Black Christmas

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4:04

Black Christmas

R

Released Dec 20, 1974

1h 38m

Holiday

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

As winter break begins, a group of sorority sisters, including Jess (Olivia Hussey) and the often inebriated Barb (Margot Kidder), begin to receive anonymous, lascivious phone calls. Initially, Barb eggs the caller on, but stops when he responds threateningly. Soon, Barb's friend Clare (Lynne Griffin) goes missing from the sorority house, and a local adolescent girl is murdered, leading the girls to suspect a serial killer is on the loose. But no one realizes just how near the culprit is.

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Critics Consensus

The rare slasher with enough intelligence to wind up the tension between bloody outbursts, Black Christmas offers fiendishly enjoyable holiday viewing for genre fans.

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

Made at a time when there were as yet no fixed rules for the slasher subgenre, here anything goes, and the survival of neither virgin nor even final girl comes guaranteed.

Nov 13, 2017

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Only Marian Waldman as the house-mother comes across with any life.

Dec 27, 2006

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Time Out

The film still manages a good slice of old-fashioned suspense.

Jun 24, 2006

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

Scores thanks to its stylish visuals, fiendishly inventive slaughter and unexpected twists.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 31, 2024

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Preston Barta

Denton Record-Chronicle

For those in search of more “slay” than “sleigh,” 'Black Christmas' offers a chilling experience.

Oct 25, 2024

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Bob Clark's Black Christmas is a masterful exercise in tension. That it happens to be one of the most progressive horror films of the '70s is just an added bonus.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 21, 2024

Full Review

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Audience Member

One if not the best slasher film ever, creepy and scary after 50 years.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/22/25

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Garry A

This movie wasn't what I expected. The first half was more of a comedy. The obscene calls were deliciously twisted and vulgar. It went into full horror mode in the last 30 minutes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/09/25

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Chris B

Boring and rubbish. This movie was not scary at all.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/06/25

Full Review

James B

While It can be boring I do like how the ending is left ambiguous and how the killer is still on the loose. I think it's a good film but could be a little more entertaining.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/25

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Patrick C

I am not a big fan of the old school slashers. Even Halloween was very boring to me. But of all the ones I've seen, this one wasn't too bad. It is funny and actually somewhat scary as well, and has fairly sympathetic and interesting characters.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/25

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M R

I thought it was ok. Maybe it was too overhyped, I dunno. Rating: 4.5/10

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

Full Review

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Bob Clark

Director

Olivia Hussey

Jessica Bradford

Margot Kidder

Barbie Coard

Keir Dullea

Peter Smythe

John Saxon

Lt. Ken Fuller

Marian Waldman

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Black Christmas: Trailer 1

4:04

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Synopsis

As winter break begins, a group of sorority sisters, including Jess (Olivia Hussey) and the often inebriated Barb (Margot Kidder), begin to receive anonymous, lascivious phone calls. Initially, Barb eggs the caller on, but stops when he responds threateningly. Soon, Barb's friend Clare (Lynne Griffin) goes missing from the sorority house, and a local adolescent girl is murdered, leading the girls to suspect a serial killer is on the loose. But no one realizes just how near the culprit is.

Director: Bob Clark
Producer: Bob Clark
Screenwriter: Roy Moore
Distributor: Eclectic DVD Distribution, Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Film Funding Ltd. of Canada, Famous Players, August Films, Vision IV, Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
Rating: R
Genre: Holiday, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 20, 1974, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 13, 2016
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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