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It's that magical time of year again—when TV screens are flooded with Christmas episodes and specials. From timeless classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to A Charlie Brown Christmas, everyone has their favorites and cherished memories of these festive shows.
But what about the oddball holiday specials? The ones that veer into the bizarre, poorly executed, or downright perplexing territory? This list rounds up some of the strangest and most head-scratching Christmas specials ever to air.
Warning: Spoiler alert for anyone who hasn’t yet watched A Charlie Brown Christmas—though if you’re in that small group, don’t worry. We won’t spoil it for you. However, if you’re new to Christmas specials in general, proceed with caution—spoilers ahead!
10. The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold (1981)
Many holiday lists might mention Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, but Rankin and Bass took things to a whole new level of weirdness with their choices here. Take The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold, for example—it’s got almost no connection to Christmas, yet plenty of Irish charm, complete with a banshee called Old Mag the Hag.
This is definitely one of the more obscure specials out there. It doesn’t have any fan theories or deep-dive blogs marveling at how a Saint Patrick’s Day story got rebranded as a Christmas special. It’s an odd example of just how strange Rankin and Bass became in their later years.
While the 1960s holiday specials were all about wholesome cheer, the 1980s brought a touch of The Lord of the Rings vibe to the table. You can actually watch The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold in its entirety online.
9. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (1985)
For those who prefer a Christmas special without any religious undertones, this one’s for you. It delves into the origins of Christmas traditions from a purely secular perspective. Based on L. Frank Baum’s book—better known for creating The Wonderful Wizard of Oz—this marks the final Claymation Christmas production from Rankin and Bass.
Still intrigued? If so, you’ll enjoy the bizarre plot, featuring the Council of Immortals, Santa’s upbringing by fairies and a lioness, and an epic battle with a dragon. Yes, it’s a Christmas special like no other.
8. A Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987)
Remember the California Raisins? They were an unexpected hit in the mid-to-late ‘80s, captivating audiences in a way that’s hard to explain today. You might recall their soulful renditions of Christmas classics, all set in this quirky Claymation special from 1987—hosted by none other than... dinosaurs.
In this special, Tyrannosaurus Rex and his Styracosaurus sidekick, Herb, showcase their holiday talents, culminating in the ultimate moment—The California Raisins' rendition of Christmas carols in the style of The Temptations. Throughout the show, Rex and Herb bicker over Christmas traditions, including an extended discussion on the meaning of “wassailing.”
Although the special feels pieced together, it’s still worth revisiting for a dose of nostalgia. After all, nothing quite captures the Christmas spirit like humanoid raisins singing timeless Christmas classics.
7. Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
No conversation about Christmas specials is complete without mentioning the infamous “wtf” moments of this one. Just consider its baffling plot: Chewbacca and Han Solo journey to Chewbacca’s home planet to celebrate Life Day. So... not quite Christmas.
The connection between Life Day and Christmas remains unclear, except for the common theme of gift-giving.
In this special, we get a glimpse into Chewbacca’s family life, as the show seems to assume that Chewbacca was everyone’s favorite character in Star Wars. Meanwhile, Han Solo and Chewie are being chased by Galactic Empire agents who are on the hunt for Rebel Alliance members on the planet.
This Chewbacca-focused special has so little to do with Christmas that it might as well have been labeled a “Life Day” special without raising any eyebrows.
6. Bewitched: ‘Sisters at Heart’ (1970)
Yikes, this Christmas episode was a serious misstep for Bewitched. While it’s no surprise that a show about witches might struggle with Christmas, Bewitched had actually managed several holiday specials without major issues. However, in 1970, they released an episode so controversial that Elizabeth Montgomery had to personally introduce it to calm the sponsor, Oscar Mayer.
What exactly was the problem?
Well, Tabitha briefly appears in blackface, which is a highly offensive and outdated decision, particularly during the Christmas season. Not a good look at all.
The storyline barely touches on Christmas. Instead, young Tabitha longs to be sisters with her African-American friend, Lisa. To make them look more alike, Tabby uses her powers to add black polka dots to her own body and white ones to Lisa’s.
The idea for this plot supposedly originated from a 10th-grade English class at LA’s Thomas Jefferson High School, with all 26 students credited by name. This might explain the naive insensitivity in the episode. However, it doesn't explain why the producers and network allowed it to air.
5. The X-Files: ‘How the Ghosts Stole Christmas’ (1998)
The X-Files presents a memorable episode, “How the Ghosts Stole Christmas,” which happens to unfold on Christmas. However, when it comes to delivering a truly festive holiday vibe, it falls far short.
The dark tone of this episode feels reminiscent of a Black Mirror story. It kicks off on Christmas Eve with Mulder persuading Scully to join him in investigating a haunted house. Despite her family plans, Scully reluctantly tags along after Mulder swipes her car keys.
Things take a spooky turn when Mulder shares with Scully the story of a couple who made a murder-suicide pact in the house back in 1917. Are you starting to feel the holiday spirit yet?
