There's no denying that we love a little bit of Christmas schmaltz, and there are more than enough Christmas films [1] to last us way past Christmas Day (you should definitely take our Christmas quiz [2] when you've watched them all). But what if you're just not into the Hallmark and Christmas Princess vibe? Maybe you like your festive films without all the feelings (and fake towns [3]) that go alongside them? Don't worry, we've got you covered with 15 films that are Christmassy enough to fool your family, but don't overdo it on the schmaltz, so you can still stomach them if you're not feeling so festive.
Jingle All the Way
Yes, Arnie's Jingle all the Way is a Christmas film, but it also has superheroes and explosions, and it's much more fun than your average "disappointed kid wants a new toy on Christmas morning" movie.
Stream it on Prime Video [4].
Bad Santa
Billy Bob Thornton [5] did something quite unusual with Bad Santa: he managed to make Christmas films cool again. In this flick, "Santa" is actually a grumpy con-artist who robs a department stores on Christmas Eve. It gets cuter, but never loses its edge.
Stream it on Now TV. [6]
The Nightmare Before Christmas
There is a fair level of charm to Tim Burton's animated classic, but Jack Skellington and the gang from Halloween [7] Town keep it creepy when they discover nearby Christmas Town, ensuring this never strays into schmaltzy territory.
Stream it on Now TV. [8]
Iron Man 3
Another superhero film, this time with everyone's favourite man who has everything: Iron Man. In case you'd forgotten, the third instalment in the franchise is actually set at Christmas (and also features a festive flashback to a previous New Year's Eve). Don't expect Christmas carols (well, they're in the background, but you know what we mean), there's definitely a darker edge to this one.
Stream it on Netflix. [9]
The Long Kiss Goodnight
Geena Davis plays a spy with amnesia, so you already know The Long Kiss Goodnight is not your average Christmas film. It's more a spy thriller that's Christmas-adjacent, which means it's festive enough to convince your family to watch it on Christmas Eve, but you don't have to give up the action.
Buy it on DVD at Amazon. [10]
L.A Confidential
Another Christmas-adjacent classic. There's nothing festive about the plot (cops and unsolved murders aplenty), but when you set a film at Christmas and give it a Bing Crosby soundtrack and have festive lights strewn across every scene, your film is all set to be a festive classic. Throw in a holiday party and Kim Basinger in a cloak trimmed with white fur and all you're missing is a fat guy in a red suit.
Stream it on Amazon Video. [11]
Home Alone
Everyone's childhood favourite, Home Alone is arguable the best family Christmas film there is. Perhaps because we always hoped that it would happen to us? (Minus the burglars, obviously.) Christmas doesn't officially start until you've watched Home Alone, and if you give it a rewatch as a grown-up you'll realise just how sadistic some of Kevin's booby traps are.
Stream it on Google Play. [12]
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Is Home Alone 2: Lost in New York as good as the original? Perhaps not. Will that stop us from watching? Absolutely not. In fact, you should just get cosy on the sofa and make it a Kevin McCallister double bill. Look out for the now infamous cameo from Donald Trump [13].
Stream it on Google Play. [14]
Trading Places
Stock brokers and finances might not sound like a particularly festive film plot, but Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy [15] really pull it out of the bag in Trading Places. Aykroyd even dresses up as Santa to gatecrash his office holiday party. (Office parties are an ever-common theme in Christmas films.) If you've never seen this film, get the mince pies out and whizz it straight to the top of your must-watch list.
Stream it on Now TV. [16]
Arthur Christmas
Arthur Christmas didn't seem to make such a big splash in the cinema, but thanks to regular reruns on the BBC at Christmas, it's become a festive favourite. Despite the very Christmassy theme, it's also got spaceships, a drunk grandfather, and a reindeer with fleas. This isn't your average animated Christmas caper.
Stream it on Netflix. [17]
Jumanji
There's a definite Christmas vibe to Jumanji, although it's not technically a Christmas film. The final scene happens at Christmas, there are board games . . . but there's also herd of rhinos that stampede through the living room. Yep, full on festive fun.
Stream it on Prime Video. [18]
Scrooged
This is a modern take on Charles Dickens's festive classic novel A Christmas Carol (yep, The Muppets did it too). Bill Murray [19] is excellent in his role as grumpy boss who sees the error of his ways and despite being not at all sickly, there's still a festive lesson or two to be learned along the way.
Stream it on Now TV. [20]
Gremlins
You know the drill, you never give them water or feed them after midnight. Gremlins is the '80s horror classic that actually ended up being more cute than scary. Mogwai was meant to be a special Christmas gift but when the Gremlins turn nasty, they tear up the town on Christmas Eve.
Stream it on Prime Video. [21]
Lethal Weapon
It's got absolutely nothing to do with Christmas, but thanks to the final scene of the Mel Gibson [22] class rogue cop thriller, you've got a brilliant excuse to pop Lethal Weapon on the telly any time between now and New Year's Eve.
Stream it on Prime Video. [23]
Die Hard
The classic "Is it a Christmas film?" debate starts and ends with Die Hard. John McClane has to stop a group of terrorists who ruin an office holiday party, so we say yes. However, we have some questions about an office that holds a holiday party on Christmas Eve.
Stream it on Google Play. [24]