore fans pretend this never happened.
10. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Jim Carrey gave it his all, but this live-action adaptation of the beloved story leans too heavily on gross-out humor and over-the-top cynicism. It’s less about holiday cheer and more about making the Grinch as obnoxious as possible. The whimsy gets lost in the chaos.
11. The Polar Express (2004)
This one divides audiences, but let’s talk about that CGI. While groundbreaking at the time, the characters now fall deep into the uncanny valley. Combine that with a plot that sometimes drags, and it’s more unsettling than enchanting for many viewers today.
12. Babes in Toyland (1986)
This Drew Barrymore-starring oddity is as strange as it gets. The plot barely makes sense, the pacing is all over the place, and the tone shifts from sweet to bizarre without warning. It’s a cult favorite for its weirdness, but it’s hard to call it “timeless.”
Not every Christmas special is timeless, and that’s okay. Some are better left as nostalgic relics, reminding us how much things have changed—and how much we’ve learned about telling better stories. Which of these do you still love despite their flaws? Or are there others that deserve a spot on this list? Let’s chat!
