Krampus

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2:33

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

Nov 5, 2019

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.

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A.A. Dowd

AV Club

Nov 5, 2019

C+

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.

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Robert Abele

TheWrap

Nov 5, 2019

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.

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Mel Campbell

ScreenHub

Dec 29, 2025

It’s wild that this frankly unsettling folkloric figure has been relatively unexplored in horror movies. Hardcore slasher fans might find Krampus too family-friendly – all tinkle and no bell. But [it] indulges our inarticulate craving for pagan justice…

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David Day

Horror Movie Talk

Sep 18, 2025

6/10

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.

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Josh Slater-Williams

Vague Visages

Nov 15, 2023

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.

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Rafe F

@Rafe1515215215 Sep 10, 2026

The ending was perfect and the beginning was good underrated I will recommend

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 8, 2026

Krampus = A *3 and 1/2* star Movie

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Evan P

@RT61326962 Sep 3, 2026

Krampus was a fun horror movie that’s not perfect but still worth checking out.

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jeff 2

@RT82268910 Aug 6, 2026

Is good one 👍 I love it

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bruce C

@bruce999 Aug 3, 2026

a little too much weirdness for me.

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Zavi W

@SomeoneOnRottenTomatoes Jul 4, 2026

Uhh. What was that?

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Michael Dougherty

Director

Emjay Anthony

Max

Adam Scott

Tom

Toni Collette

Sarah

Stefania Owen

Beth

Krista Stadler

Omi

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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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