Christmas is a time for nostalgic classic holiday movies that remind us of the magic of the season. However, when you need a break from sugary-sweet Christmas movies, sometimes a little less traditional is good, too. Whether you’re a dad who prefers action over musicals or a parent who just wants to watch something a little more grown-up once the kids go to bed, here are five Christmas movies that aren’t exactly warm and fuzzy.
Die Hard: Every December my husband turns on Die Hard and reminds me that it’s a Christmas movie as I roll my eyes. However, he’s technically correct—the original starring Bruce Willis takes place during an office Christmas party. With all the terrorists and gunfire, it’s easy to forget how the movie starts. Even without the Christmas references, this classic action movie is entertaining at any time of year.
The Long Kiss Goodnight: Geena Davis stars as Samantha Caine, a sweet teacher and mom living in a small town in Pennsylvania. A bump on the head gives her flashbacks of her previous life as an assassin and some mysterious people seem to be after her, so she hires a private detective (Samuel L. Jackson) to help her sort things out. And, of course, it all takes place around Christmas, featuring ugly Christmas sweaters and a small-town Christmas parade. If you’re looking for a slightly cheesy action movie with a dash of holiday cheer, this is just the ticket.
Bad Santa: Billy Bob Thornton plays one very bad Santa in this dark comedy, getting a job as a shopping mall Santa as part of a plan to rob the mall. This Santa has no patience with kids, shows up drunk and abuses his helper “elf” who is also his partner in crime. There are many moments that are just so wrong that you can’t help but laugh. Ultimately, Thornton’s Santa ends up being not such a bad guy, and in many ways this has become a Christmas classic all its own.
Lethal Weapon: Bet you didn’t remember that this 1980s classic takes place during Christmas. This is the ultimate buddy cop movie starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, and if you haven’t seen it before (or in a long time), use the Christmas tie-in as an excuse to watch it right now. Watching two cops chase after a gang of drug smugglers may not be very holiday friendly, but there’s a reason this movie spawned three sequels.
Rocky IV: If you’re looking for an action film that’s so bad it’s good, this is for you. Sylvester Stallone is back as Rocky, this time fighting Soviet athlete Drago (Dolph Lundgren). This match is all about revenge since Drago killed Rocky’s friend Apollo Creed, with a little anti-communism thrown in (the movie did come out during the Cold War, after all). After a day full of holiday stress, sometimes a mindless boxing movie is just what you need. And yes, it takes place during Christmas.
