Raven Cohen
Look, we all love Elf, Home Alone, and Love Actually… but what if you’re in the mood for something a little weirder this season?
Here are films great for the whole family
The films below aren’t about Christmas — but they’re drenched in holiday vibes, twinkling lights, snowstorms, regret, redemption, or straight-up chaos. And yes, they technically count as Christmas movies. Time to spice up your festive watchlist.
🎰 1. In Bruges (2008)
Genre: Dark Comedy / Crime
Runtime: 107 minutes
Rating: R (language, violence, drug use)
About:
Two hitmen are sent to lay low in the medieval city of Bruges after a job goes wrong. What they get instead? Christmas lights, canal strolls, existential crises, and an unforgettable dwarf subplot.
Why It’s Rated R:
Dark violence, loads of swearing, drug use, and one of the most creative uses of dark humor in film history.
Who Will Love It:
Fans of Fargo, Pulp Fiction, or people who like their holiday guilt served with a side of gothic architecture.
🛸 2. Brazil (1985)
Genre: Sci-Fi / Satire
Runtime: 132 minutes
Rating: R (nudity, violence, intense visuals)
About:
Terry Gilliam’s dystopian masterpiece is basically 1984 meets The Office, if decorated with Christmas tinsel. It’s a visually wild, hilariously grim vision of a bureaucratic nightmare — with holiday tunes in the background.
Why It’s Rated R:
Nudity, disturbing imagery, and surreal violence, plus bureaucratic terror that’ll haunt your dreams.
Who Will Love It:
Sci-fi nerds, Orwell fans, and anyone who’s ever screamed into a customer service void.
💉 3. The Ref (1994)
Genre: Comedy / Crime
Runtime: 96 minutes
Rating: R (language, some violence)
About:
A burglar ends up stuck playing marriage counselor to a warring couple on Christmas Eve. It’s peak 90s dark comedy with Denis Leary shouting at everyone — and yes, it’s hilarious.
Why It’s Rated R:
Frequent swearing, adult arguments, and dysfunctional family energy.
Who Will Love It:
People who dread family dinners. Fans of Home Alone who grew up and got bitter.
🧥 4. The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Genre: Action / Thriller
Runtime: 121 minutes
Rating: R (violence, language, adult themes)
About:
Geena Davis plays a small-town mom who doesn’t realize she used to be a deadly assassin. As her memories resurface — during a very snowy Christmas — things explode (literally).
Why It’s Rated R:
Violent action, shootouts, strong language, and one awesome kitchen scene.
Who Will Love It:
Die Hard fans. People who like their eggnog shaken, not stirred — with a bullet in it.
👩🚀 5. Carol (2015)
Genre: Romance / Drama
Runtime: 118 minutes
Rating: R (sexual content, brief nudity)
About:
Set against the backdrop of 1950s holiday department stores, Carol is a tender, slow-burn love story between two women discovering themselves (and each other) over the Christmas season.
Why It’s Rated R:
Mature themes, sensual scenes, and emotional intensity.
Who Will Love It:
Fans of vintage fashion, slow romances, and films where every look lasts 100 years.
🧛 6. Gremlins (1984)
Genre: Horror / Comedy
Runtime: 106 minutes
Rating: PG
About the Film:
Billy gets a strange, furry pet called a Mogwai — with one rule: don’t feed it after midnight. Naturally, all the rules are broken, and his sleepy town is overrun by gremlins during the most festive time of the year.
Why It Was Rated PG:
Comedic violence, scary imagery, and one shocking Santa monologue. Originally sparked the PG-13 rating debate.
Who Will Enjoy It:
Horror-comedy lovers, 80s kids, and anyone who thinks Christmas should come with a little monster mayhem.
🛍️ 7. Metropolitan (1990)
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Runtime: 98 minutes
Rating: PG-13
About the Film:
A young outsider is pulled into New York’s debutante social scene during the holidays. There’s awkward flirting, formal wear, and philosophical debates over eggnog.
Why It Was Rated PG-13:
Some mature dialogue and themes, but largely a talky, tame indie film.
Who Will Enjoy It:
Fans of Gossip Girl, Jane Austen adaptations, or anyone nostalgic for intellectual December drama.
🚨 8. Batman Returns (1992)
Genre: Superhero / Action / Fantasy
Runtime: 126 minutes
Rating: PG-13
About the Film:
It’s Christmas in Gotham. The Penguin is plotting mayhem, Catwoman is cracking her whip, and Batman is brooding under twinkling lights. This Tim Burton sequel might be the darkest Christmas movie ever made.
Why It Was Rated PG-13:
Violence, gothic themes, and one unforgettable mistletoe exchange.
Who Will Enjoy It:
Burton stans, comic book lovers, and anyone who thinks Christmas movies should include rooftop battles and penguin armies.
🧠 9. A Midnight Clear (1992)
Genre: War / Drama
Runtime: 108 minutes
Rating: R
About the Film:
Set during World War II, an American recon unit encounters German soldiers seeking to surrender — just as Christmas approaches. What follows is a tragic, intimate story about humanity amid conflict.
Why It Was Rated R:
War violence, mature themes, and emotional depth not suited for younger viewers.
Who Will Enjoy It:
Fans of Saving Private Ryan or 1917 who want something more meditative and poetic for the holidays.
🪩 10. Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
Genre: Animation / Drama / Comedy
Runtime: 92 minutes
Rating: PG-13
About the Film:
On Christmas Eve, three homeless people in Tokyo discover an abandoned baby and embark on a chaotic, emotional search for its parents. A story of redemption, found family, and miracles.
