Clues??? The movie shows you they are stuck in a snow globe in Hell.

Love the highly questionable "happy" ending for this film. I think all the characters wound up in some kind of limbo/purgatory at the end.
You've seen Guy Standeven in something because the man was in everything.

I'm with you. I never knew people thought it was a "happy" ending. My sister and I saw Krampus in theatres, and we left thinking, "Wow! They're all dead. Great movie." LOL!

The ending is very simple to understand. No deep research or clues required. The family survived, but Krampus is keeping his eye on them.
Life can be arbitrary and comes without a warranty.

Yeah, that was pretty obvious.

I just watched this movie and I was a bit perplexed, and was wondering exactly what happened at the end. I like the theory of the perpetual hell Xmas more, but I honestly think the quasi Christmas Carol finale is infact the actual intention of the writers. The multiple snow globes are all the other familys that Krampus is watching and judging (including yoursand mine yikes). The back of the DVD even says "You Better Watch Out." I think that was an ominous way of saying " You better not pout, you better not cry or Krampus gonna kill your ass and that no lie." Or something to that effect

I just watched this movie and I was a bit perplexed, and was wondering exactly what happened at the end. I like the theory of the perpetual hell Xmas more, but I honestly think the quasi Christmas Carol finale is infact the actual intention of the writers. The multiple snow globes are all the other familys (including yoursand mine yikes). The back of the DVD even says "You Better Watch Out." I think that was an ominous way of saying " You better not pout, you better not cry or Krampus gonna kill your ass and that no lie." Or something to that effect

I just watched this movie and I was a bit perplexed, and was wondering exactly what happened at the end. I like the theory of the perpetual hell Xmas more, but I honestly think the quasi Christmas Carol finale is infact the actual intention of the writers. The multiple snow globes are all the other familys (including yoursand mine yikes). The back of the DVD even says "You Better Watch Out." I think that was an ominous way of saying " You better not pout, you better not cry or Krampus will kill your ass and that no lie." Or something to that effect

When I saw it in the theater (Tuesday Dec 15 2015) before knowing ANY of the extras, before reading the comic (checked out of a library in Feb 2016), or hearing the commentary (April 2016 when the blur ray was released) I knew that they survived. I knew it was a good ending. But to each his own. Did they look out the window and see a workshop? No. Did they leave the front door and put a hand on a mysterious invisible barrier they could not walk through? No. We were not given any reason that the family had any idea they were inside.anything. Thus they were not. Only being watched but if you think otherwise oh well. I'm not arguing the point per se, just trying to make a point without delving into the directors comments or outside sources like the comic or art book. Even my 8 year old only had the VISUAL to go by and was freaked out completely. He slumped into the couch in fear and doubt. I turned around and said, the very same thing did you SEE them touch the side? When Max looked out, did he SEE the side of a globe? Or any other glass? (like the side of a snow globe) No. We saw the neighborhood. We saw smokestacks going in the background too We saw him go downstairs for all remember the nights before with the bell. It's a fake out, it's not 'really' what you're seeing. They aren't trapped. They're being watched. They didn't go out the front door and become stopped by a curved glass barrier. They aren't going to spend the same day over and over this isn't Groundhog Day. They are finally experiencing GRATITUDE and redeemed and somewhat a restored faith too. The music at that point (when Max wakes up, though it's mostly silent) even in the (OH NO ANOTHER OUTSIDE SOURCE!) soundtrack is called The Redemption! OH NOES! But they're eternally stuck in a snowglobe so they must not be redeemed. Alive with no grocery store OH NOES!
3rd generation American from a long line of Gottscheers it was Drandul, dude!

Excellent Post OP, you made your points perfectly, of course this is not a happy ending in any sense of the word

The ending was like something you would see as a twilight zone episode ending. Total twilight zone ending.

Except that the blizzard is gone and Max sees his whole neighborhood in either ending
3rd generation American from a long line of Gottscheers it was Drandul, dude!

The alternate ending has only Max and Omi remembering while the rest of the family is laughing cheerfully and not paying attention, also there is no snow in the background when the camera zooms out.so the theatrical ending should be considered Purgatory/Hell/Limbo because of the glow during the whole scene, the snow, and Krampus's presence still residing over them (the fire, blowing by the window)

Until you read the graphic novel you'll see why the Happy ending subjective is possible. And yes, the ending has been debated to death; so let people assume what they want to assume about the ending.

Yeah, people debating this annoys me too. IT'S A LIMBO ENDING. All this "second chance" or "keeping a lookout" talk is trying a little too hard to rationalize the ending. It's supposed to go by the FEELING of the ending, and the feeling of the ending is dread.

This message has been deleted.

Actually what was said was:
A Christmas Carol is playing
"I hope we didn't give away the ending by having this appear right away."

I believe the director said he knew the ending but wanted the audience to have a choice:

1. The family is either stuck in a perpetual Christmas-like world.
2. The family is on watch for good behavior, with the snow globe acting as a camera.
   It's up to interpretation. But personally I think they're okay because Krampus is described as a Loki-like character. He's a master of mischief and likes to play cat and mouse. I think the fact that the boy fought for his family, verses his grandmother, proved the lesson worked. But I think they're on permanent watch.
   -Who is it?
   -It's Grandpa. And it sounds like he's gotten into the horseradish again.

Good points! I liked the ending, that made me give it a 6 instead of a 5.

That downbeat snow globe ending was great.
I've been chasing grace/ But grace ain't easy to find

And..finally, the camera zooms out to show us many snow globes.
Critical
thinking
would lead you to believe that those are the snow globes, of other families, trapped forever in limbo.
I think you mean "logical reasoning", a critical thinker would question everything he saw and not necessarily believe the logical deduction that every house is trapped in its own snowglobe. Anyway, I agree with there not being a happy ending. There are inconsistencies throughout the movie though, sadly enough, making it a very debatable ending.

How is being watched by Krampus and his minions hoping you give them an excuse to tear you into pieces again a happy ending?
I thought the grandma said it wasn't about doing, it was about believing.

Anyone familiar with denial-of-service attacks, PM me.

in my opinion the darkness of the ending is what solidifies it as an awesome movie
THIS!! I completely agree w/you. I was shocked, but happy, the ending was so bleak and tragic. Loved this movie!

Opinion is not fact, and you people seem to put waaaay too much effort into arguing what is supposed to be a silly Christmas film for teenagers lol