We at Barking Mad About Films have shared a blog about our favourite Christmas movies before (read it here) but recently we questioned what makes a Christmas movie after we watched Regarding Henry, starring Harrison Ford, whilst it was on Netflix.
The film’s opening in which Harrison’s character was shot was around December, as festive decorations were to be seen. Does that make it a Christmas movie?
I guess you could class it as one, much like Scrooge in the Charles Dickens ‘Christmas Carol’ classic, Henry is not likeable at all at the start of the film but by the end, he goes through a vast transformation.
So it got us thinking of other festive films that aren’t all Santa and his elves!
No sign of Santa but Love Actually is often classed as a Christmas Movie due to its festive setting. In fact, Christmas has been served well by the RomCom with films Such as The Holiday; Four Christmases and While You Were Sleeping all set around the festive period.
The Action film has also been served well by the festive period, Bruce Willis twice had problems at the festive period with Die Hard and Die Hard 2.
Die Hard 2 wasn’t the only action film at Christmas to feature airplanes, Ray Liotta had festive trouble in Turbulence as it’s events occurred on Christmas Eve.
Also, action at the festive period can be found in the original Lethal Weapon; The Long Kiss Goodnight and even Will Smith classic Enemy of the State is set at Christmas.
If looking for comic book festive action, Tim Burton’s Batman Returns is set during the festive period.
Whilst it’s mostly remembered for the only outing for George Lazenby as 007, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service could be classed as a James Bond Christmas film, it’s set around the holidays and there is plenty of snow on show.
For family classics look no further than the Polar Express; Jack Frost (the Michael Keaton version); Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas (Our Review) and Charles Dickens Christmas Carol told with Muppets and later with Jim Carrey.
Horror also is served well, most recently Krampus (Reviewed here) but we can also add Gremlins (review here) as well as classics such as Christmas Evil and 1974 Black Christmas, which we also saw get a remake in 2006, starring Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Michelle Trachtenberg amongst others!
Horror from overseas, we also should mention the excellent Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, a Finnish ‘Krampus’ like tale!
Also as big Jaws fans, we can use it as an excuse to watch Jaws The Revenge which sees the Shark attack the Brody family over the festive period.
Of course, the festive film is not new, we only discovered it last year but the 1946 film, It’s A Wonderful Life is another festive must see!
So what are your favourite non-Santa Claus Christmas films? We would love to hear from you
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