Table of Contents
Non-Traditional Holiday Films
Only a few of these films are really holiday films, but they all are
set during the holiday season and would be quite different films
without that backdrop. They are divided into categories of Science
Fiction, Thrillers/Action, and Comedies,
Light and Dark.
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Perfect for getting into the imaginativeness of the season or its
dystopian aspects.
- 12 Monkeys
(1996)
The other Bruce Willis Christmas movie. Before the
world as we know it comes to an end, we hear this cheery
message: "The Freedom for Animals Association on Second Avenue
is the secret headquarters of the Army of the Twelve Monkeys.
They're the ones who are gonna do it. I can't do anything more
now. I have to go. Have a Merry Christmas."
- Bell, Book and Candle
(1958)
Another Jimmy Stewart holiday classic. This tale of a modern
witch takes place during the Christmas season, not Halloween.
- Brazil
(1985)
Terry Gilliam's black comedy is set in a dystopian retro-future
disturbingly filled with Christmas greed and commercialism.
- Cité des Enfants Perdus
= The City of Lost Children
(1995)
This dystopian fantasy full of curious, comedic characters opens
on Christmas Eve and slips in creepy Santa Claus imagery
throughout the film.
- Edward Scissorhands
(1990)
Begins and ends at Yuletide, and the Christmassy ice sculpture
scene has been called the most magical moment found in any Tim
Burton film.
- Fantastic Beasts and Where
to Find Them (2016)
The action takes place in December of 1926. One of the most
comic scenes takes place in a department store all decorated for
Christmas shopping.
- Gremlins
(1984)
What happens when you buy an unusual Christmas present and your
family isn't careful?
- Krampus (2015)
"You better watch out!" From a scary old German tradition.
Thrillers | Action Films
Die Hard is listed first because it is the one
action film that really does get into the holiday spirit. The rest
are in alphabetical order.
- Die Hard
and Die Hard II
(1988, 1990)
The original film is set in an office building taken over by
terrorists and comes to an oddly sweet and sentimental
ending. The first sequel is set on a snowy Christmas Eve at
Washington Dulles International Airport.
- American Psycho
(2000)
Celebrate Christmas with a gala party, champagne, reindeer
antlers, a kiss under the mistletoe, cocaine, and an axe-murder.
- Catch Me if You Can
(2002)
Not only is the opening scene set on Christmas Eve, but
Christmas returns at several other key points. I don't think
there is supposed to be any particular connection between the
holiday and deception.
- El Día de la Bestial
= The Day of the Beast
(1996)
In this blackest of comedies, a priest, convinced that the
Antichrist will be born in Madrid on Christmas Day, goes on a
rampage of sin to sell his soul just so he can stop the monster.
- Enemy of the State
(1998)
The all-surrounding, all-intrusive nature of electronic
surveillance by the government on its citizens is unwittingly
uncovered by an innocent Christmas shopper (Will Smith).
- Eyes Wide Shut
(1999)
Have yourself a merry little orgy.
- Frozen River
(2008)
It's almost Christmas, and near a border crossing on the Mohawk
reservation between New York State and Quebec, two single
mothers bond through smuggling.
- The Hebrew Hammer
(2003)
In this spoof, an Orthodox super tough guy goes on a
mission to save Hanukkah. (Only included in this list beacuse of
the paucity of good Hanukkah films.)
- 8 Femmes = 8
women (2003)
A French mystery: who murdered the wealthy industrialist during
a holiday gathering? I hope it's not Catherine Deneuve's
character.
- Ice Harvest (2005)
Christmas Eve in Wichita, Kansas, is the setting for film
noir with a slight touch of comedy.
- In Bruges
(2008)
Hit men lying low in Bruges in Belgium during the holiday season
have a love/hate relationship with the city. One loves it; one
hates it. Warning: the first half is much more of a
light-hearted holiday film than the darker second half.
- Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang
(2005)
Film noir spoof, and if a father robbing a store to get his kid
a special toy doesn't get you into the Christmas spirit, what
can?
- L.A. Confidential
(1997)
Much of the plot is centered on the Bloody Christmas scandal.
One Christmas scene includes the yanking of a plastic Santa and
his reindeer off a roof.
- The Long Kiss Goodbye
(1996)
An amnesiac hires a private eye to find out who she is. Set at
Christmas time, the action-thriller has a soundtrack filled with
Christmas music. Like a good Christmas movie, it emphasizes
family.
- Rare Exports
(2010)
A Finnish horror story that is both creepy and full of dry
humor. It involves an archaeological dig and Santa Claus.
- Rocky and Rocky
IV (1976, 1985)
In Rocky, the story takes place from Thanksgiving, when Rocky is
"a bum", to New Year's Day, when the championship match occurs.
In Rocky IV the big fight occurs on Christmas Day.
- Run All Night
(2015)
The action takes place on a snowless Christmas Eve, and one grim
scene involves a drunken Santa at a Christmas party. With Liam
Neeson.
- Stalag 17
(1953)
This World World II prisoner of war camp whodunnit is set from
"about a week before Christmas in '44" to "after dark on
Christmas Day."
