Why non-Christmas movies like ‘Die Hard’, ‘Eyes Wide Shut’, and ‘Gremlins’ are still Christmas movie favourites

Binge-watching a ton of Christmas movies is inarguably one of the best ways to kick off the holiday spirit. And naturally, most of us would gravitate towards films that appear on every ‘Best Christmas movies to watch’ listicle, think Home Alone, Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, The Polar Express, etc. However, there are some underrated gems that although aren’t exactly a ‘traditional Christmas film’, are still associated with the holidays in more ways than one. It could be the fact that they are set around Christmas Eve or the presence of holiday music and decorations. Even an all-out action-packed thriller like Die Hard or Eyes Wide Shut, with its decorations and wintery setting, for example, get the tag of a Christmas movie. 

Don’t believe us? Just ask the dedicated detectives on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, who ended the debate of “Is Die-Hard a Christmas movie?” in the episode, ‘The Pontiac Bandit’ (Season 1, Episode 12). The show frequently references Die Hard, mostly through Jake Peralta’s admiration for the protagonist John McClane (Bruce Willis), leading the 99th precinct to debate whether it is a Christmas movie or not. If you’re wondering about the outcome, there clearly was only one winner. And if you still don’t buy into the hype, we’ve listed a few reasons why these two films, along with the likes of Gremlins, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Lethal Weapon, The Ref, and Scrooged hold a very special place in our hearts every Christmas. 

The Christmas setting, music, and atmosphere

Many of these films take place during Christmas, with plenty of festive decorations, like trees, lights, and snow-covered streets (frequently seen in Lethal Weapon and Gremlins), which make the audience associate the film with the winter holiday season, even if the plot has little to do with it. Take Die Hard for example. The film takes place on Christmas Eve at a holiday party in a decked-up Nakatomi Plaza with Christmas songs such as ‘Let It Snow’ and ‘Christmas in Hollis’ featuring in this action-filled hostage crisis. The Long Kiss Goodnight is another action-packed thriller that incorporates Christmas music to move its story forward. 

The presence of family, reconciliation, and isolation

The themes in most of these films are around family, togetherness, or the absence of loved ones—tropes associated with Christmas movies. They’re characters trying to reconnect with family, battling their inner demons, dealing with isolation, or realising the importance of relationships that strike the right chord on Christmas. In Die Hard, McClane's sole motivation for taking on the terrorists is so that he can reunite with his wife. Gremlins is also a rescue mission that sees the protagonist try to protect his family from the chaos of the gremlins. 

Although Lethal Weapon is about solving a crime, it also highlights Mel Gibson's character's grief and Jake Gyllenhaal's longing to be connected with his family. This creates an emotional depth that resonates with viewers, especially during the holiday season. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang has characters that, despite their cynicism, form a family-like bond. There’s also the marital fidelity and psychological tension—that revolve around relationships and intimacy, as seen in Eyes Wide Shut, which captures the emotions felt around the holidays.

The contrast between the light and dark

Christmas is all about ringing in the holiday spirit with festive cheer. And what makes these films—that belong to the genres of action and thriller—perfect for Christmas is that they are nothing like that. They’re dark and serious, creating a fascinating contrast that makes them stand out. There’s no feel-good factor in Die Hard, an action-packed thriller filled with violence and tension. Eyes Wide Shut has a lot of psychological and sexual themes that are decidedly dark. Bad Santa, true to its name, fully embraces its anti-holiday message. In the black comedy The Ref, Christmas serves as the backdrop for dysfunctional family drama, where family gatherings and togetherness contrast with the film’s cynical tone. It’s this stark difference that makes them an ‘alternative’ Christmas movie—ones that audiences have grown to love.

The comedy ties down to the Christmas spirit

Many of these films use humour that plays with or undermines Christmas tropes, featuring holiday-related moments of comedy, offering a festive yet unique twist on the typical ‘holiday’ watch. Case in point: The Ref and Scrooged, which mix dark humour with tradition and holiday themes, blending sharp and edgy comedy. Gremlins may be a film that mixes horror and comedy, but its setting during Christmas—with mischievous creatures terrorising a small town—creates a chaotic yet funny scenario that aligns with the more comedic aspects of Christmas films.

All images: Getty Images

Also read: Christmas classics you need to binge watch this holiday season

Also read: Heartwarming Christmas movies to binge on this holiday season