We’re not talking about Die Hard or Lethal Weapon because that argument’s played out and we already covered that ground last year. Anyway, here are some movies we love that have Christmas moments in them. Whether or not they’re all “Christmas Movies?” That’s up for debate.
Trading Places (1983)
Not all comedies age well, Trading Places is not one of those movies. This classic from John Landis starring Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, and Jaime Lee Curtis is hilarious and sadly under-watched. Also, Aykroyd tries to shoot himself while dressed as a homeless Santa so, therefore, it’s on this list.
The Godfather Part 1 (1972)
Yes, this movie is an epic and it’s as much a Christmas movie as it is a wedding movie or a baptism movie. More importantly, it’s a crime movie and the first blockbuster mafia movie. However, you can’t argue with the fact that the main catalyst for Michael taking his turn down the dark path of his family’s takes place over the Christmas season.
Don Corleone getting shot, “Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes,” Michael taking out the Turk and Captain McCluskey all take place during the Yuletide. As does this scene between Sollozzo and Tom Hagen.
Batman Returns (1992)
I think that video speaks for itself. It’s on our other list but it’s worth having it on here again.
First Blood (1982)
Peep the Christmas tree in the back right. Boom. Christmas movie. End of argument.
We love First Blood, if you think it’s a Christmas movie or not is up to you. It’s a classic flick though that’s for sure. Also, this isn’t the only time we see a tiny little Christmas tree in the movie, “Nothing is over.”
Donnie Brasco (1997)
Another classic mob movie with some scenes taking place during Christmas. It’s also pretty underrated when it comes to mob movies so any excuse to talk about it is worthwhile. Pacino and Depp are fantastic in this.
Donnie Brasco is a dramatized version of the real-life FBI agent who infiltrated the mob, Joe Pistone. His work destroyed the Bonanno Crime Family who weren’t allowed at the big boy’s table after the feds decimated the family with arrests. For a while, the Five Families of New York were just Four with the Bonanno’s playing in the farm leagues.
The Thin Man (1934)
We love Dashiell Hammett’s novels and have written about the books as well as the Film Noir adaptations they spawned. Well, here’s another. It’s also Pre-Code so it fits with the hashtag #PreCoDecember.
It’s about Nick and Nora Charles. Nick is a retired private detective who is content spending retirement and his wife’s fortune devoted to booze. He’s asked to come out of retirement to find a missing inventor.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
In the classic neo-noir adaptation of the James Ellroy book of the same name, we first see Bud White put his booze run on hold to knock down a guy’s Christmas lights and beat the crap out of him after witnessing some domestic assault. So yeah, it’s that kind of a “Christmas Movie.”
That’s not the only Christmas scene we see. Because a major part of the story starts with the very real “Bloody Christmas” of 1951.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy (2011)
OK, not a true Christmas movie but it’s got this scene, and we love a Christmas party. Also, it’s a hell of a movie with a hell of a cast.
The Silent Partner (1978)
If Christopher Plummer in a department store Santa outfit shooting a gun in the mall doesn’t scream ‘awesome’ or ‘Christmas movie’ to you, how have you made it this far to the bottom of the article?
This cult classic neo-noir film adaptation of Danish author Anders Boldelsen’s 1969 novel Think of a Number. It stars Eliot Gould as a bank teller who uncovers a career criminal’s plot to rob Gould’s place of work. The criminal, played by Christopher Plummer is disguised as a mall Santa Claus, 25 years before Billy Bob Thorton starred in Bad Santa.
Rocky (1976) & Rocky V (1990)
I think the first Rocky movie is a great Thanksgiving movie, to be honest. Because it has a Thanksgiving scene as well as Christmas so it’s great to watch post Planes, Trains, and Automobiles but before It’s A Wonderful Life. A transitional movie if you will.
Now Rocky V, that’s a Christmas movie, no question. Rocky doesn’t just end the Cold War by defeating Ivan Drago and then giving a Reagan-esque speech, he does so on Christmas Day in Moscow!
