Whenever the wintery month of December rolls around towards the end of the year, people start getting in the Christmas spirit.  They also love to do one thing; watch movies! Some may watch the classics like It’s a wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, or even Will Farrell’s Elf’. These are some traditional picks, but what if we select some films that lay in the gray area, such as Die Hard or even Gremlins?  

First, let’s think. “What makes a Christmas movie, a Christmas movie?” Typically, Christmas movies tend to rely on similar themes: love, togetherness, giving, hope, and the power of family. They also tend to use iconic imagery like snowy décor, nutcrackers, or even the North Pole. The thing is, not all Christmas movies follow the same standard.  

Let us explore the world of Die Hard.  The film takes place during a Christmas Eve party in the Nakatomi Plaza. The movie makes use of the holiday setting to add a unique spin on its action-packed adventure. There’s plenty of Santa hats, tinsel, mistletoe, and even music. While the story is centered on John McClane (Bruce Willis) fighting terrorists, the unique circumstances insert this movie into a league of its own.  

Another movie that takes place during the Christmas season is one of my personal favorites. Let’s talk about none other than Gremlins. This movie takes place in a nice little small town and it checks all the boxes: Christmas music, Santa hats, and snowy settings. The movie is built off of a dad getting his son a gift that nobody else has, a Mogwai. That one gift snowballs the whole story into a monstrous takeover of those putrid gremlins. Combining elements of horror and comedy, Gremlins is a Christmas movie through-and-through.  

At the end of the day, what makes a Christmas movie is up to the viewer. Does it need to be focused on the general themes of Christmas, or does the setting of Christmas do its justice enough? Pictures like Gremlins or Die Hard show that Christmas movies can break out of the line and choose their own way to celebrate the holiday. Whether you prefer the classics, or the curveballs, the best Christmas movies are the ones that bring you joy. No matter how many gifts, gremlins, or crimes there are.