If the thought of watching another Hallmark Christmas Movie makes you want to hide under the covers until the New Year, you’re not alone. As joyful as Christmas movies are, it’s understandable to not want to be constantly steeping in the holiday spirit. Sometimes, it’s just as great to feel it in the background.
Audiences are in luck; there are many great movies that feel Christmas-y without being wholly about Christmas. Here’s a list of 6 action-packed Christmas movies that’ll satisfy your need for something exciting but still within the holiday spirit.
Die Hard
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In the first installment of the popular Die Hard franchise, John McClane (Bruce Willis) a rebellious New York Cop arrives in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve to spend the holidays with his estranged wife Holly Gennero (Bonnie Bedalia). The opening scene in the limo enroute from the airport is set to the tune of Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis.” John finally reaches his destination, Holly’s holiday party at Nakatomi Plaza. Shortly thereafter the party is crashed by German terrorists lead by the infamous Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). While the LAPD handle the situation from the ground, John attempts to neutralize the threat from within. Following an altercation with one of the terrorists on another floor, McClane sends a touching holiday message to Hans “Now I have a machine Gun. Ho Ho Ho”. While not specifically about Christmas, Die Hard certainly touches on a common Holiday movie trope, reuniting with family during the christmas season.
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The Long Kiss Goodnight
Image Credit: medium.com
Directed by Shane Black The Long Kiss Goodnight follows the story of Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) a suburban schoolteacher with amnesia enjoying the holiday season with her family. Early on in the film Samantha starts having vivid memories of her past life that unearth the truth of who she used to be… a ruthless government assassin. After a stranger tries to assassinate her in her own home one snowy night, Samantha hires private investigator Mitch Hennessey (Samuel L Jackson) to help her look into her past. The beginning of the movie feels so much like your traditional Christmas classic, you almost forget you are watching an action movie. At least until we find out Samantha’s true identity which brings snowy action sequences, gunfights on ice skates, and explosions galore.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Silver Pictures
Shane Black also directs Kiss Kiss Bang Bang a film-noir parody set around the holidays in Los Angeles. In the opening sequence we see protaganist Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr) a petty thief robbing a toy store to “buy” Christmas Gifts. The robbery goes awry and his partner ends up dead while Harry tries to elude police. During his escape Harry accidentally stumbles into an audition. Still emotional from the death of his partner, Harry lands the role and is sent to L.A. for a screentest. Upon his arrival Harry teams up with his highschool crush Harmony Lane (Michelle Monahan) and headstrong Private Investigator Perry Van Shrike (Val Kilmer) to solve a mysterious murder. The movie successfully sells the Christmas spirit (despite it being set in L.A.) through subsequent holiday parties and christmas references.
Batman Returns
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Batman Returns is an action-packed sequel to Tim Burton’s Batman. The movie introduces two new villians, Catwoman (Michelle Pfeifer) and The Penguin (Danny Devito), and follows their interactions with the caped crusader. The Penguin and Catwoman team up to try and rid Gotham of Batman once and for all. The plot thickens when sparks fly between Bruce Wayne (Batman as played by Michael Keaton) and Selena Kyle (Catwoman). The two discover each others alter ego’s while dancing under the mistletoe. While the plot itself has little to do with Christmas the movie imbues festive feelings through the wintery Gotham setting, extravagant holiday parties and even a rockafeller center style Christmas tree lit up in the middle of Gotham City.
Lethal Weapon
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Lethal Weapon directed by Shane Black is the original Christmas action movie, preceding Die Hard. Mel Gibson and Danny glover have excellent chemistry in the veteran action movie playing Martin Riggs, and Roger Murtaugh respectively. Lethal Weapon follows Murtaugh and Riggs as they assist internal affairs in uncovering a black-market arms operation, involving dirty cop Jack Travis (Stuart Wilson). Die Hard may be considered the classic Christmas action Movie, but Lethal Weapon did it first and some would argue did it better. Riggs character is struggling with the loss of his wife around the holidays, and finds the gift of a true friend in his partner Murtaugh. Ultimately, the movie spawned a handful of sequels.
Iron Man 3
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Iron Man 3 fits into the Marvel universe timeline shortly after the first Avengers movie, and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the events that occurred in New York. Sleepless and troubled Tony buries himself in his work, and begins feeling isolated from his loved ones (a common Christmas movie theme). Eventually Tony is confronted with a new terrorist the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and as a result is forced to be reliant on his friends and family. The plot would have worked at any time of year however director Shane Black has a soft spot for Christmas. In Tara Bennett and Paul Terry’s The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Black stated “Christmas bands together and cements a story. You feel like there’s a common unity among all the people in it. It’s just something [audiences] constantly notice in the background. It represents a flavor, and there is a sense that ‘We are all in it together.’”
