iStockphoto / Choreograph / Marvel / Paramount
Everyone believes they know what constitutes a Christmas movie up until the point you throw out the name of a Christmas film that doesn’t align with their narrow world view of holiday cinema. And as we argue our way through the holidays, now seemed like as good of a time as any to whip together a list of controversial Christmas movies that are, in fact, Christmas movies.
There’s at least one film on this list you are expecting to see, Die Hard, but it is only there as a formality because the world agreed decades ago that it’s a Christmas film and a legendary one at that. My hope is that as Christmas approaches you can use this list as a way to branch out from watching the Christmas classics in favor of these lesser appreciated films.
‘Is This Actually A Christmas Movie?’ — These 14 Films Are, In Fact, Christmas Movies
These 14 films all feature elements of Christmas, take place over Christmas, make mention of Christmas, and/or have scenes related to Christmas throughout. In some instances, there are thematic elements related to Christmas from start to finish. To deny these 14 films are Christmas movies is to deny the existence of reality.
Every Harry Potter Film
Every Harry Potter book and film had elements of Christmas to it. The first film put Christmas front and center with Harry hanging back at the Hogwarts castle for the holidays, bonding with Ron, and getting his own Weasley family sweater. There are Christmas feasts.
They go down to Hogsmeade Village that is all decked out in Christmas cheer. Interestingly, there’s never mention of the ‘reason for the season’ but that’s not surprising coming from J.K. Rowling.
Batman Returns
For the life of me, I don’t know why Batman Returns gets overlooked in the pantheon of legendary Christmas films because it really is spectacular. Tim Burton put Michael Keaton (as Batman), Danny DeVito, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer and others together and made magic happen.
One of the most memorable scenes begins with the ceremonial lighting of the Gotham Christmas tree with vibes stripped straight out of 30 Rockefeller Plaza where the NYC Christmas Tree calls home every year. This film is set during Christmas and nearly every scene features holiday decorations. Another film that proves we don’t need Santa Claus front and center for it to be considered a holiday movie.
Die Hard
Die Hard takes place on Christmas Eve. We see decorated Christmas trees. Santa hats. Just because it isn’t all about milk and cookies and spreading Yule Tide cheer it does not mean this isn’t a Christmas movie. Holiday films aren’t just for kids!
My only real issue with Die Hard is the fact that a company would throw their holiday party on Christmas Eve. That is cruel. No office is truly a ‘family’ and nobody should be asked to celebrate Christmas Eve at their place of business.
Eyes Wide Shut
1999’s Eyes Wide Shut might have hit theaters in July but it feels like nearly 50% of the scenes in this film had Christmas trees. July was a weird theatrical release timeline for a Christmas movie, I’ll give them that, but the details of the film don’t lie.. It’s a Christmas movie through and through.
For starters, Eyes Wide Shut takes place over Christmas. There are nonstop decorated Christmas trees and other decorations. There are toy stories, holiday parties and more. Let’s put the debate to rest on this one.
Gremlins
Gremlins is as much of a Christmas movie as any film ever made. The entire movie revolves around a Christmas present being purchased (the gremlin). Without Xmas, the premise of the movie does not exist.
Furthermore, it is full-blown Christmas season with gifts, decorations, a holiday parade, Christmas carolers, and holiday cheer throughout.
Rambo
I have to change a long standing opinion of mine.
Rambo is now my all-time favorite Christmas movie. pic.twitter.com/yQuk9Neu0k
— Steve 🇺🇸 (@SteveLovesAmmo) December 9, 2025
What else do you need to see here? Rambo has a Christmas tree. You can see it clearly right there. The proof is in the pudding. Seeing is believing.
Trading Places
I wasn’t even alive when Trading Places hit theaters but I’ve still seen this film a hundred times and it is probably on my top 5 Christmas Movies of All Time list.
The entire film takes place over the Christmas season, we see multiple individuals dressed as Santa Claus, there are holiday shopping scenes, Christmas parties, and Christmas decorations in nearly half of the scenes. Dan Aykroyd himself is dressed as Santa when he tries to have Eddie Murphy arrested.
This is actually such a Christmas movie that it’s become a nation-wide tradition in Italy to screen Trading Places similar to how A Christmas Story runs on repeat in America.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer together on the big screen in 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was amazing and it was the perfect duo for a classic Christmas film. The entire movie plays out during Christmas season in the City of Angels.
There are Christmas parties, holiday lights, Santa Claus suits, and seasonal decorations throughout. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was also released in November of that year just ahead of the Christmas box office season.
Edward Scissorhands
The second (but not the last) Tim Burton film on this list. As a director, he’s a master at producing Christmas movies that spark debate.
1990’s Edward Scissorhands has it all: Christmas lights, Christmas parties, and Christmas music. That’s the Big 3 as far as Christmas Movie elements go and you don’t have to litigate this any further than that.
Lethal Weapon
Perhaps the greatest cop duo film of its time, Lethal Weapon starring an unhinged Mel Gibson with an Australian mullet and Danny Glover who is convinced he’s over the hilly, is a Christmas classic through and through.
The film literally opens up to a scene of Christmas cheer. It is set on a street in Los Angeles full of Christmas decorations and celebratory music. Practically the entire film takes place during the Christmas season. Why do people bother debating things like this when the answer is so clearly obvious: Lethal Weapon is a Christmas movie.
Rocky
Christmas is central to the story of Rocky as it takes place in a Philadelphia consumed with holiday cheer. There are Christmas decorations, snow is on the ground, and stores throughout the film are decked out for the holidays.
The entire film is framed by the Christmas spirit and the holiday ‘moon’ shapes nearly every scene in Rocky. New beginnings… Thankful for another year around the sun with the ones we love… All of that and more. The idea of ‘miracles’ is integral to the Rocky story as well.
Hook
My colleague Connor Toole is adamant that Steven Spielberg’s 1991 Hook is not a Christmas movie and I’m adamant that he is dead wrong about that. The film opens up into a scene of Christmas merriment with Christmas lights and snow. They visit Wendy in a London that’s been consumed by Christmas cheer.
In the scenes that take place outside of Neverland, homes are decorated for Christmas. There are festive lights and backdrops everywhere we look. It is a Christmas movie through and through. Hook was also released into theaters on December 11th and if that doesn’t solidify its status as a Christmas film I don’t know what would.
Iron Man 3
While Iron Man 3 isn’t often considered among the Christmas classics it is very much worthy of being in the conversation. The third installment in Iron Man’s standalone story opens up to Christmas in Malibu, which is different than Christmas in the Midwest or Northeast to be sure, but still Christmas nonetheless.
The entire film plays out over the Christmas season. Christmas is fabric by which this film is made.
Nightmare Before Christmas
This is not a Halloween movie. If you argue that Nightmare Before Christmas is a Halloween movie and not a Christmas movie it is time to get your eyes checked.
The entire industry that exists to sell Jack Skellington Halloween decorations should be investigated by the Justice Department for fraud. Liars, all of them! The proof is right there in the name: ‘Christmas.’
Jack’s entire mission is to spread Christmas cheer and he enlists the help of Santa (Sandy) Claus himself to spread that Christmas cheer. Halloween is nothing more than an afterthought. Also, shout out to Tim Burton for having three films on this list. He’s truly the king of Christmas movies, isn’t he?