I’ve been home for the holidays for about a week now, and my mom and I have already watched a surprising number of Christmas movies. She cooks, I scroll through dating apps, and we sometimes break the films into chunks—but we’ve already gotten through Love Actually and at least three Hallmark movies about tightly wound female executives who move to small towns and fall for rugged local guys.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from all this festive viewing, it’s that the perfect, polished protagonists aren’t all that interesting. What I really want to watch at Christmas are the messy, selfish, delightfully awful villains. So here are my personal favorites:
Mark in Love Actually (2003)
A lot of people hate the chic assistant who steals Alan Rickman from Emma Thompson, but let’s be real: he’s the one who took vows, not her. To me, the real villain is Mark, the best man who’s secretly in love with his best friend’s new wife. He’s needlessly cruel to Keira Knightley to hide his crush, then shows up on Christmas Eve with a bunch of romantic cards while she’s home with her husband. How did we ever decide that was romantic? “Enough now” is right.
Meredith Morton in The Family Stone (2005)
Some argue Rachel McAdams is the true villain here, but for me it’s Sarah Jessica Parker’s Meredith. Maybe it’s because McAdams’ cozy holiday style is so good, or because Meredith is so awkward, judgmental, and dull for most of the film—that is, until she gets drunk, high, drops the casserole, and finally loosens up. Seriously, why are your only topics work trips to Hong Kong and casual homophobia?
Jasper Bloom in The Holiday (2006)
No ex—or even ex-situationship—should keep draining emotional energy from a woman after he’s lost interest, and that’s exactly what Jasper does. Leave Kate Winslet alone, you perm-sporting nightmare! (Side note: remember when she briefly considers suicide over him and it’s played for laughs? Holiday rom-coms are strange.)
Harge Aird in Carol (2015)
Can two closeted lesbians not have a little tortured, secret fun without a man ruining it? Carol’s estranged husband Harge hires a private investigator and threatens to take custody of their daughter if she doesn’t stop “lezzing out” across the country. It’s pathetic. I low-key hate him, even if he is played by Coach Taylor. (Also, why is your name Harge?)
Harper in Happiest Season (2020)
We clearly needed a villainous lesbian on this list, and Clea DuVall delivered with Harper. Mackenzie Davis plays the anxious, perfection-obsessed closeted daughter who invites her girlfriend Abby (Kristen Stewart) home for Christmas and only then reveals her family doesn’t know she’s gay. Coming out isn’t mandatory, but maybe don’t treat your girlfriend terribly and deny your relationship until the last second? Abby should’ve switched to Team Aubrey Plaza way sooner.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About The Best Holiday Movie Villains
Q What makes a good holiday movie villain
A A great holiday villain creates a real threat to the seasons joy family or generosity Theyre often greedy cynical or lonely characters who oppose the core spirit of the holiday making the heros victory feel extra meaningful
Q Who is the most famous Christmas movie villain
A The Grinch is arguably the most iconic His heart two sizes too small and his mission to steal Christmas perfectly embody the villain who learns the true meaning of the holiday
Q Are holiday villains always scary or evil
A Not always Many are more comedic grumpy or misguided than truly evil Think of Harry and Marv the Wet Bandits from Home Alonetheyre bumbling criminals not monsters Their threat is to property and peace not to life
Q Can you give an example of a more serious scary holiday villain
A Yes The AntiClaus from The Nightmare Before Christmas is a genuinely menacing figure In more adult films Hans Gruber from Die Hard is a classic serious antagonist
Q Why do we enjoy villains in our cheerful holiday movies
A They provide conflict and stakes Without a villain or obstacle theres no story They highlight the importance of the holidays values by showing what happens when those values are absent or attacked
Q Whats a common mistake people make when discussing these villains
A Forgetting that some characters are more antagonists than pure villains Ebenezer Scrooge is the central obstacle in A Christmas Carol but his story is about transformation not defeat
Q Are there any memorable villains in nonChristmas holiday movies
A Absolutely For Halloween the Boogeyman from The Nightmare Before Christmas or the witch in Hocus Pocus are great examples For Valentines Day the school principal in Liar Liar could be seen as a villain to love and honesty
Q Do holiday movie villains ever get redeemed
A Frequently Redemption is