- The Thin Man
(1934)
This classic murder mystery/comedy was set during the holidays.
Pity the poor Christmas tree in Nick and Nora's posh New York
apartment.
Comedies, Light and Dark
Set during the winter holidays, these films don't quite fit the
traditional holiday film category, are not all jolly, but are fun.
- The Apartment
(1960)
The Best Picture of 1960 was a dark comedy-drama of corporate
intrigue and womanizing set in winter and culminating at a
troubling office Christmas party and a depressing (hopeful?) New
Year's Eve.
- Bridget Jones's Diary
(2001)
It begins and ends at Christmastide with scenes that are oddly
charming and delightful, although Bridget does tell carolers to
bugger off.
- Captain Newman, MD (1964)
In psycho ward in a World War II military hospital, a key
subplot is the removal of the top five feet of the commanding
officer's huge Christmas tree.
- Home Alone
(1990)
Once was cute; more than that is getting a bit sadistic.
- Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
As it mocks corporate intrigue, it oozes in holiday sentiment.
With Paul Newman and Tim Robbins.
- Last Holiday (2006)
After learning that she has about three weeks to live, a
store clerk (Queen Latifah) decides to live life to the fullest
at a grand hotel in Europe. The holiday season happens to
include Christmas, but you hardly notice.
- Millions
(2004)
When British brothers (aged 8 and 14) find a bag of money, how
they react helps us explore the meaning of Christmas. Comes with
a school nativity play with a minor miracle.
- Mixed Nuts
(1994)
Christmas Eve at a crisis hot line, but its a screwball comedy.
If you think Steve Martin colliding with rollerbladers carrying
a Christmas tree is your kind of fun, check it out.
- National Lampoon's Christmas
Vacation (1989)
Disasters happen.
- Silver Linings Playbook
(2012)
Only one real Christmas scene, but in time-line and in spirit,
the film revolves around the festive season. Jennifer Lawrence
finally plays an adult.
- The Sure Thing
(1985)
A road trip over winter break from Ithaca University includes a
Tahitian-themed Christmas party. Starring John Cusask when he
was young.
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For Traditionalists
What makes a film a traditional holiday movie? There are those films
that coat themselves with the trappings of the season with cloying
sentimentality. Others explore the meaning of the holidays, instead
of exploiting the sentiment. A few are just a lot of fun.
This Century
- About a Boy (2006)
Hugh Grant's cynical character has a Scrooge-like change of
heart over the course of two Christmases.
- Elf (2003)
Enjoyable (I've been told) in a grating sort of way.
- Foster (2011)
An orphan walks into the lives of childless couple. Renamed "Angel in the House" and marketed for Christmas after it bombed initially.
- The Holiday (2007)
House-swapping and romance during the holidays, and even one
Hanukkah scene.
- How About You
(2007)
A "feel-good" Irish film about a young caregiver put in charge
of a nursing home during Christmas and four grumpy old
residents.
- Joyeux Noël (2006)
Christmas in the trenches of WWI, based on a heart-warming
true story.
- Love Actually (2003)
Now in its second decade, no longer non-traditional, but a
classic.
- Lovely, Still (2008)
A whimsical romantic tale set at Christmas time. Perhaps
because the target audience was old geezers (it stars Martin
Landau and Ellen Burston), it never developed a cult following.
- The Man Who Invented Cbristmas (2017)
A fantasized biography of Charles Dickens during the period he
wrote The Christmas Carol – he had help from Scrooge.
- The Santa Clause (2002)
I've been told you needn't watch the sequels.
- Serendipity
(2001)
Begins and ends with Christmas shopping in a New York City
department store. Helped launch Kate Beckinsale's career.
- Unaccompanied Minors
(2006)
Based on a This American Life segment about kids
trapped in an airport on Christmas Eve.
1980s and 1990s
- Jean Shepherd's A Christmas
Story (1983)
More droll than sappy, but still charming.
- Jingle All the Way
(1996)
Arnold Schwarzenegger is no tough guy when it comes to holiday
shopping.
- The Preacher's Wife
(1996)
Remake of The Bishop's Wife (see below) with Whitney
Houston in the title role.
- Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Centered around two holidays, Christmas at the beginning and
Valentine's Day at the end.
- Trading Places
(1983)
A comic morality play set in wintry Philadelphia.
- While You Were Sleeping
(1995)
During a snowy Christmas season in Chicago, a hopeless romantic
is mistaken for the fiancée of a coma patient, but romance is
not hopeless.
- You've Got Mail (1998)
An update of Shop around the Corner [see below].
 The
Missing Years
The Sixties, Seventies, and Early Eighties were the decades that
produced dozens of TV holiday cartoon and Hallmark-type Christmas
specials, but they were surprisingly devoid of holiday-themed
theater releases.
For Ardent Traditionalists (Pre-1960
films)
Some fanatics insist that the best holiday movies were produced
before 1960. Some even prefer them in black and white. No time
period has ever produced as many films in the quantity, variety,
or quality. They are listed here in chronological order. WARNING
to some young folks: These films will be in black-and-white,
unless you find colorized versions, which true ardent
traditionalists detest.
