Director Joe Dante's 8 Favorite Scary Christmas Movies

To paraphrase the great Frank Sinatra: first comes Halloween, then comes Christmas. In honor of today's holiday (plus the freak October snowstorm that blanked much of the Northeast over the weekend), Moviefone asked director Joe Dante ('Gremlins') to compile his list of favorite scary movies, which -- thanks to the release of 'Rare Exports: A Christmase Tale,' now on DVD -- has a decidedly holiday-season feel. After you're done watching 'The Exorcist,' consider these eight fright flicks to get you in the mood for a haunted Christmas. Joe Dante's Favorite Scary Christmas Movies 'The Devil-Doll' (1936)'The Curse of the Cat People' (1944)'The Day Mars Invaded Earth' (1963)'Tales From the Crypt' (1972)'Black Christmas' (1974)'Gremlins' (1984)'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (1993)'Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale' (2010) See All Moviefone Galleries » Want More? Check Out Our List of Santa Slasher Movies (Yes, there's more than one). [Top Photo: Everett Collection] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED