Do These Films Really Count as Christmas Movies? A Holiday Debate Revisited

As December 25 approaches, viewers across the world return to familiar holiday favorites, while also reigniting a long running debate: what truly qualifies as a Christmas movie.

Traditional staples such as It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story leave little room for disagreement. The controversy begins when films set during the holiday season but rooted in action, drama, or dark comedy enter the conversation.

At the center of this debate stands Die Hard, the 1988 action thriller set during a corporate Christmas Eve party in Los Angeles. While lacking sentimental tropes, the film features holiday music, seasonal imagery, and themes of family and reunion, elements many viewers argue firmly place it within the Christmas canon.

Other films frequently cited as borderline holiday viewing include First Blood, which contains subtle seasonal decorations without acknowledging the holiday directly, and Three Days of the Condor, where Christmas imagery contrasts sharply with its tense political narrative.

Historical drama The Lion in Winter takes place explicitly during Christmas, using the holiday setting to frame themes of family conflict and power. Dark comedy The War of the Roses and satire Funny Farm also weave Christmas scenes into stories that are far from traditional festive comfort.

Supporters of these unconventional choices argue that Christmas films do not need cheer or warmth to qualify. Instead, they point to setting, timing, and thematic relevance as defining factors. Critics maintain that holiday movies should inspire joy and nostalgia rather than tension or irony.

The debate shows no sign of ending, but for many viewers, these unconventional selections have become part of a modern holiday viewing tradition, offering alternatives to classic seasonal storytelling while still embracing the spirit of the season in unexpected ways.