Honestly, movie sequels usually suck at music. They either recycle the first film's hits or throw in some generic pop tracks that feel like they were picked by an algorithm in a windowless office. But with the A Bad Moms Christmas soundtrack, the music team actually understood the assignment. It wasn't just about "Christmas songs." It was about the specific, frantic energy of being a mother during the holidays—that chaotic mix of wanting to buy the perfect tree and wanting to chug a bottle of peppermint schnapps in a mall food court.
The movie, officially titled A Bad Moms Christmas (though everyone just calls it Bad Moms 2), leaned heavily into a soundtrack that mirrors its plot. You have these three overstressed women—Amy, Kiki, and Carla—dealing with their own mothers showing up unannounced. The music had to bridge the gap between "traditional family values" and "total suburban meltdown."
It’s a weirdly effective playlist.
The High-Octane Energy of the Bad Moms 2 Music
Most holiday movies stick to the classics. You get your Bing Crosby, your Mariah Carey, maybe a little Michael Bublé if the budget allows. This film went a different route. It used high-energy tracks to underscore the "bad" behavior.
Take the mall heist scene. It’s arguably the most iconic part of the film. The moms decide they are taking Christmas back, and they do it by getting drunk and causing havoc in a shopping center. The song? "Be Your Own King" by Gwen Bunn. It’s soulful but driving. It doesn't scream "Jingle Bells," and that’s why it works. It’s about agency.
Then you’ve got the heavy hitters. We’re talking about "WTF (Where They From)" by Missy Elliott and Pharrell Williams. When you see Amy (Mila Kunis), Kiki (Kristen Bell), and Carla (Kathryn Hahn) strutting through a crowd of judgmental suburbanites, that beat does more heavy lifting than the dialogue ever could. It establishes that these aren't the "perfect" moms from the PTA flyer. They are messy. They are loud.
And let's be real: Kathryn Hahn dancing to basically anything is cinema gold.
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Christopher Lennertz and the Art of the "Mom-Com" Score
While the licensed songs get all the glory, Christopher Lennertz deserves a shoutout for the actual score. Lennertz is a veteran. He’s worked on everything from The Boys to Supernatural and Horrible Bosses. He knows how to score comedy without making it sound "clownish."
In the A Bad Moms Christmas soundtrack, Lennertz had to balance the slapstick humor with the genuine emotional tension between the daughters and their mothers. When Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, and Cheryl Hines show up, the music shifts. It becomes slightly more "regal" and suffocating, reflecting the pressure these women put on their kids.
It’s subtle. You might not notice it between the shots of tequila and the exploding gingerbread houses, but the orchestral cues are what keep the movie from feeling like a series of disconnected sketches.
Why the "Bad" Holiday Covers Actually Work
You can't have a Christmas movie without covers. It's a legal requirement in Hollywood, I'm pretty sure. But the A Bad Moms Christmas soundtrack avoids the "elevator music" trap.
- "Run Rudolph Run" by Chuck Berry. It’s a classic, but it fits the frantic pace of a mom trying to finish her shopping in 20 minutes before the store closes. It’s rock and roll, which is the soul of this franchise.
- "The Christmas Party" by The Walkmen. This brings a bit of an indie-rock vibe that differentiates the movie from your standard Hallmark flick.
- "Jingle Bells"—but not how you know it. The film uses various remixes and upbeat versions to keep the "party" atmosphere going even when things are falling apart on screen.
The inclusion of "Twelve Days of Christmas" performed by The Freshmen is another highlight. It feels nostalgic but slightly off-kilter.
The Soundtrack as a Survival Manual for Parents
Music in film is usually just background noise. Here, it feels like a character. If you’ve ever been a parent during December, you know that the "holiday spirit" is often just a thin veil over a nervous breakdown.
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The A Bad Moms Christmas soundtrack leans into that. It uses songs like "What Christmas Means to Me" (the Stevie Wonder version is a staple, but the film uses its energy perfectly) to show the expectation of joy, while the visuals show the reality of burnt cookies and judgmental in-laws.
There's a specific tension in hearing a beautiful, soulful track while watching a character strip-tease a Santa at the mall. It’s a juxtaposition that defines the "Bad Moms" brand.
What Most People Miss About the Bad Moms 2 Playlist
A lot of critics dismissed the movie as just another raunchy comedy. They missed the nuance in the music supervision.
Music supervisor Julia Michels (who worked on Pitch Perfect and The Greatest Showman) didn't just pick "hits." She picked songs that resonated with a specific demographic: women in their 30s and 40s who grew up on 90s hip-hop and early 2000s pop but are now expected to be "adults."
That’s why hearing Missy Elliott in a Christmas movie feels so cathartic. It’s a reminder of who these women were before they became "Mom."
A Quick Look at the Key Tracks
If you’re building a "Stressful Holiday Shopping" playlist, these are the essential cuts from the film:
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- "Be Your Own King" - Gwen Bunn
- "WTF (Where They From)" - Missy Elliott ft. Pharrell Williams
- "Run Rudolph Run" - Chuck Berry
- "The Christmas Party" - The Walkmen
- "Hands Up" - Outasight
- "I Miss You" - Ta-ku ft. Willow Beats
These songs provide the backbone. They are the reason the movie feels like a 90-minute music video at times, and honestly, that’s exactly what it needed to be.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Holiday Playlist
If you want to recreate the vibe of the A Bad Moms Christmas soundtrack for your own holiday party—or your own mental health—stop playing "Silent Night" on loop.
- Mix the Genres. Don't be afraid to put 90s R&B right next to a 1950s rock-and-roll Christmas track. The contrast prevents "holiday fatigue."
- Focus on Tempo. High BPM (beats per minute) is the key to the Bad Moms energy. If the song makes you want to walk faster through a parking lot, it belongs on the list.
- Look for "Non-Christmas" Songs. The best parts of the Bad Moms 2 music aren't about snow or reindeer. They are about confidence and rebellion.
- Use the Score. If you’re hosting a dinner and want something sophisticated but modern, look up Christopher Lennertz’s work. It’s great background music that doesn't feel dated.
The reality is that A Bad Moms Christmas isn't trying to be Citizen Kane. It’s trying to be a release valve for every person who feels overwhelmed by the holidays. The soundtrack is the fuel for that release. It’s loud, it’s a little bit inappropriate, and it’s exactly what a "bad mom" needs to hear.
Instead of searching for a generic holiday station this year, go back and listen to the curated tracks from this film. You’ll find that "Be Your Own King" is a much better anthem for wrapping presents than "Away in a Manger" will ever be.
To truly appreciate the sonic landscape of the film, listen to the tracks in the order they appear during the movie's most chaotic sequences. You'll notice the tempo ramps up as the characters' stress levels rise, eventually breaking into the pure celebratory pop of the finale. It's a masterclass in using commercial music to drive a comedic narrative without losing the "heart" of the holiday season.