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We love bundling up under a bunch of blankets, with a cup of cocoa in hand, and binging every Christmas movie we can find. Now, we love the classics like It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, and Love Actually, but sometimes, we wanna shake things up.
Eventually, we run out of Christmas movies (and sometimes, we just want to try something new, but still in the same vein as the wintertime). We want those wintertime movies, packed with all the fixings of a Christmas film: a lesson about togetherness or being grateful, love, and something to make us cry.
Now, quite a few films have been debated as Christmas films over the years (yes, we’re talking about you, Die Hard). And years after the films have been released, some put these films in their Christmas cycle.
Will you, though?
From action-packed films like The Nice Guys and The Long Kiss Goodnight to romance films placed during winter like Serendipity and Edward Scissorhands, there’s something for everyone.
Below, check out which movies we’re debating on whether or not they should be considered Christmas movies.
‘Mean Girls’
Starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert, Mean Girls remains iconic for explaining High School love and all things girlhood. We watch the film anytime, all year round, but quite a few people have been insisting that it can count as a Christmas movie for the ever-so-iconic “Jingle Bell Rock” scene.
‘Harry Potter’ Movies
One thing all the Harry Potter movies have in common, aside from just being the perfect fantasy film to watch when you want to feel nostalgic, is that nearly every movie has a Christmas scene.
‘Gremlins’
Okay, we don’t care what anyone says: Gremlins is a Christmas movie. Not only does it take place around Christmas time, but the lead is given the gremlin as a Christmas gift. You can’t change your minds on this one (but maybe try to skip the scene where one of the leads talks about not believing in Santa anymore because that could be bleak for the kiddos).
‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is maybe one of the best films to perfectly encapsulate the trials of life, even at such a young age. The reason we’re putting it on this list, is because the Christmas scene is one of the most iconic from the film because it drastically changes the tone for the next act. No spoilers here, but just look out for it!
‘Zombieland: Double Tap’
So this one may be a bit of a stretch, but Zombieland 2: Double Tap can count as a Christmas film simply because one of the opening scenes that changes it all happens the day after Christmas when Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin’s characters leave a note saying that they’ve left the family.
‘Just Friends’
Just Friends is basically a filthy Hallmark movie. It has all the laughs, all the messed up humor that comes with Ryan Reynolds, and it has the iconic Christmas storyline of someone returning home for the holidays for ulterior motives!
‘Die Hard’
Another non-Christmas film that has become a holiday staple is Die Hard, where a cop tries to save a slew of hostages, including his estranged wife, during a hostage situation during a Christmas party in New York City.
‘Wizard of Oz’
You may be wondering, “Why is Wizard of Oz on here?” Because it has all the elements of a Christmas film. Let us explain, it has family, adventure, gift-giving, and being thankful for one’s home. All that’s missing is a bunch of snow and a carol.
‘Little Women’
Based on the classic novel, Little Women follows a group of sisters following after their individual dreams. It’s been dubbed a holiday movie for numerous factors but with many looking to the wintertime scenery and the fact that there are scenes that take place at Christmas.
‘Little Women’ (2019)
Of course, we couldn’t recommend Little Women without giving a nod to the 2019 reboot starring Meryl Streep, Laura Dern, Florence Pugh, Saoirse Ronan, and many others.
‘The Sound Of Music’
Like the Wizard of Oz, the musical classic The Sound of Music was often on television during Christmas time, therefore, many associated it with the giving season.
‘While You Were Sleeping’
The 1995 film While You Were Sleeping follows a hopeless romantic (Sandra Bullock) who works as a Transit Authority ticket booth operator, and saves a man she’s been secretly pining over from being run over by a train. But when a nurse at the hospital mistakenly refers to her as the Comatose man’s fiancée, she’s welcomed into his family with open arms. There’s romance, forbidden love, hysterical mishaps, and, of course, quite a few Christmas scenes.
‘The Long Kiss Goodnight’
This film follows a woman who suffers a concussion after being in a car crash on Christmas Day and starts to remember her life before being a suburban mom. It’s action-packed, to say the least.
‘Groundhog Day’
While the classic comedy takes place on another winter holiday, many associate Groundhog Day with Christmas time because of all of the sharing themes it has with holiday films, and just the fact that it’s in the wintertime.
‘Edward Scissorhands’
If you’re looking for a truly dark romance film that’ll stay with you, then you need to watch Edward Scissorhands this holiday season. We won’t say much, but there is a scene on Christmas day that’ll just make your heart sing when Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder share the screen together.
‘Serendipity’
While Christmas shopping at Bloomingdale’s, two people meet and have an instant connection, and then a magical night full of romance ensues. They leave their futures together up to fate, but they have a bit of a sense of humor, and unfortunately, it wasn’t the right time. Fast forward to a year later, and the signs are back, and they are trying to find one another again. It’s truly a wonderful romance film set around Christmastime.
‘The Nice Guys’
Starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, The Nice Guys is a fun ride from beginning to end, and by the end, it’s Christmastime, and everything has changed.
‘Pirate Radio’
The Boat That Rocked, also known as Pirate Radio, follows a band of rogue DJs who are protesting the government’s ban on anything except classical music by playing the rock and roll day in their listener’s love on a boat. You may think this isn’t Christmas-y, but there is a Christmas scene that many viewers rewind to.
‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’
The fantastical vibes and the mountains of snow make The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe the ultimate non-Christmas-y Christmas movie to watch this year.
‘You’ve Got Mail’
Many more people than you think consider You’ve Got Mail starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks to be the perfect non-holiday, holiday movie since it has the romance, and the nostalgia factor, and it just gives people those warm butterflies the holiday usually brings.
‘Batman Returns’
Despite Batman Returns being a superhero movie, a lot of the film takes place around Christmas events!
‘Eyes Wide Shut’
Starring then-married couple Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, Eyes Wide Shut is about a couple who’s finally giving in to their sexual desires. Plus, it’s all during Christmastime.
‘Catch Me If You Can’
Catch Me If You Can tells the true story of a notorious con man who became the most successful bank robber in the history of the U.S. In the movie, viewers will see DiCaprio get away with being a doctor, lawyer and even co-pilot all while being hunted by FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks).
‘Trading Places’
Trading Places starring Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Lee Curtis follows a big-time stock market broker as he switches places with a poor small-time con man. One of the first scenes is seeing Murphy’s character get chase around a massive Christmas tree – what’s not to love?
‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’
In a movie full of twists and turns set in Christmastime, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang follows “two-bit crook” Harry (Robert Downey Jr.) as he stumbles in an audition to become an actor in a detective movie. Soon, however, a sudden mystery murder forces him to flex his detective skills in real life.
‘Iron Man 3’
How about a Robert Downey Jr. double feature? Iron Man 3 is the last of Downey’s solo Iron Man movies and follows his iconic Tony Stark as he enacts revenge on his malevolent enemy, Mandarin (Ben Kingsley).
‘When Harry Met Sally’
When Harry Met Sally is another one of Meg Ryan’s rom-coms that just screams end-of-the-year cozy vibes. Plus, NYC in the fall is on full display!
‘Carol’
In a movie that starts with two women meeting while Christmas shopping, Carol follows the undeniable bond between a married woman and an aspiring photographer in the 1950s
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