Krampus

Play trailer

2:33

Poster for

Krampus

PG-13

2015

1h 38m

Holiday

Horror

Comedy

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

130 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

While the holiday season represents the most magical time of year, ancient European folklore warns of Krampus, a horned beast who punishes naughty children at Christmastime. When dysfunctional family squabbling causes young Max (Emjay Anthony) to lose his festive spirit, it unleashes the wrath of the fearsome demon. As Krampus lays siege to the Engel home, mom (Toni Collette), pop (Adam Scott), sister (Stefania LaVie Owen) and brother must band together to save one another from a monstrous fate.

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Critics Consensus

Krampus is gory good fun for fans of non-traditional holiday horror with a fondness for Joe Dante's B- movie classics, even if it doesn't have quite the savage bite its concept calls for.

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Stephanie Zacharek

TIME Magazine

Some clever soul might have done something moderately effective with this idea, but Krampus is too dumb to be scary and too listless to be entertaining.

Nov 5, 2019

Full Review

A.A. Dowd

AV Club

Otherwise, this holiday-season fright flick never leaps far enough outside of its own box; the movie flirts with going full-on monster mash, with really cutting loose, but the mayhem is too little, too late.

Rated: C+

Nov 5, 2019

Full Review

Robert Abele

TheWrap

The legend of the Krampus, often referred to as the shadow of St. Nicholas, is a fertile one indeed, but this "Krampus" - a missed opportunity for anti-saccharine counter programming - isn't likely to create many new believers.

Nov 5, 2019

Full Review

David Day

Horror Movie Talk

While this is not the most impressive movie I’ve seen, it’s damn solid and very full of Christmas feels. It’s got lots of fun characters, and enough creepy imagery and tension to keep you on your toes while sippin’ on some nog.

Rated: 6/10

Sep 18, 2025

Full Review

Josh Slater-Williams

Vague Visages

As it is, it’s like a stocking crammed with too many little bits and bobs that came to mind for the stocking-stuffer, ultimately pleasing no one like one or two well-considered big gifts would have.

Nov 15, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Dougherty's movie is best when it's taking a cynical look at holiday celebrations, while the horror elements seem flat by comparison.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 23, 2022

Full Review

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Ben T.

This movie was a film masterpiece. This movies krampus was cinematic and the audio effects left me in aw. This movies ending was a little confusing but made it all the more fun

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/28/25

Full Review

Josh C.

Loved the movie great plot really funny ending was confuzzling

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/26/25

Full Review

Michael B.

Really enjoyed this movie. Funny & scary at the same time! The winter setting really made the movie atmosphere perfect in my opinion.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/16/25

Full Review

Denne L

Review personal: If you liked his Halloween movie where he adapted a comic book and want more from this director, this movie can fulfill a good part of that role.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/16/25

Full Review

Cade H.

Krampus is a generic horror movie that’s dressed up like a holiday movie. The protagonists still make unwise decisions and the plot still has more holes than Swiss cheese, just like most other slasher-style horror movies. It’s a good movie to put on when you want to watch something with a Christmas theme but everyone else also watching doesn’t like holiday movies.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/29/25

Full Review

Boopi H

weird, wild, totally not starring Bing Crosby

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/17/25

Full Review

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Michael Dougherty

Director

Emjay Anthony

Max

Adam Scott

Tom

Toni Collette

Sarah

Stefania Owen

Beth

Krista Stadler

Omi

Krampus: Krampus - Scariest Christmas Scenes

8:28

Krampus: Official Clip - Christmas Cookie Kidnapper

2:41

Krampus: Official Clip - Happy Holidays

2:35

Krampus: Official Clip - You Better Watch Out

2:56

Krampus: Official Clip - When the Christmas Spirit Dies

2:59

Krampus: Official Clip - The Ending of a Christmas Wish

2:30

Krampus: Official Clip - Krampus Arrives

2:54

Krampus: Official Clip - Terror Toys and Gingerbread Nightmares

2:51

Krampus: Official Clip - Elves From Hell

1:53

Krampus: Official Clip - Der Klown, Eater of Children

2:51

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Krampus: B-Roll

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Krampus: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

While the holiday season represents the most magical time of year, ancient European folklore warns of Krampus, a horned beast who punishes naughty children at Christmastime. When dysfunctional family squabbling causes young Max (Emjay Anthony) to lose his festive spirit, it unleashes the wrath of the fearsome demon. As Krampus lays siege to the Engel home, mom (Toni Collette), pop (Adam Scott), sister (Stefania LaVie Owen) and brother must band together to save one another from a monstrous fate.

Director: Michael Dougherty
Producer: Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Michael Dougherty, Alex Garcia
Screenwriter: Todd Casey, Michael Dougherty, Zach Shields
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Legendary Pictures, Zam Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Sequences of Horror Violence|Language|Some Drug Material|Terror)
Genre: Holiday, Horror, Comedy, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 4, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $42.7M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos, Datasat, Dolby Digital

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