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Better Watch Out

Play trailer 1:59 Poster for Better Watch Out R 2017 1h 29m Holiday Horror Mystery & Thriller Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 66 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Ashley travels to the suburban home of the Lerners to baby-sit their 12-year-old son Luke at Christmastime. She must soon defend herself and the young boy when unwelcome intruders announce their arrival.
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Better Watch Out

Better Watch Out

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Critics Consensus

Carried by its charismatic young cast, Better Watch Out is an adorably sinister holiday horror film.

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Critics Reviews

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Tara Brady Irish Times Dec 11, 2017
3/5
... Better Watch Out is a delightfully nasty seasonal inversion, replete with carollers, decorations, themed jumpers and booze. Go to Full Review
Wendy Ide Observer (UK) Dec 10, 2017
2/5
A Yule-themed comedy horror that is neither funny, nor particularly horrifying, Better Watch Out feels like a malicious spin on Home Alone. Go to Full Review
Nigel Andrews Financial Times Dec 8, 2017
3/5
Better Watch Out, directed and co-written by Chris Peckover, is a clever horror film that gets cleverer Go to Full Review
Bryce Hanson Horror Movie Talk Sep 18, 2025
7/10
The concept was interesting, and they did do a lot with it. I think it could have gone farther with the set up and delay the twist a little longer. Another gripe was that the villain was way too broad a lot of the time. Go to Full Review
Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru Dec 23, 2024
Bold, exhilarating and genuinely heartfelt. It's a musical biopic unlike anything you've seen before. Go to Full Review
Emma Wolfe SpookyAstronauts Apr 22, 2021
6/10
I think it's a fantastic storyline but it may have taken it a step too far to be believable for me. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Nick C @RT56485786 2 days ago Better Watch Out is a wickedly clever, pitch-black holiday thriller that completely upends the traditional home invasion genre. Often described as a cross between Home Alone and The Bad Seed, the film starts as a familiar babysitter-in-peril story before taking a sharp, deeply sinister turn. It is a highly entertaining, albeit mean-spirited, ride that thrives on its ability to shock the audience. If you enjoy dark humor and unpredictable plot twists, this is a holiday horror movie worth watching. Looking for more crazy tales like this visit ghosts, aliens, and the modern world on every major podcast platform. See more
Alex B @AlexBioni 4 days ago Have a Pleasant Night And the simp award of the year goes to Luke! How many dudes crack this chick up? The dialogue is awful. I know it's supposed to be a comedy, but it feels like it was written by two kids in high school. "Buddy knows Taekwondo!" "ThE neTwOrK, iTs gONe!" Scary plastic Santa. About 30 minutes in, the movie takes a turn, and I'm not going to lie, it kind of lost me. I couldn't take these kids seriously. I hate Luke's character, and Levi Miller's performance didn't work for me either. It felt very Hallmark-esque. I understand the appeal of the dark comedy, but it just didn't land for me. Dude squeaks more than my dog's chew toy. The ending was so anticlimactic that it honestly felt like a waste of time. There were a few chuckles, and the Home Alone scene was good, but overall, this movie did absolutely nothing for me. Wouldn't recommend it. See more
Teddy B @RT90521672 Oct 30, 2026 Would definitely work better if it was released forty, fifty years ago during the Christmas-horror boom. Inoffensive and well-constructed, but utterly boring, with annoying, forgettable characters and a weak concept. See more
Robert P @Superbad Oct 29, 2026 Better Watch Out is a *3.5* star Movie! See more
Houde F @houde Oct 21, 2026 Better Watch Out is a surprisingly well-crafted thriller that delivers far more than you might initially expect. The production quality is excellent, and the story is packed with plot twists that constantly challenge your assumptions. Without spoiling anything, the writing is remarkably clever and carefully thought out. Some developments are almost hard to believe, yet they make the experience all the more disturbing. The film explores the dark side of human nature and shows just how deep the capacity for cruelty can run, even at a young age. The less you know going in, the better. Definitely worth watching! See more
Khaztiel Delbod D @khaztielddenver_ Jul 3, 2026 Creo que es de esas pelicula que llegan a sorprender. See more
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Better Watch Out

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Movie Info

Synopsis Ashley travels to the suburban home of the Lerners to baby-sit their 12-year-old son Luke at Christmastime. She must soon defend herself and the young boy when unwelcome intruders announce their arrival.
Director
Chris Peckover
Producer
Sidonie Abbene, Brion Hambel, Paul Jensen, Brett Thornquest
Screenwriter
Zack Kahn, Chris Peckover
Distributor
Well Go USA
Production Co
Storm Vision Entertainment, Eclectik Vision, Best Medicine Productions
Rating
R (Crude Sexual References|All Involving Teens|Disturbing Violent Content|Drug and Alcohol Use|Language Throughout)
Genre
Holiday, Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 6, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 6, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$20.3K
Runtime
1h 29m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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