As the ghosts finally reveal themselves, Mulder and Scully are forced to confront the stranger aspects of their relationship that they usually keep hidden. What seems like a dark narrative is lightened by the comedic talents of Ed Asner and Lily Tomlin, who bring plenty of laughs to the scene.
This episode puts a unique spin on the traditional Christmas Carol tale, blending in all the eerie twists that are a hallmark of The X-Files. It’s wonderfully weird in all the best ways.
4. The Munsters’ Scary Little Christmas (1996)
Much like Bewitched before it, this 1960s spooky sitcom struggles to capture the magic of Christmas. What makes it even stranger is that it was made decades later in the mid-1990s, following the release of the 1995 film Here Come the Munsters. The ’90s clearly had a monster craze, with films like The Munsters and The Addams Family, but this bizarre holiday special completely misses the mark.
The Munsters come together to give Eddie a classic Transylvanian Christmas, trying to ease his homesickness for Transylvania. This unusual plot, never mentioned in the original series, makes you more curious about The Munsters‘ backstory than about this forced Christmas theme.
The storylines are all over the place—from Herman losing his job and posing as a nude model in a painting class, to Eddie being bullied at school, and even Grandpa accidentally bringing Santa and his elves to their house after an experiment goes awry. It’s a confusing mess, so watch it only if you’re in the mood for a truly strange Christmas experience.
Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever (2014)
The main mystery surrounding the Grumpy Cat Christmas movie is why it was ever made. The film certainly embraces the essence of Grumpy Cat's perpetual displeasure, but the inclusion of 'worst' in the title feels almost like an inevitability.
In this bizarre film, Grumpy Cat (voiced by Aubrey Plaza) resides in a pet store and is eventually adopted by a 12-year-old girl. The cat’s unchanging, grumpy expression becomes increasingly unsettling as she embarks on a series of adventures, raising the question of whether any cats were harmed during the production of this peculiar special.
Is the cat exhausted from all the attention? Is she genuinely patient and content with it? Does she even care? This special truly highlights the oddity of capitalizing on the Grumpy Cat Internet phenomenon.
The Junky’s Christmas (1993)
Leave it to William S. Burroughs to write the bleakest Christmas special. The black-and-white Claymation creates a strikingly eerie backdrop for the tale of Danny, a destitute man battling withdrawal from opiates. After being released from a holding cell, his sole aim is to get his hands on heroin. If you expect this junkie to experience a miraculous redemption, you're sorely mistaken.
The story takes several grim and twisted turns, one of which includes him breaking into a car to find a suitcase containing two severed legs. He does, however, find a moment of relief by doing something good—he gives the morphine he obtained from a doctor (by pretending to have facial neuralgia) to a young man suffering from kidney stones. Merry Christmas, indeed.
A Christmas Dream (1984)
Emmanuel Lewis and Mr. T were so iconic in the early 1980s that they managed to share the screen in this delightfully cheesy Christmas special that somehow tugs at the heart. Lewis stars as a latchkey kid roaming the streets in search of holiday joy and perhaps a little adult supervision.
A street-corner Santa Claus, portrayed by Mr. T, lends a helping hand to Lewis. However, odd celebrity cameos, including one by magician David Copperfield, leave you scratching your head. Outrageous escapades, like the duo's quest to determine whether Baby Jesus ever smiled, highlight the charm of this quirky story. Mr. T also delivers unforgettable lines, such as: “The blessed of us must try to save the less of us.”
This bizarre special is definitely worth watching, not only for those memorable lines but also for its wonderfully nostalgic, heartwarming vibe.
Christmas Comes To PacLand (1982)
One could argue that PacLand doesn’t belong in the realm of Christmas specials, and that argument holds a lot of weight, as this special is utterly bizarre. In a 2013 article, Splitsider even questioned if Christmas Comes to PacLand might be the worst Christmas special ever.
While it may not claim the title of the worst, it certainly earns its place in the pantheon of strange holiday shows. This Hanna-Barbera special feels more like a drawn-out advertisement for Pac-Man.
Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Baby, and Pac-Dog trek through a snowy forest to gather power pellets, only to encounter ghosts they must confront. Santa's cameo seems utterly unnecessary in this memorably awful TV special that hails from a poorly received 1980s series based on an arcade game.
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All! (2008)
Stephen Colbert was a master of satire during his time hosting The Colbert Report, and this Christmas special is packed with political humor and pure absurdity. It’s far from the heartfelt holiday comedy the public might have hoped for. Instead, it’s a comedy enthusiast’s paradise, resembling a live-action cartoon with Colbert playing a smug, politically driven, fake reporter intent on critiquing everything that’s wrong with modern Christmas.
This special skillfully parodies typical holiday programming while remaining true to Colbert’s beloved character. True to form, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All! brought together an impressive cast of guests, from Elvis Costello to Toby Keith, in a special that is as funny as it is wonderfully offbeat.
