9 Best Christmas Movies That Aren’t Really Christmas Movies

There are quite a few movies that are staples for the holiday season, but may not entirely conform to the expectations, tropes, or themes of a traditional Christmas movie. While classic Christmas movies like It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story easily earn the distinction by revolving their plots around the holiday and featuring the celebratory trademarks, other films have earned the status by divisive or unconventional means. The story itself might not be about presents, holiday spirit, or renewing one’s belief in Santa Claus, but they may just happen to be set around Christmastime or have other elements associated with the holiday.

In lieu of the classic entries, an intense action movie with Christmas trees in the background can be a fun way to celebrate the holiday. Some of the best non-traditional examples even touch upon common themes of standard Christmas movies, such as hope, community, and belief. Many non-Christmas movies have even been featured as holiday specials on channels such as Freeform (formerly ABC Family), with such films gradually earning their places among more traditional Christmas tales.

9 Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Several important events happen at Christmas.

The true story-inspired movie Catch Me If You Can features Leonardo DiCaprio as a young con man named Frank Abagnale Jr. and Tom Hanks as determined FBI agent Carl Hanratty. For several years, Frank calls Carl on Christmas Eve because he wants someone to talk to. Early on, Frank is acting out because of his parents’ divorce, and he craves a sense of family that he unconventionally finds in the FBI agent tracking him down.

Later on, Carl confronts Frank face-to-face at Christmas in a small town in France. Finally, towards the end of the movie, Frank escapes custody one last time and returns home around Christmas, and is devastated to find that his mother is happily remarried with a young daughter. Christmas is clearly associated with familiar themes, such as family and belonging in Catch Me If You Can.

8 Iron Man 3 (2013)

Released in the summer.

The last solo Iron Man movie may have been released in May 2013, but its story takes place around Christmas. Ultimately, the holiday is used as a vehicle for Tony to work on his relationship with Pepper. She is not impressed when he gifts her a stuffed animal bunny the size of a house, but is touched when he says, “Screw it, it’s Christmas,” and has J.A.R.V.I.S. blow up all his Iron Man suits. In one scene, Tony also makes some makeshift grenades out of Christmas ornaments. Yet, Iron Man 3 distinctly does not feel like a Christmas movie, partially because it takes place in sunny Malibu.

7 Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Artificial snowfall for Christmas.

This Tim Burton classic is about an unfinished artificial boy who has scissors for hands, famously played by Johnny Depp. Edward finds himself at the center of a superficial suburban community and is initially very popular. However, around Christmastime, the people turn on him due to misunderstandings and vengeful teenagers making accusations. Christmas is a low point in the movie when Edward’s only friends are the Boggs family, who have also been cast out by the neighbors. The movie ends with Edward returning to his secluded home, where he creates many ice sculptures, creating the effect of falling snow on the town.

6 Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

The franchise includes several notable Christmas scenes.

Freeform (formerly ABC Family) annually broadcast a “Harry Potter Weekend” every Christmas until 2017, with each film in the series being aired during the channel’s 25 Days of Christmas line-up. Since each movie encompasses a whole school year (except Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows splitting the year into two parts), Harry and his friends are frequently seen celebrating the holidays. Though Harry Potter‘s magical and supernatural subject matter also makes it a Halloween staple, the franchise’s holiday celebrations and some snowy scenes have earned it a place among non-traditional Christmas movies.

The most notable entry that is often classified as a Christmas film is 2001’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Christmas during this outing is particularly special for Harry, who is surprised to receive presents from Ron’s family, as he was neglected by his own family his entire life. Mrs. Weasley sends him a sweater, as she does for all her children, and Harry spends Christmas at Hogwarts. In one of the most heartwarming early moments of Ron and Harry’s friendship, the duo wishes one another a “Happy Christmas” to solidify them as their new chosen family members. Hogwarts is also always impressively decorated during the Christmas season, though it disappears when the movie returns to its main plot.

5 Batman Returns (1992)

Superheroes don’t get Christmas off.

This iconic superhero movie featuring Michael Keaton, Michelle Pfeiffer, Danny DeVito, and Christopher Walken also happens to take place at Christmastime. While Batman Returns is considered a Christmas movie only because of when it is set, holiday elements are central to the plot, such as the lighting of the Gotham Christmas tree being a key event. It is doubtlessly enjoyable to watch Batman, Catwoman, and the rest engage in their usual battles against the backdrop of twinkling lights and carols.

4 Rent (2005)

Bookended by Christmas.

Featuring most of the original Broadway cast, Rent begins on Christmas Eve, showing a group of struggling artists who, despite their limited resources, are still celebrating together. Mark, Roger, and Collins are even treated to a performance by Angel wearing a Santa-themed outfit. The characters also later go to Maureen’s protest performance and have a few more fantastic musical numbers before the day is up. Rent notably ends a year later after Angel dies of AIDS, and the group reunites once again for the holidays.

3 Mean Girls (2004)

One iconic Christmas scene.

Mean Girls only includes one Christmas-themed scene, where the Plastics perform a dance routine to “Jingle Bell Rock” wearing Santa costumes. It is another example of how everything in “Girl World” is turned into a competition to be pretty and popular, following up on the established costume “rules” for girls on Halloween. However, it becomes oddly heartwarming when the CD player is accidentally broken and Cady leads the audience in a sing-along, so the girls can finish their dance. This scene hints at the movie’s conclusion and central theme, because most of the people at their high school are struggling in the toxic social environment, and being mean isn’t helping anyone.

2 Gremlins (1984)

But the rules were so simple.

Amateur inventor Randall Peltzer acquires a furry creature as a Christmas present for his son Billy, their family’s real breadwinner. The creature, who they name Gizmo, is a Mogwai and has strict rules of care. When these rules are inevitably broken, the Mogwai not only multiply but turn evil, taking over the town. Gremlins is also only considered a movie to watch at Christmastime because of its setting, but cuddly Gizmo is also a perfect holiday character.

1 Die Hard (1988)

Christmas is a good day to die hard.

Possibly the most iconic non-Christmas movie is Die Hard, which follows police officer John McClane as he visits his wife’s work for a Christmas party – only for the building to be taken over by a terrorist attack led by the charismatic Hans Gruber. With Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, and Bonnie Bedelia in the lead roles and a plot based on shamelessly fun adventure and action, this movie was destined to become a favorite. The theme of Christmas being a time for families to reconnect, which appears in many non-Christmas movies, is also a crucial part of Die Hard.