Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- irreverent
- sardonic
- visceral
- christmas eve
- holiday movie night
What critics said
Critics generally enjoyed David Harbour’s savage Santa and the film’s inventive holiday violence, while finding the plot and length less consistently entertaining.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film combines Christmas iconography and saving-Christmas sentiment with savage combat and graphic practical violence.
Santa, played by David Harbour, becomes the surprise combatant who confronts the mercenary hostage-takers.
The action uses Christmas songs, decorations, and household holiday items for deadly set pieces and jokes.
The Lightstone family is held hostage inside its compound while its own separation, greed, and interpersonal conflict complicate survival.
Films like Violent Night, and why
Die Hard
shares Christmas setting, home-invasion action, sardonic humor, and a lone protector defending hostages
Deadpool
shares gleefully excessive violence, black comedy, practical action spectacle, and an unconventional heroic protagonist
Better Watch Out
shares holiday atmosphere, family dysfunction, dark humor, and violent genre subversion
Movie Details
- Director
- Tommy Wirkola
- Release Date
- 2022-11-30
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (2648)
Cast
- David Harbour
- John Leguizamo
- Beverly D'Angelo
- Alex Hassell
- Alexis Louder
- Edi Patterson
- Cam Gigandet
- Leah Brady
- André Eriksen
- Brendan Fletcher
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Violent Night about?
- An unexpectedly battle-ready Santa turns a Christmas Eve hostage crisis into a bloody, irreverent rescue mission.
- What is Violent Night like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Violent Night as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Violent Night violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Violent Night as graphic.
- What did critics think of Violent Night?
- Critics generally enjoyed David Harbour’s savage Santa and the film’s inventive holiday violence, while finding the plot and length less consistently entertaining.
- Which films are like Violent Night?
- Films with a similar feel include Die Hard, Deadpool, and Better Watch Out.
- How long is Violent Night?
- Violent Night runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Violent Night?
- In United States, Violent Night streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