- Détresses et charité
= The Christmas angel (1904)
Georges Méliès's tale of a beggar girl who collapses in the
snow. Whether or not it has a happy ending depends on the
language version you watch.
- Remember the Night (1940)
A shoplifter and a D.A. and Christmas good will.
- Shop Around the Corner
(1940)
As Christmas approaches, pen pals plan to meet in person.
Bickering co-workers are in for a surprise.
- Meet John Doe
(1941)
Fake news about an unemployed "John Doe" threatening suicide on
Christmas Eve sets up this comedy/drama.
- Holiday Inn
(1942)
The film where the song "White Christmas" first appeared,
and there are Thanksgiving and New Year's scenes, as well.
- Going My Way (1944)
Perhaps the sappiest and most sentimental of them all. Ends on
Christmas Eve.
- Christmas in Connecticut
(1945)
Dishonesty and pretense has to be vanquished before this
screwball Christmas tale can have a happy ending.
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Too grim for its time; now the No. 1 favorite Christmas
film.
- Bishop's Wife (1947)
An interfering angel is as suave and charming as Cary
Grant.
- It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)
Sappy, sentimental fare as lower class meet disguised upper
class in a "vacant" mansion.
- Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
I do believe in Santa.
- Three Godfathers
(1948)
With John Wayne in a Christmas tale disguised as a Western.
- O. Henry's Full House
(1952)
Three of the five stories are based on Christmas classics.
- White Christmas (1954)
Sappy and sentimental and in color.
- We're No Angels
(1955)
Three escaped convicts encounter a beleaguered shopkeeper's
family at Christmastide. One of the few comedies Humphrey Bogart
appeared in.
- Desk Set (1957)
A Spencer Tracy/Katherine Hepburn romantic comedy comes to a
climax at a Christmas office party. Be careful or Katherine
Hepburn's character will make you want to grow up to become a
librarian.
A Christmas Carol
There have been enough variations on A Christmas Carol
that they get their own box. In addition to those listed
here, other versions (mostly TV Specials) have starred Mister
Magoo, Mickey Mouse, Jim Carrey, George C. Scott, Patrick Stewart,
plus silent movie actor Seymour Hicks.
- A Christmas Carol
(1938)
With Reginald Owen as Scrooge, in what some say is the most
authentic representation of Dickensian England.
- A Christmas Carol
(1951)
With Alistair Sim as Scrooge, in what some say set the standard
for film adaptations of this classic.
- Scrooge (1970)
With Albert Finney as Scrooge, in a musical version of the
story.
- Scrooged (1988)
With Bill Murray as Frank Cross, a modernized Scrooge.
- A Muppet Christmas Carol
(1992)
With Michael Caine playing it straight as Scrooge amid songs and
laughter. From the same folks who produced the TV shows "Emmet
Otter's Jug-Band Christmas" and "A Muppet Family Christmas."
Home for the Holidays
Separated out because of the special theme connected to the
winter holiday season. These films explore returns and reunions –
buddies hanging together during the winter break, dysfunctional
families coping with each other, and a bit of romance.
- Almost Christmas
(2017)
A dying patriarch (Danny Glover) asks his family for only one
gift: to get along.
- Carol
(2015)
This romance/domestic-drama with noir overtones set in the early
1950s begins with Christmas shopping, and much of the film stays
in the season.
- Conte de Noël
= A Christmas Tale (2008)
A film by a post-New Wave director presents a stylized holiday
fable about alienation and reunion that runs the gamut from
bittersweet hilarity to heartbreaking. affectation.
- C.R.A.Z.Y.
(2005)
A young gay Québécois comes of age dealing with his conservative
father and family. Much of the story is told in Christmas
scenes.
- Diner
(1982)
Post-high-school buddies reunite and bond between Christmas and
New Year's Eve. In one memorable scene a church's life-size
nativity display is demolished.
- Everybody's Fine
(2009)
Feeling rejected, a widower decides to go on a road trip to
visit each of his kids. The last scene brings all the family
together at Christmas.
- The Family Stone (2005)
It's fiancée versus future in-laws for this year's Christmas
combat.
- Fanny & Alexander
(1982)
An Ingmar Bergman holiday movie? Not really, but in the first
hour we are provided with a lavish holiday feast and a stately
house opulently decorated for Christmas.
- Just Friends (2005)
Will an unplanned hometown Christmas visit convert an old
platonic love into something else?
- A Lion in Winter (1968)
The ultimate dysfunctional family Christmas gathering dates
back to 1183 at the court of Henry II.
- The Little Fockers
(2010)
The Focker and Byrnes families celebrate an awkward Chanumas.
- Ma Nuit chez Maud
= My Night with Maud
(1968)
Over Christmas break, four connected people meet and talk about
love, desire, philosophy, ethics, Catholicism, and human
existence.
- Ordinary People (1980)
Around the Christmas holiday a family is challenged by
tragedy and dysfunction.
- Precious (2009)
Key scenes in this film about an obese, illiterate, black Harlem
teen and her dysfunctional family are set at Christmas.
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When you've reached the start of February, you know the holiday
season is over. We complete this guide of holiday films with the
inclusion of what is perhaps the most famous movie with a holiday
for its title.