Why It Was Rated PG-13:
Some language, mature themes, and brief violence — but nothing too heavy.
Who Will Enjoy It:
Anime fans, found-family enthusiasts, or anyone craving heartfelt chaos with a warm center.
🪐 11. Star Trek: Generations (1994)
Genre: Sci-Fi / Adventure
Runtime: 118 minutes
Rating: PG
About the Film:
Yes, Star Trek. Picard gets trapped in a dreamy alternate reality (the Nexus) where it’s always Christmas and his family is magically alive. This scene becomes the emotional anchor of the entire film.
Why It Was Rated PG:
Sci-fi action and light thematic material. Very tame by today’s standards.
Who Will Enjoy It:
Trekkies, sci-fi fans, and anyone who wants their Christmas with a side of space-time continuum.
🧨 12. Die Hard (1988)
Genre: Action / Thriller
Runtime: 132 minutes
Rating: R
About the Film:
John McClane, an off-duty cop, tries to save his wife and co-workers from terrorists during a corporate holiday party in a Los Angeles skyscraper. Cue broken glass, explosions, and “Yippee-ki-yay.”
Why It Was Rated R:
Intense violence, language, and all-around action grit.
Who Will Enjoy It:
Action lovers, office workers with Christmas party PTSD, and anyone who argues this is a Christmas movie every year.
🕵️ 13. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Genre: Crime / Drama / Biopic
Runtime: 141 minutes
Rating: PG-13
About the Film:
Based on the real story of con artist Frank Abagnale Jr., this cat-and-mouse game between a young forger and an FBI agent hits its emotional beats every Christmas — when Frank always calls home.
Why It Was Rated PG-13:
Mild language, deception themes, and adult situations.
Who Will Enjoy It:
True crime fans, Leonardo DiCaprio devotees, and anyone who likes their holiday stories with a touch of emotional regret.
👁️ 14. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Genre: Erotic Mystery / Drama
Runtime: 159 minutes
Rating: R
About the Film:
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman unravel desire and secrecy in New York during Christmas. Twinkling lights contrast with masked orgies and dreamlike paranoia. Kubrick’s final film is a moody yuletide fever dream.
Why It Was Rated R:
Explicit sexual content, nudity, and adult themes.
Who Will Enjoy It:
Cinephiles, mystery lovers, and anyone ready to explore the darker side of holiday romance.
👽 15. Prometheus (2012)
Genre: Sci-Fi / Horror
Runtime: 124 minutes
Rating: R
About the Film:
A deep-space expedition to discover humanity’s origins turns nightmarish. The ship’s captain puts up a Christmas tree. Then all hell (and acid) breaks loose.
Why It Was Rated R:
Intense sci-fi violence, body horror, and scary imagery.
Who Will Enjoy It:
Sci-fi horror fans, Ridley Scott loyalists, and people who like their nativity stories… alien.
🧝 16. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
Runtime: 105 minutes
Rating: PG-13
About the Film:
A gentle artificial man with scissors for hands is taken in by a suburban family. The climax? An unforgettable ice-sculpting scene that brings snow — and Christmas — to the neighborhood.
Why It Was Rated PG-13:
Mild violence and gothic elements.
Who Will Enjoy It:
Tim Burton fans, romantics, and anyone who thinks Christmas should include snow and sadness.
👔 17. Trading Places (1983)
Genre: Comedy / Satire
Runtime: 116 minutes
Rating: R
About the Film:
A rich executive and a street hustler swap lives thanks to a cruel holiday bet between wealthy brokers. It’s a biting satire about class, race, and corporate greed — with a lot of Christmas chaos.
Why It Was Rated R:
Language, nudity, and adult humor.
Who Will Enjoy It:
Fans of 80s comedy, economics nerds, and anyone who thinks the real Grinch wears a business suit.
🕰️ 18. 12 Monkeys (1995)
Genre: Sci-Fi / Thriller
Runtime: 129 minutes
Rating: R
About the Film:
A prisoner from a post-apocalyptic future is sent back in time to stop a virus — and winds up in the middle of a Christmas-themed department store, among other surreal holiday settings.
Why It Was Rated R:
Violence, disturbing content, and time-travel confusion.
Who Will Enjoy It:
Sci-fi theorists, Brad Pitt fans, and people who want a bleak but brilliant Christmas ride.
🎃 19. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Genre: Animation / Musical / Fantasy
Runtime: 76 minutes
Rating: PG
About the Film:
Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, discovers Christmas and tries to “improve” it — which naturally involves kidnapping Santa. A holiday mashup with unforgettable songs and gothic charm.
Why It Was Rated PG:
Some scary images and dark themes, but kid-friendly overall.
Who Will Enjoy It:
Tim Burton stans, musical lovers, and anyone who wants to leave cookies out for a skeleton.
🎬 So…What Is a Christmas Movie Anyway?
Whether it’s snowflakes falling on Gotham, con men making holiday calls, or a masked orgy lit by fairy lights, one thing’s clear: Christmas doesn’t always mean carolers and cocoa. Sometimes it means chaos, crime, or cosmic horror — and that’s exactly what makes these cult classics so fun.
These films might not top your grandma’s Hallmark list, but they’re perfect for the weird cousin, film nerd, or existential millennial in your life. They challenge the idea of what holiday spirit really means — and they definitely start better conversations than The Santa Clause 3.
So light that tree, spike the eggnog (or don’t), and cozy up with a film that puts the strange back in sleigh bells.
Happy Offbeat Holidays. You’ve earned it. 🎄✨🍿
