It’s that time of year again, where everyone gets to debate what’s a Christmas movie and what isn’t. I’m no stranger to these arguments myself, as one of those weirdos who believes Die Hard is absolutely a Christmas movie. It’s also just a genuinely great action thriller, even if it’s not the type to stay in your head for weeks. We all have our hills that we’ll defend to our last breath, and that’s valid enough.
But beyond what is and isn’t a holiday film, I admire it when a movie takes the setting or common tropes of this little genre in a direction I did not expect. It’s one thing to embrace the holiday spirit, but when you can craft an interesting narrative around it or experiment with the strangeness that only a visual medium can offer, that’s when I become intrigued.
Gremlins
Don’t feed ’em after midnight
I’m still amazed that Gremlins was such a massive box office success when it was released in 1984. Not because it’s not a great movie, because it definitely is. More because of how odd it is when it comes to its genre mashup style of dark comedy, horror, and Christmas movie. It really shouldn’t work as well as it does, but there’s a charming quality to it.
It starts off as a cute little creature feature, with the Mogwai Gizmo being the perfect branding opportunity for a successful toy line. But then we get a wacky horror film in the second half, with stunning set pieces and a sense of chaos that perfectly matches a film called Gremlins. Over the years, it’s become a classic Christmas staple, and it’s even spawned a franchise, with a new film slated for 2027.
Violent Night
Santa Claus as John McClane
While the debate over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not will continue until the heat death of the universe, there should be no debate over Violent Night. This is the movie that answers the question, “What would happen if Santa Claus found himself in a Die Hard situation?” I mean, I’m sure someone out there asked it once or twice. It’s completely ridiculous, and that’s what makes it work so well.
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Well, that and David Harbour’s performance as Santa Claus. Harbour is the perfect action thriller protagonist, and he brings a sense of grittiness to Claus that’s appropriate to a film like Violent Night. But he also still feels like Claus, or at least a Claus who was once jolly and has been run down by the world. Regardless, there’s a lot to like in Violent Night, especially if you’re willing to meet it on its own, admittedly ridiculous terms.
Krampus
Gory anti-Claus fun
The concept of Santa Claus has always creeped me out just a little bit. An all-seeing ancient man who can see every move you make, and whether you’ve been “good” or “bad” based on some arbitrary measurement system, is not conducive to a well-functioning Christmas spirit. Yet the idea presented in Krampus is even more unsettling. It’s one of those horror films that, while laced with comedy and fun, is actually scarier the longer you think about it.
Imagine a horrifying creature that vaguely resembles Santa Claus hunting down you and your loved ones because of your lack of holiday spirit. Mix that with a bunch of gore and dark comedic value, and you basically have Krampus. It feels almost like modern-day Gremlins in the way it mixes genres and styles, and that’s a good thing. Only Krampus is far more disturbing, but fun enough that I have added it to my yearly Christmas movie rotation.
Batman Returns
The strangest Batman film ever made
Not only does Batman Returns work as an odd Christmas movie, but it’s also the wackiest Batman movie ever made. Sure, you could point to the Joel Schumacher movies as being more ridiculous, but those entries never really make it work. Batman Returns is actually ambitious, strange, and filled with chaos. It’s cold, winter, holiday setting only adds to this quality.
From Christmas-themed set pieces to absolutely out-there random acts of bonkers action violence by our favorite costumed protagonist, Batman Returns has become arguably more beloved than the first Batman starring Michael Keaton. For me, especially, it’s become a regular viewing staple in my home, especially during the holidays. It might not be a traditional Christmas movie, but neither is anything else on this list. And that’s what makes them so easy to embrace.
The holiday spirit can include embracing the strange
The world is a messed-up place, and we are all hurtling toward a likely dystopian end, so why not embrace the oddness that films like this can represent? The fact that the movies on this list take such a wholesome holiday and turn it on its head is just a bonus. If we can’t have a little fun with it, then are we really embracing the holiday spirit?
If you’re looking for some non-holiday entertainment, though, check out these gothic horror adaptations that are darker than Frankenstein.
