6 Movies That Are Definitely Christmas Films (Even If People Disagree)
Share
Every year the same favourites get rolled out: Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually, The Holiday. Lovely stuff. But there’s a whole category of films that feel like Christmas films - the vibes, the atmosphere, the setting - even if they don’t sit in the traditional festive canon.
So here are six movies that absolutely count as Christmas movies… whether your mates agree or not.
1. Die Hard (1988)
Let’s just get this done: Die Hard is a Christmas film. Office Christmas party. Christmas music. A story about a man trying to get back to his family during the holidays. Also: explosions.
The seasonal themes are all there, just with more broken glass and fewer carols.
Festive Moment: McClane’s “Now I have a machine gun. Ho-ho-ho.”
Format Tip: This one hits great on Blu-Ray for the detail in the Nakatomi Plaza scenes.
2. Gremlins (1984)
It’s literally about a Christmas present that goes wrong. Snowy small town. Decorations everywhere. A cautionary tale about ignoring the gift instructions.
Gremlins is pure “weird Christmas”, which makes it perfect.
Festive Moment: Gizmo wearing a Santa hat. Enough said.
Format Tip: The colours and creature design pop beautifully on modern remasters.
3. Batman Returns (1992)
Gothic snow. Fairy lights reflecting off skyscrapers. Carols, street parades, and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony… + the Penguin terrorising Gotham.
If Christmas had a darker, glamorous, Tim Burton personality, this would be it.
Festive Moment: Catwoman saying “Mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it.” Very seasonal.
Vibe: Christmas, but make it moody.
4. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Yes, some people think it’s a Halloween film. They are incorrect.
Jack Skellington becomes obsessed with Christmas, stages his own version, and everything goes (festively) sideways.
It’s a Christmas film told from the outside looking in, and that’s why it works.
Festive Moment: “What’s This?” playing over a snow-covered wonderland.
Note: Works for adults, kids, and anyone who likes to pretend they’re “not into Christmas” while still being into Christmas.
Buy The Nightmare Before Christmas
5. Lethal Weapon (1987)
Buddy cop action with jingle bells in the background. The entire first act takes place at Christmas.
Mel Gibson sitting alone, watching cartoons next to a decorated tree? That’s pure Christmas melancholy cinema.
Festive Moment: A drug bust inside a Christmas tree lot.
Genre: Christmas but with explosions (a theme is forming here).
6. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Suburban Christmas decorations + snowfall + Danny Elfman soundtrack = officially holiday core.
This is one of the most quietly moving Christmas-set films ever made, all about belonging, love, and loneliness in winter.
Festive Moment: Winona Ryder in the falling snow.
Bring tissues.
Buy the steelbook of Edward Scissorhands
Conclusion
So if you’re tired of the same cosy classics, swap in a couple of these and start a new Christmas tradition:
Festive films that aren’t technically festive… except they absolutely are.