Forget "Die Hard" — try these unusual Christmas movies
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Four of my favorite non-Christmas Christmas movies.
A knight, Gremlins and Princess Diana walk into a holiday movie list.
I have long had a list in my head of Christmas movies that are more unconventional than "Die Hard." And I'm thrilled to share it with all of you.
Caveat: Not all of these movies will fill you with the holiday spirit. In fact, most of them won't.
Another caveat: I try to make a distinction between unconventional Christmas movies that are actually about Christmas and movies that just happen to take place around the holidays.
- But you may argue some of these fall in the latter category. Sorry.
🏰 "The Green Knight": This movie involves a weird tree-looking knight challenging Dev Patel to "The Christmas Game." Definitely about Christmas.
🖋️ "Little Women": This is one of my favorite movies and involves multiple warm and fuzzy Christmas moments.
🎭 "Eyes Wide Shut": It starts at a Christmas party and ends with Christmas shopping. What happens in between has little to do with Christmas.
🦇 "Batman Returns": It takes place during Christmas. As a bonus, watch this video of Michelle Pfeiffer whipping the heads off mannequins in one take.
👸🏼 "Spencer": Shows Princess Diana's Christmas weekend that is the highest level of forced time with the in-laws. I'm still scarred by the idea of weighing everyone before and after all the feasting.
🚋 "Meet Me in St. Louis": The song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was introduced in this movie.
👹 "Gremlins": You've probably heard the debate about this one. I land on the "it's a Christmas movie" side.
🚉 "While You Were Sleeping": In this classic rom-com, Sandra Bullock rescues Peter Gallagher from the subway tracks on Christmas Day.
🏫 "The Holdovers": The latest entry into this strange category, and definitely a Christmas movie, I'd argue.
A few others I haven't seen: "The Long Kiss Goodnight," "Tokyo Godfathers," "Phantom Thread," "Fanny and Alexander" and "Life of Brian."