'Die Hard' isn't the only film you could argue is a Christmas movie.

Updated 53 seconds ago, December 7, 2024

When it comes to Christmas films, some hold top-tier positions in our hearts, boasting merry elements, holiday-themed mayhem, a sprinkle of magic, and maybe even Ole St. Nick himself.

Think Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone, or A Christmas Story. Others, over the years, have been examined, popping up on Christmas movie lists and leading readers to question their merit as Christmas movies.

What makes a Christmas film? Is it about the themes — redemption, belief in the absence of proof, family? Is it simply about the Christmas aesthetic? Are you good to go with a zoom-in on a Christmas Tree, some decorative lights, and maybe a little snowfall? Below, are the most debatable Christmas movies that have worked their way into the genre (sort of), despite boasting other non-merry factors that seem more identifying.

You can’t make a list of debatable Christmas movies and leave out the one that has arguably catalyzed the most discourse. The rated R action movie has a couple of strikes against it right out the gate — the rating, the “mature” language, and the overall bloody spectacle. That being said, the movie is set during Christmas time, Christmas music serves as a backdrop to much of the catch-the-terrorists film, and it even takes place during a Christmas party. The movie, though going about it in a much more gritty way, also features themes of reconciliation and redemption, which mirror the value often set forth in traditional Christmas movies when a protagonist needs to find his way back to what matters most. And, who could forget Bruce Willis’ Christmas-themed line — “Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho?”