11 Christmas Movies For Anyone Who Hates the Holiday Season
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There's no denying that we love a little bit of Christmas schmaltz, and there are more than enough holiday films to last us way past Christmas Day (you should definitely take our Christmas quiz when you've watched them all). But what if you're just not into the Hallmark and Christmas Princess vibe? Maybe you like your festive films without all the feelings (and fake towns) that go alongside them? Don't worry, we've got you covered with 15 films that are Christmassy enough to fool your family, but don't overdo it on the schmaltz, so you can still stomach them if you're not feeling so festive.
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Jingle All the Way
There's no denying that Arnie's Jingle All the Way is a Christmas film, but it also has superheroes and explosions, and it's much more fun than your average "disappointed kid wants a new toy on Christmas morning" movie.
Where to watch: iTunes
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Bad Santa
Billy Bob Thornton did something quite unusual with Bad Santa: he managed to make Christmas films cool again. In this flick, "Santa" is actually a grumpy con-artist who robs a department stores on Christmas Eve. It gets cuter, but never loses its edge.
Where to watch: Netflix
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The Nightmare Before Christmas
There is a fair level of charm to Tim Burton's animated classic, but Jack Skellington and the gang from Halloween Town keep it creepy when they discover nearby Christmas Town, ensuring this never strays into schmaltzy territory.
Where to watch: Hulu
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Iron Man 3
Another superhero film, this time with everyone's favorite man who has everything: Iron Man. In case you'd forgotten, the third installment in the franchise is actually set at Christmas (and also features a festive flashback to a previous New Year's Eve). Don't expect Christmas carols (well, they're in the background, but you know what we mean), there's definitely a darker edge to this one.
Where to watch: Amazon
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The Long Kiss Goodnight
Geena Davis plays a spy with amnesia, so you already know The Long Kiss Goodnight is not your average Christmas film. It's more a spy thriller that's Christmas-adjacent, which means it's festive enough to convince your family to watch it on Christmas Eve, but you don't have to give up the action.
Where to watch: Amazon
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L.A. Confidential
Another Christmas-adjacent classic. There's nothing festive about the plot (cops and unsolved murders aplenty), but when you set a film at Christmas, give it a Bing Crosby soundtrack, and have festive lights strewn across every scene, your film is all set to be a festive classic. Throw in a holiday party and Kim Basinger in a cloak trimmed with white fur and all you're missing is a fat guy in a red suit.
Where to watch: Netflix
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Trading Places
Stock brokers and finances might not sound like a particularly festive film plot, but Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy really pull it out of the bag in Trading Places. Aykroyd even dresses up as Santa to gatecrash his office holiday party. (Office parties are an ever-common theme in Christmas films.)
Where to watch: Amazon
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Jumanji
There's a definite Christmas vibe to Jumanji, although it's not technically a Christmas film. The final scene happens at Christmas, there are board games . . . but there's also herd of rhinos that stampede through the living room. Yep, full on festive fun.
Where to watch: Freeform
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Scrooged
This is a modern take on Charles Dickens's festive classic novel A Christmas Carol (yep, The Muppets did it too). Bill Murray is excellent in his role as grumpy boss who sees the error of his ways and despite being not at all sickly, there's still a festive lesson or two to be learned along the way.
Where to watch: Starz
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Gremlins
You know the drill, you never give them water or feed them after midnight. Gremlins is the '80s horror classic that actually ended up being more cute than scary. Mogwai was meant to be a special Christmas gift but when the Gremlins turn nasty, they tear up the town on Christmas Eve.
Where to watch: Amazon
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Die Hard
The classic "Is it a Christmas film?" debate starts and ends with Die Hard. John McClane has to stop a group of terrorists who ruin an office holiday party, so we say yes. However, we have some questions about an office that holds a holiday party on Christmas Eve.
Where to watch: Amazon