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Black Christmas

Play trailer 4:04 Poster for Black Christmas R Released Dec 20, 1974 1h 38m Holiday Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Black Christmas

Black Christmas

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review Time Out The film still manages a good slice of old-fashioned suspense. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Alan Jones Radio Times Scores thanks to its stylish visuals, fiendishly inventive slaughter and unexpected twists. Rated: 4/5 Oct 31, 2024 Full Review Preston Barta Denton Record-Chronicle For those in search of more “slay” than “sleigh,” 'Black Christmas' offers a chilling experience. Oct 25, 2024 Full Review 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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froggo . Probably one of my favorite horror movies. Wasn’t an over the top gorefest ( although there is a time and place for those too) and had an enjoyable villain ( despite him barely being on screen). Also,I like that it didn’t go the evil Santa route for a Christmas horror movie . Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/26/25 Full Review Craig W. One of the original slashers and a darn good one at that. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/21/25 Full Review Jaxon P. This is a really good movie that’s well crafted and really did a lot of things other slashers would adapt Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/21/25 Full Review Nick O With this Bob Clark holiday horror classic, we get the basic blue print for what slasher flicks would become over the next decade. You’re welcome, Halloween and Friday The 13th. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/06/25 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews
Black Christmas

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Movie Info

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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