2026’s Most Fitting Halloween Movie Is Also Its Darkest Christmas Film

Published Sep 19, 2026, 11:55 AM EDT

Zoë Miskelly is an editor and second in command for Screen Rant's Movies team, having covered the entertainment industry for almost 10 years now. Zoë's love of superheroes and all things Marvel & DC started out in childhood, and has blossomed into a career getting to talk about some of the biggest and best movies and shows of all time, having previously focused on comics while working at WhatCulture.

2026's most fitting-looking Halloween film is also, somewhat intentionally ironically, a movie that centers around the concept of Christmas in a major way, with its story, premise, and even title focusing on the other holiday. Much like Christmas itself, the idea of what a truly good Halloween movie is has been one that's been debated over the years, since it will naturally vary somewhat for different audiences.

Ultimately, though, it's also an idea that movies are consistently trying to make good on, with many film releases around October 31 clearly being intended to appeal to those who want to watch something spooky or supernatural during this point of the year as a tie-in to the Halloween season.

2026 is set to be no different, with a roster of horror films releasing in September and October to capitalize on the increased interest in this type of film during this time period. Interestingly, though, perhaps the most fitting Halloween film set to debut during this time actually focuses on another season holiday, though its nod to Christmas only makes it a more scare-filled story.

Christmas At The Kringles Is Set To Be A Truly Unique Halloween Watch

As the film's trailer and October 30 release date makes clear, Christmas At The Kringles, despite its name, is very much a Halloween movie, with its premise revolving around a family who celebrate Christmas every day of the year, and seemingly decide to kill a more ordinary family after inviting them over to experience the festivities.

Though Christmas At The Kringles' premise does revolve around the concept of Christmas, it's clear its story and tone are far more Halloween-appropriate, since horror tends to be the last genre associated with Christmas. That said, it seems as though the film could also work as a decidedly dark Christmas movie as well, in the same frame of reference that has led many film viewers over the years to make films like Die Hard their go-to Christmas watches as a result of the story being set at Christmas, despite being a more intense and less whimsical release than much of this time period's staple viewing when it comes to the world of movies.

Indeed, the premise does ironically work all the better in terms of its horror value because of the contrast between the usually wholesome perception of Christmas as a time where many families come together to spend time with each other and exchange gifts, and the chainsaw-wielding and unhinged nature of the Kringle family, and the way they appear to "celebrate" their many Christmases in the film itself.

As it stands, Christmas At The Kringles also works as a Halloween movie on another level, since it ties into a long-term complaint about this point of the year for many in a way that adds an extra layer to the movie, and a prospective explanation for why the film is due to release the day before Halloween but centers around a sinister family whose love of Christmas delves into macabre territory.

It's not been uncommon for Christmas decorations or songs to begin entering stores or start being played in many parts of the world as early as September and October, and the holiday's early arrival has often been the subject of divided reception, especially for those who cherish Halloween and the fall season.

With this in mind, Christmas At The Kringles seems a particularly pertinent film release for many Halloween fans, since it metaphorically reflects this complaint by having the Kringles' Christmas obsession tie into the spooky season and become a horror movie, and has the Christmas-focused family serve as the primary antagonists of the story, leaning into the unsettling nature of their seemingly perpetual pep.