Top 10 Movies That Are DEBATABLY Christmas Movies
#10: “Carol” (2015)
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While some holiday movies are all in on spreading Christmas cheer, “Carol” is a film that understands just how lonely of a time it can be. After all, Christmas may have its yearly pleasures, but it’s not as if the holiday lasts forever. The same can be said of the sparks that fly between aspiring photographer Therese and upper-class divorcée Carol in this Todd Haynes-directed drama. The chemistry between Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett is as rich as a mug of hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire. Within their all-too-brief holiday fling, the two directionless women find something in their lives to count on. And if there’s one thing we can all count on ourselves, it’s Christmas.
#9: “Lethal Weapon” (1987)
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Normally, when a movie opens with “Jingle Bell Rock,” you expect a bright display of Christmas decorations amidst a family gathering. But things take a hard right turn when a Christmas tree lot becomes the setting for a police shootout in the opening moments of this classic buddy cop film. It’s true that “Lethal Weapon” may not have the holiday’s usual festivities on its mind. However, this first team-up between the iconic Riggs and Murtaugh sees the two undergoing significant changes akin to George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Riggs, in particular, learns the value of redemption when his partner gives him a new lease on life after his wife’s death. So you could say this movie has a family gathering after all.
#8: “Edward Scissorhands” (1990)
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Leave it to director Tim Burton to set one of his most iconic outsider stories during a time of year when everyone’s meant to be together. “Edward Scissorhands” was arguably the first film to introduce audiences to Burton’s affinity for the holidays, and it certainly wasn’t the last. It centers around the titular protagonist as he is introduced to suburbia by the Boggs family. Though his flair for topiary and ice sculpting earns him the love of the Boggs’ daughter, Kim, few are able to see past his foreboding exterior. It all culminates one heartbreaking Christmas night when he is chased out of town, deprived of the good tidings and great joy he always deserved. But hey, at least now we know why it snows.
#7: “Black Christmas” (1974)
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Bob Clark is perhaps best known for directing one of the greatest holiday films of all time in 1983’s “A Christmas Story.” But almost a decade beforehand, he gave birth to an entirely new subgenre with this groundbreaking slasher film. “Black Christmas” follows a group of sorority sisters who are stalked by a serial killer during their winter break. What starts out as a series of suggestive phone calls soon evolves into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. Suddenly, this silent night erupts with cries for help that never come. While “Black Christmas” has never truly risen above its cult status, it would go on to influence classics like “Halloween” while also inspiring future holiday-themed horror films like “Krampus.”
#6: “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” (2005)
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After crafting a name for himself with his script for “Lethal Weapon,” Shane Black would eventually make his directorial debut with a different type of buddy cop film. Robert Downey, Jr. plays a thief who is mistaken for a Hollywood actor and finds himself shadowing a private investigator played by Val Kilmer. With Christmas just a few days away, the two soon uncover a ghastly conspiracy involving some of L.A.’s most powerful figures. “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” gleefully sends up many tropes of hardboiled detective fiction with its self-aware style of humor and the deadpan performances of its two leads. For this reason, it’s a film that would work at any time of year, making its holiday setting all the more ingenious.
#5: “Trading Places” (1983)
A team-up between two of the funniest guys in Hollywood? Sure sounds like Christmas to us! Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy are at their absolute best in this satirical comedy in which two mismatched men unwittingly become pawns in a social experiment. One’s a snobby stock broker and the other a penniless drifter. But they’re both in for a Christmas surprise when they find themselves inhabiting each other’s lives. “Trading Places” reaffirmed Aykroyd’s comedic power while effectively shooting Murphy to superstardom. Their chemistry is so on point that, even if the film didn’t take place during the holidays, it’d still be worth watching for its hopeful message about looking out for others.
#4: “Gremlins” (1984)
Don’t expose it to light. Don’t get it wet. And do not, under any circumstances, feed it after midnight. These are the instructions Billy Peltzer fails to follow after receiving a fuzzy little mogwai named Gizmo for Christmas. It’s a good thing Santa checks his list twice. While Gizmo is the embodiment of nice, he soon multiplies into a naughty batch of belligerent monsters. While “Gremlins” is undeniably a classic, its holiday trappings can fool you as quickly as a mogwai can. It’s one creepy ride, so creepy, in fact, that it helped usher in the PG-13 rating. But even if it’s not exactly for the whole family, it’s still a playful and subversive fairy tale with seasonal delights.
#3: “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)
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As we’ve seen from this list, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” wasn’t the first film to appeal to both Halloween and Yuletide aficionados alike. But c’mon, is there another movie that blends the best of both holidays together so seamlessly? This stop-motion musical is set in the frightening world of Halloween Town, where Jack Skellington reigns as the respected Pumpkin King. Tired of his drab traditions, Jack sets out to reinvigorate his existence by kidnapping Santa Claus and taking over Christmas. As the scheme unravels into chaos, it becomes even harder to determine which holiday the film is in favor of. That’s fine by us because the animation and songs are stunning enough that picking a side is beside the point.
#2: “Batman Returns” (1992)
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The Christmas season is never that simple when Tim Burton is involved. In fact, the director manages to hide a subtle critique of the holiday’s commercialism within this second installment of his beloved “Batman” duology. While Gotham City prepares for its yearly Christmas festivities, the vengeful duo of the Penguin and Catwoman have a plan to shake things up. Superheroics and villainy run afoul, but “Batman Returns” still tells a compelling story that upends the sense of community typically associated with Christmas. Like Oswald Cobblepot and Selina Kyle, Bruce Wayne is also alone for the holidays. Then again, all three of them are brought together during the film’s explosive finale. And isn’t that what Christmas is all about? Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Catch Me If You Can” (2002)
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“The Long Kiss Goodnight” (1996)
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“Iron Man 3” (2013)
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“Rocky IV” (1985)
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#1: “Die Hard” (1988)
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Whoever said a movie set on Christmas Eve can’t also have a tightly plotted story and heart-racing action? That’s exactly what “Die Hard” provides as Detective John McClane squares off against a skyscraper full of terrorists who have taken his wife hostage during a Christmas party. Featuring breakout performances from Bruce Willis as McClane and Alan Rickman as the cunning Hans Gruber, the film has plenty of Christmasy touches sprinkled into the chaos. Plus, McClane’s entire goal is to spend the holidays with his family. It doesn’t get much more festive than that. It’s hard to think of a film that stirs up more chatter around Christmastime than this one, and to that we say… well, you tell ‘em, Bruce.
