(Krampus: Universal Picures)

This being the Christmas holidays, it’s a perfect time to gather around friends and family, and to stream a classic holiday movie (ideally paired with a well-chosen beer.). But who needs White Christmas when you can stream Bad Santa?

A Christmas Horror Story

Originally released in 2015, this holiday horror flick is actually three different interwoven stories, all taking place on Christmas Eve: A family brings home more than a Christmas tree, a student documentary becomes a living nightmare, a Christmas spirit terrorizes Santa.

Plus William Shatner stars as ‘Dangerous Dan’ is one of the stories…and you don’t want to miss that.  Suggested Beer Pairing: Mad Elf Ale – Tröegs Brewing (Hershey, PA)

Bad Santa

(Courtesy Miramax)

Probably the most tasteless holiday movie ever, and as a result Bad Santa is one of our favorites.

Billy Bob Thornton stars as a drunken con man who along with this dwarf partner pose as Santa and his companion elf, so that they can rob a department store on Christmas Eve. Suggested beer pairing: Bad Santa Cascadian Dark Ale – Pelican Brewing (Pacific City, OR)

Gremlins

Most people forget that Joe Dante’s original horror comedy takes place at Christmastime and that makes this Steven Spielberg-produced classic from 1994 more than worth a holiday revisit.

Written by Chris Columbus (and not to be confused with the tedious sequels that would follow) Gremlins is about a young man who receives a strange creature as a pet, which then spawns other creatures that wreak havoc during the holidays. Suggested Beer Pairing: Sadler’s Golden Gremlin – Sadler’s Brewing (Lye, England)

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Don’t get us wrong, television’s 1996’s animated Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas is terrific…the music is great and how can you not loved that it’s voiced by Boris Karloff? But Jim Carrey’s filmed version, which was originally panned when it debuted in 2000, has an oft-centered charm that’s just gotten better over the years.

Directed by Ron Howard (and starring Jim Carrey in his manic prime) The Grinch won an Academy Award for ‘Best Makeup” in 2000, but it should have taken an Oscar for just being incredibly weird.  Suggested Beer Pairing: The Grinch Christmas Ale – Bridge Brewing (North Vancouver, Canada)

(Courtesy Disney)

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

No Christmas movie list would be complete without something from Disney, but you might not remember that 1993’s dark stop-action musical masterpiece The Nightmare Before Christmas came from the Walt Disney Studios.

With music composed and sung by ex-Oingo Boingo Frontman Danny Elman, The Nightmare Before Christmas tells the story of Jack Skellington, a resident from ‘Halloween Town’ who accidentally stumbles through a portal to ‘Christmas Town,’ and tries celebrate Christmas leading to dark and comical consequences. Suggested Beer Pairing: Olde Saratoga Death Wish Nightmare IPA – Mendocino Brewing (Ukiah, CA)