Black Christmas

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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

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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

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Joe M

A great classic Christmas horror flick. Margot Kidder is excellent... and gorgeous.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/22/24

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Joshua m

A little dated but effective horror flick.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/18/24

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Blobbo X

Off-putting movie try Blobbo patience. Finally give up trying, turn off, put attention better use.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/17/24

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Michael V

If this picture doesn't make your skin crawl... it's on TOO TIGHT. Black Christmas is a 1974 Canadian slasher film produced and directed by Bob Clark 🎄 It’s good 🙂 Worth a watch. I’d recommend it if you like this genre 👍🏼 It takes a while to get going, but the suspense definitely builds towards the end… As the residents of the Pi Kappa Sigma sorority house prepare for the festive season, a stranger begins to harass them with a series of obscene phone calls.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/11/24

Full Review

Daniel C. M

Although the movie is very slowburn and actually features quite a few unnecessary scenes (honestly this is a 70-80 minute max story inflated to a 100 minute runtime), this still remains a masterclass in horror; and Billy is still top 5 best Slasher killers. Here, he feels like a Angel of Death, creeping up to the sorority house to make the young sinners pay for their sins. It was a really innovating movie and the founder of many tropes alongside Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/05/24

Full Review

Audience Member

I been wanting to see this movie for a long time did not disappoint me the score i really liked it. It felt scary i haven't really been on edge in a slasher in a while the main character got better overtime the house is very iconic and how it's filmed just felt like actual filmmaker made the movie and editing is what i really liked the ending i liked how the villan won even tho not really because jess is still alive

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

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

Mrs. Mac

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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: Warner Home Vídeo, Eclectic DVD Distribution, 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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