Every Single Krampus Movie, Ranked

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Whether you call him Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, or Kris Kringle, the cheerful figure who brings gifts is now a central part of the winter holidays. He’s appeared in more holiday movies than anyone else – in fact, some reports claim he’s been portrayed on film second only to the Devil!

While Santa Claus brings joy, there’s a much older, more frightening Christmas figure often forgotten. Krampus, a horned, demon-like creature from Alpine folklore, traditionally punishes children who have misbehaved.

Krampus takes the cozy spirit of Christmas and turns it into something scary and menacing, making him a great villain for holiday stories. Here’s a guide to every movie featuring this frightening creature, ranging from low-budget horror films to adventures the whole family can enjoy.

15
‘Krampus Vs. Bigfoot’ (2021)


Ruthless Pictures

When the Lord of Darkness unleashes the wicked Krampus from hell, it turns out Bigfoot is the only one who can stop him. Despite being less than 70 minutes long, the movie feels slow and drawn-out. There’s not much happening until the very end, with most of the runtime spent watching the creatures simply wander around.

It’s hard to find anything positive to say about Krampus Vs. Bigfoot. The movie relies heavily on computer-generated effects, but the CGI is shockingly bad – it looks like something from a very old video game. Unlike other silly monster movies like Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus or Mega Python vs. Gatoroid, which are fun despite their flaws, Krampus Vs. Bigfoot simply isn’t enjoyable and doesn’t seem to realize how ridiculous it is.

14
‘Mother Krampus’ AKA ’12 Deaths of Christmas’ (2017)


Proportion Productions

While not a particularly exciting film, Mother Krampus appears lower on this list mainly because it doesn’t focus much on the Krampus legend itself. The movie uses the name “Krampus” for marketing, but it’s actually based on the German tale of Frau Perchta. The story centers on a town plagued during the twelve days of Christmas by the return of Frau Perchta, a vengeful witch who kidnaps children due to an ancient curse.

While some fans of Christmas horror might find Mother Krampus passable, those expecting a traditional Krampus story will probably be disappointed. The film focuses more on witch mythology than the usual demonic elements, and most viewers and critics agree that it’s simply not a very enjoyable movie, with scares being rare and ineffective.

13
‘Krampus: The Christmas Devil’ (2015)


Snowdog Studios

In Krampus: The Christmas Devil, police officer Jeremy Duffin is on a desperate mission to stop a frightening Christmas demon that targets and kills misbehaving children – and threatens to take his own daughter. As Duffin investigates, he uncovers a personal connection to the creature, realizing it was involved in his own childhood trauma. He also learns a surprising truth: Krampus isn’t working against Santa, but for him, tasked with punishing children who’ve been bad.

With a low 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Krampus: The Christmas Devil is marginally better than Krampus Vs. Bigfoot – it actually has a basic plot and a few intriguing concepts. However, the film suffers from stiff acting, a very limited budget, and noticeably poor sound quality, making the dialogue difficult to hear at times due to distracting background noise.

12
‘Krampus: The Return’ (2017)


ITN Distribution

Years after a frightening childhood encounter with the mythical Krampus, a man finds his life disrupted by the creature’s unexpected return. While Krampus: The Return isn’t perfect, the core idea – Krampus coming back to punish someone for a past trauma – is a compelling one.

Okay, so this movie isn’t going to win any awards, but honestly, it’s a blast! The acting is wonderfully over-the-top, the plot gets pretty confusing, and the scenes with Krampus are just…awkwardly funny. If you’re into those really low-budget Christmas horror movies that are bad in a good way – the kind you watch and laugh with, not at – then you’ll probably love it. It’s got some cool ideas, even if they’re delivered on a shoestring budget, and it fully embraces its own silliness. It’s a ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ kind of movie, and I’m here for it!

11
‘Krampus 2: The Devil Returns’


ITN Distribution

Following up on Krampus: The Christmas Devil, The Devil Returns brings back former police officer Jeremy Duffin. He’s hesitant, but agrees to hunt Krampus again, this time with the strong assistance of his friend, Monk, a woodsman. The movie does a good job of keeping viewers guessing with some unexpected plot twists.

This film is rough around the edges, often unpleasant, and definitely doesn’t have a polished Hollywood feel. While the effects, acting, dialogue, and pacing are all a bit clumsy, it manages to deliver a few real scares, making it a small improvement over the first one.

10
‘Granny Krampus’ (2024)


Proportion Productions

Granny Krampus tells the story of a family forced to reunite for Christmas at their childhood home, only to find themselves at the mercy of a sinister force. It’s important to know that this film isn’t related to Mother Krampus – they are completely separate projects with different filmmakers, crews, and storylines, existing in distinct fictional worlds.

Granny Krampus relies on psychological and supernatural horror rather than graphic violence. This is a good thing, as it lets the film build tension and a creepy atmosphere despite a limited budget. The story centers on family trauma, hidden secrets, and the consequences of past mistakes.

9
‘Krampus: The Reckoning’ (2015)


Uncork’d Entertainment

Krampus: The Reckoning follows a child psychologist trying to figure out the connection between a strange little girl and the legendary creature, Krampus. While the story gets confusing at times, it explores some compelling concepts, potentially as a metaphor for the impact of child abuse.

The movie features compelling characters, unexpected plot twists, and scenes that truly resonate emotionally. However, the biggest letdown is Krampus himself, who looks surprisingly unconvincing as a computer-generated creature. This design choice unfortunately ruins the suspenseful mood the film carefully builds.

8
‘Krampus Unleashed’ (2016)


Uncork’d

Robert Conway’s new film, Krampus Unleashed, is his second take on the Krampus legend, following Krampus: The Reckoning. The movie centers on a troubled family in the South who become victims of the mythical creature. Although it’s only 75 minutes long, the film feels slow at times. However, when Krampus attacks, it delivers some truly shocking and realistic gore effects.

Despite failing to fully capitalize on its potential – largely because its quirky characters aren’t well-developed and it lacks truly frightening moments – those who enjoy classic, low-budget monster movies might appreciate its deliberately cheesy style and impressive physical effects.

7
‘Krampus Origins’ (2018)


FunHouse Features

Krampus Origins is a fantasy film set during World War I, where a mysterious artifact ends up at a children’s orphanage. The orphans unintentionally unleash the Krampus—an ancient, evil creature—and must team up with their teacher to fight it. Director Robert Conway, known for previous Krampus films, has created a more family-friendly, PG-13 adventure that’s genuinely enjoyable, shifting away from the darker, more violent content of his earlier work.

Despite some slightly weak special effects, Krampus Origins is a well-made and enjoyable horror film. It feels like a blend of classic 80s monster movies with the adventurous spirit of films like Harry Potter and The Goonies.

6
‘Finding Santa’ AKA ‘Get Santa’ (2016)


Copenhagen Bombay

In , a Christmas-loving orphan named Julius is magically transported to a magical winter wonderland, only to discover that Santa Claus has disappeared and the villainous Krampus has seized control. It’s up to Julius to locate Santa, defeat Krampus, and rescue Christmas!

Okay, as someone who loves movies, let me tell you, this Christmas film is just special. It’s done with this gorgeous stop-motion animation – seriously, everything is handmade and it feels so warm and magical. The story is really imaginative and it’s got this wonderful message about believing in yourself. It’s just a genuinely delightful and memorable Christmas adventure for everyone, which is a really nice change of pace, especially when so many other lists seem to be filled with scary movies!

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2025-12-01 18:42