Every single year, it’s the same discussion around the holidays: Is “Die Hard” a Christmas movie? Of course it is. Any film set on or near Christmas where people are actively talking about or celebrating the holiday makes it a Christmas movie. Right?! Is that the consensus? Can we be done now? The movie is 36 years old, and I think it’s time to bring the Christmas movie debate into new and uncharted waters.
Growing up the way I did, Christmas has always been very white, middle-class conventional. “A Christmas Story,” “Home Alone” and “Miracle on 34th Street” were always the movies we would watch around the fire on Christmas Eve as we would open presents. I’m basic. But the older I get, I’m way less interested in the typical conventional Christmas movies. I’m on the hunt for great holiday gems that aren’t the typical seasonal fare.
Obviously, “Gremlins” is a darkly fantastic Christmas movie that treats the holiday like a triggering event (which it is for a lot of us). In fact, when Phoebe Cates tells the story of her father breaking his neck while coming down the chimney dressed as Santa Claus, that was the first time I’d ever heard about someone else dressed like Santa. The moral of that story is that I don’t recommend watching “Gremlins” when you’re 6 years old. Her Santa tale scared me so much as a kid, I’m not sure I’ve seen the movie in a few decades because of it.
Shane Black, one of the most underrated writer/directors working today, always sets his movies around Christmas, and they always approach the holiday in ways both unexpected and insane. So many of his films deserve to be in constant holiday rotation — even the ones that haven’t aged very well. I think this year I might program a mini-film festival called A Black Christmas and show “Lethal Weapon,” the unsung Robert Downey Jr./Val Kilmer neo-noir “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” the insanely bonkers “The Long Kiss Goodnight,” the deceptively fun “Iron Man 3” and “The Nice Guys” because it’s a genuinely great movie even though it only has one scene set around the holiday. These five movies are all deeply unconventional in different ways, but each one should appeal to those who like a little red blood splattered across their pillowy white snow.
For those not into the violence and seeking a sexier holiday, Stanley Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut” has a Christmas tree in almost every scene AND a masked orgy, so mileage may vary. It’s one of Kubrick’s most underrated movies and treats marriage differently than any movie I’ve ever seen. Almost as kinky as “Eyes Wide Shut” is Paul Thomas Anderson’s deeply and darkly sexy “The Phantom Thread.” Any movie that treats people’s turn-ons with respect and admiration is OK with me.
“Carol” is one of the finest queer movies of the last few decades and slyly deconstructs the hollow capitalistic aspects of the holiday in ways I’m not sure American audiences truly appreciate enough. I like watching this one when I spend the holiday alone because of how intensely somber the film is: It somehow makes me feel a little less alone.
Billy Wilder’s “The Apartment” is sweepingly romantic, hilarious and sad all at the same time — perfect for a screening with the folks — while “Klaus” is a fantastic and little-seen classic that the youngsters will love, featuring stunning hand-drawn animation that mythologizes the origin of Santa in touching and unpredictable ways.
There are so many more Christmas flicks that deserve to be added to the holiday movie canon. To name a few more: Terry Gilliam’s absolutely batshit “12 Monkeys,” David Lowery’s visionary “The Green Knight,” the spooky “Krampus,” the ’90s classic “Go,” the modern masterpiece “In Bruges” and Sean Baker’s groundbreaking “Tangerine.”
Don’t get me wrong, I love discussing the Christmas bonafides of “Die Hard” with folks year after year, but I think it’s time to grow and evolve. There are so many more movies worthy of addition to the unconventional Christmas canon! What are some of your favorites?
This article appears in Source Weekly December 12, 2024.
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