Five Unconventional Christmas Movies

This year I wanted to do something a bit different for my Christmas movie post. Instead of sharing my favorite movies, I wanted to talk about some movies that are often subject to debate on whether they are Christmas movies. Obviously, Die Hard is the biggest example of this but I have come up with four other movies that are subject to debate. To share a bit of a hot take, if It's a Wonderful Life is considered a Christmas movie then all of these should be Christmas movies. It's a Wonderful Life is barely a Christmas movie as only the final third is set during Christmas. I have set four question criteria to determine whether the movie is a Christmas movie or not. If it meets three of the four points, I feel that it qualifies as a Christmas movie. I will also add a poll under each movie for everyone to vote on whether it is a Christmas movie. The four question criteria are as follows.

1. Is it set during Christmas?

2. Are any Christmas songs played?

3. Is the main character(s) involved in some kind of holiday-related action or activity?

4. Is there any Christmas-related dialogue?

1. Gremlins

Gremlins is a horror comedy and follows a guy who gets a little Mogwai as a Christmas present. Things soon get out of hand as the Mogwai turn into Gremlins and wreak havoc on the town. A lot of people consider this a Christmas movie but let's see if it fits the criteria.

1. Is it set during Christmas? Yes, it takes place in the final weeks leading to Christmas

2. Are any Christmas songs played? Yes, Christmas Baby Please Come Home plays at the beginning of the movie.

3. Is the main character(s) involved in some kind of holiday-related action or activity? Yes, Billy gets Gizmo as a Christmas present from his father. Billy's family also has a Christmas tree delivered

4. Is there any Christmas-related dialogue? Yes, Billy and Kate talk about why Kate has such a hard time with Christmas.

Verdict: Gremlins is a Christmas movie as it meets all four criteria.

Is Gremlins a Christmas Movie

• Yes
• No

2. Batman Returns

Batman Returns is the sequel to Batman 1989 and follows Batman as he has to fight against the Penguin and Catwoman. You may not have thought of this as a Christmas movie but let's see if it qualifies.

1. Is it set during Christmas? Yes, It takes place in the weeks leading up to Christmas in Gotham City.

2. Are any Christmas songs played? None in the Soundtrack but there are several Christmas carolers throughout the film.

3. Is the main character(s) involved in some kind of holiday-related action or activity? Yes, two major events of the film take place during Gotham's tree-lighting ceremony.

4. Is there any Christmas-related dialogue? Yes, Bruce and Alfred wish each other a Merry Christmas at the end of the film. There are also several lines about Mistletoe

Verdict: Batman Returns is a Christmas movie

Is Batman Returns a Christmas Movie

• Yes
• No

3. Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3 is a part of the MCU and follows Tony Stark in his battles with the Mandarin as he copes with the after-effects of the events of The Avengers. This is another superhero movie that people don't think of for Christmas.

1. Is it set during Christmas? Yes, It takes place in the weeks up to Christmas

2. Are any Christmas songs played? Yes, Tony dances to Jingle Bells as he is testing his new suit.

3. Is the main character(s) involved in some kind of holiday-related action or activity? Yes, Tony, gives Pepper a giant bunny as a Christmas present.

4. Is there any Christmas-related dialogue? Yes, Tony describes his threat to the Mandarin as a Christmas greeting. He also justifies the destruction of his suits by saying "What the hell, it's Christmas".

5. Bonus Point: When it was first on Disney+, you could find it when you searched for Christmas

Verdict: Iron Man 3 is a Christmas movie

Is Iron Man 3 a Christmas Movie

• Yes
• No

4. Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands is a Tim Burton film about a loner Edward who has scissors for hands. He is soon adopted by a suburban family and tries to fit in with this new lifestyle. This is a more commonly debated movie. Let us see if it fits the criteria.

1. Is it set during Christmas? Not the entire movie, but the third act is set during Christmas. (Just like It's a Wonderful Life)

2. Are any Christmas songs played? Not in the soundtrack, but Bill does sing Christmas songs as he is putting up the lights

3. Is the main character(s) involved in some kind of holiday-related action or activity? Yes, the entire third act revolves around our main characters setting up for a Christmas party.

4. Is there any Christmas-related dialogue? Yes, at the end of the movie, Kim explains that Edward is the reason it snows during Christmas. There are also frequent talks about the Christmas party.

Verdict: Numbers 2 and 4 are a bit of a stretch so I'm not sure if this qualifies as a Christmas movie but I will let the poll decide.

Is Edward Scissorhands a Christmas Movie

• Yes
• No

5. Die Hard

Die Hard is probably the most commonly debated movie on this list. Die Hard follows John McClane as he gets trapped at a Christmas party by terrorists. I watch this every year at Christmas time but let's see if it fits the criteria.

1. Is it set during Christmas? Yes, It takes place on Christmas Eve at an office Christmas party

2. Are any Christmas songs played? Yes, Argyle plays Christmas songs on the way to the party. The movie also ends with Let it Snow. Winter Wonderland is also included on the soundtrack

3. Is the main character(s) involved in some kind of holiday-related action or activity? Yes. The whole reason John McClane is in town is to attend a Christmas party. The entire movie also takes place at said party.

4. Is there any Christmas-related dialogue? Yes, one of the more iconic lines is "Now I have a Machine Gun, Ho Ho Ho". Hans also has a line "It’s Christmas, Theo, It’s The Time Of Miracles, So Be Of Good Cheer.”

Verdict: Die Hard has the strongest fits to each criterion so it is definitely a Christmas movie.

Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie

• Yes
• No