There are movies that everyone watches this time of year that are very Christmas-centric or Christmas-themed. Christmas Vacation. Home Alone. A Christmas Story. Love Actually. You get the picture. These are the types of films you think of when someone is talking about "holiday movies." These are straight-up Christmas movies.
And then there are the films that you may not consider Christmas movies, but for some reason or another, they are synonymous with your holidays. Maybe it's just tradition in your household to marathon a certain movie franchise. Maybe Christmas or winter is part of the plot of the movie, but it's not necessarily a holiday film. Whatever it may be, there are movies out there we like to refer to as: "Christmas movies that aren't technically Christmas movies."
And these are our favorites...
1. Die Hard
Christmas-y Factor: The whole movie kicks off with an office Christmas party on Christmas eve, plus that whole "ho, ho, ho" machine gun thing.
2. Batman Returns
Christmas-y Factor: There's an Ice Princess, multiple chilly settings and don't you dare forget the Gotham City Tree Lighting Ceremony.
3. The Lord of the Rings franchise
Christmas-y Factor: There is always at least one channel airing the entire franchise over Christmas. Plus, lots of snow in The Fellowship of the Ring, courtesy of Saruman.
4. Just Friends
Christmas-y Factor: Most of the movie takes place over the holiday season. And there are Christmas-themed shenanigans at every turn, including a total takedown of a thoroughly decorated house. BTW, this is one of the most underrated comedies ever, in our humble opinion.
5. Iron Man 3
Christmas-y Factor: It's set during Christmas, Tony gets Pepper an unnecessary giant bear as a present, and he hides out in a tiny town that's decorated festively for the jolly season.
6. Lethal Weapon
Christmas-y Factor: It starts with an opening set to "Jingle Bell Rock" and ends with the family gathered around a Christmas tree.
7. You've Got Mail
Christmas-y Factor: Meg Ryan decorating her tree while snow falls and everyone singing that carol around the piano.
8. Harry Potter franchise
Christmas-y factor: Not only do we get a marathon during this time of year, but more often than not we get to see Christmas at Hogwarts. And it's glorious.
9. Edward Scissorhands
Christmas-y Factor: The whole movie is a story about why it always snows on Christmas! Plus, the image of Edward (Johnny Depp) shaving ice sculptures and making it "snow" for Kim (Winona Ryder) is nothing short of magical.
10. Rent
Christmas-y Factor: Takes place over one year (or 525,600 minutes) from Christmas Eve 1989 to Christmas Eve 1990.
11. Gremlins
Christmas-y Factor: Gizmo was a Christmas gift from father to son, and there are gremlins "singing" Christmas carols.
12. When Harry Met Sally
Christmas-y Factor: Lots of sweater weather, two people adorably failing to carry a Christmas tree and, of course, that New Year's Eve speech.
What are your favorite movies to watch this time of year?