In December 2006, upon anticipation of its release, the film garnered criticism from religious groups due to its depiction of graphic content in a holiday setting, as well as the distributor's decision to release the film on Christmas Day in the United States. The film opened in the United Kingdom on December 15, 2006, and premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, California on December 19. Despite backlash from some religious organizations, "Black Christmas" was released in the United States on December 25, 2006. The film grossed $21.5 million worldwide on a budget of $9 million and received negative reviews from critics, with the Rotten Tomatoes consensus saying it "pumps out the gore and blood with zero creativity, humor, or visual flair."