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Summary
While theChristmasseason and action picture show might seem like an unconvincing conjugation , a look at some of the writing style ’s best festive offer evidence that they go together fairly well . The phrase “ Christmas movie " typically entreat up images of kinfolk - friendly entertainment . Fromclassic Christmas movieslikeIt ’s A marvellous Lifeto more late family comedies likeHome AloneorElf , Christmas film are often recall to be lifetime - swear classics that are mostly desirable for all ages . The Hallmark Channel has work up an integral brand on tailor fixed storage - coms to the festive time of year , with sentimental report of talk nutcracker , magic Christmas trees , and unnumberable prince falling in love over Christmas .
However , there are also plenty of movies that subvert this cozy mental image . Christmas horror moviesare renowned for realise the season terrifying , since it is easy for movie maker to wrestle the sweet family - friendly image of Christmas into something darker . However , some of thebest action movies ever madeare also do at Christmas , and many gravid entries in the genre use a festal place setting to make their bloodshed and brutality comically ironic . From a pair of retribution - fueled Santa Clauses to a reprehensively underrated Dolph Lundgren vehicle , there are a muckle of classic Christmas legal action movies .
10Violent Night (2022)
The killer Santa movie is a lot of bloody fun
Cast
2022’sViolent Nightsees David Harbour ace as a muscle , irascible version ofSanta Claus who saves a rich family from bloodthirsty mercenaries on Christmas Eve . Harbour is utterly cast as this incubation take on Saint Nicholas , while John Leguizamo is in typically big scene - stealing form as the promontory of the opportunist villains . However , Violent Night ’s plot of ground holes stop the moviefrom becoming an all - time Christmas natural action classic . Unfortunately , it is never really clear how Santa work or why he is unforced to stick to his cervix out for a plenteous family while he never turned up during the villain ’s indigent puerility . Regardless , the activity and mood make it an enjoyable , unlawful Christmas movie ticker .
9Fatman (2020)
This Santa action movie was darker and bloodier
IfViolent Nightspent too little of its plot enlarge on its bitter , weighed down - pledge Santa Claus traditional knowledge , Fatmanarguably devotes too much screen time to a like take on the mythic figure . In this 2020 activeness thriller , Mel Gibson plays an atypically slim Chris Cringle who has been thrust to work as a contractor for the US militaryto yield the invoice . Fatman ’s cardinal plot line fancy a spoiled child send an unhinged bravo , played by Walton Goggins , after Santa , resulting in plenty of memorably cruddy gunplay . However , this plot is slightly too slow for its own good .
8Die Hard 2 (1990)
John McClane’s return is an underrated festive sequel
While 1988 ’s originalDie Hardis a classic , theater director Renny Harlin’sDie severely 2was unfairly underrated upon release . Admittedly , it does beggar belief that John McClane would finish up mired in two separate incidents postulate international criminals that both took place on Christmas Eve . However , theDie Hardfranchise needed Christmasto make McClane ’s everyman shtick body of work , andDie Hard 2manages to get around its unlikely plot by leaning into tense action coiffure - objet d’art , self-colored character work , and a reliably leading primal spell from Bruce Willis .
7I Come In Peace (1990)
Dolph Lundgren’s Christmas horror sci-fi action thriller is a forgotten classic
Also known asDark Angel , 1990’sI Come in Peaceis a Dolph Lundgren action / thriller / sci - fi / horror literary genre mashup about aloose carom cop who must hunt an foreign drug trader trust a series of grisly murders around Christmas . The festal elements are just window dressing in this darkly laughable thriller , but the sight ofI Come in Peace ’s alien villain blowing up a rival criminal at a Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree lot makes it wanton to see why the movie opted for this place setting . Surprisingly queer , thisDolph Lundgren repugnance movieproves the mavin had a sense of humour .
6Enemy Of The State (1998)
Tony Scott’s NSA thriller is set during the holidays
The underrated 1998 filmEnemy of the Statesees Will Smith and Gene Hackman become one of the most unlikely coupling in activity story as Smith ’s beleaguered everyman accidentally uncover a cabal regard the NSA . unmistakably prescient , music director Tony Scott ’s megahit foretell a lot of Edward Snowden ’s revelations about the NSA and its secret surveillance programs . In the mental process , Enemy of the Statealso provided snappy dialogue , imaginative action successiveness , and some playfulness performances from Hackman and Smith . TheChristmas set is n’t too important toEnemy of the State ’s plot , but gives the thriller an unexpectedly festal backdrop .
5Batman Returns (1992)
This comic book sequel makes Christmas creepy
While Tim Burton ’s firstBatmanmovie was a huge success , 1992’sBatman Returnssaw the director really hit his tread with the rootage material . This sequel follow Michael Keaton ’s Batman as he have on both Christopher Walken ’s Max Shreck and Danny DeVito ’s tragic Penguin , but neither ofthese Tim Burton monsterscould compare to the moving picture ’s surreptitious weapon system . Michelle Pfeiffer ’s Catwoman madeBatman Returnsone of the decennary ’s good comic book moving picture , while its Christmas setting provided an ironical backdrop for the chaos and mass murder , include some holiday - themed explosive and weaponry .
4On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
James Bond’s only Christmas movie is one of his best
On Her Majesty ’s enigma Servicewas the first official James Bond flick without Sean Connery , and a surprisingly dark one at that . While George Lazenby ’s chemical bond may have only live on one movie in the role , On Her Majesty ’s Secret Serviceremains one of the franchise ’s best equaliser of humor , natural process , and character work . That brutal final twist is its most memorable moment , but theChristmas set ofOn Her Majesty ’s Secret Serviceonly makes this ending more devastating .
3Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Shane Black’s comeback utilized Christmas perfectly
Kiss Kiss Bang Bangproved that Hollywood old stager Shane Black was still as talented as ever after almost a decade out of the spotlight . Black ’s directorial debut followed Robert Downey Jr ’s unconvincing recreational detective and Val Kilmer ’s sententious individual center as the duo uncovered a vast , complex conspiracy in LA . One ofShane Black ’s best Christmas flick , Kiss Kiss Bang Banguses the time of goodwill and pacification among men as a backdrop for black witticism , bloody natural process , and some really dark storytelling .
2Lethal Weapon (1987)
Shane Black’s first big hit is one of the greatest Christmas action movies
Years beforeKiss Kiss Bang Bangmade him a major participant again , the 1987 action classicLethal Weaponmade Black a star in the first property . This cop thriller mine dateless funniness from the unlikely pairing of Danny Glover ’s by - the - book veteran cop and Mel Gibson ’s hot - headed Johnny . Like many of Black ’s picture show , Lethal Weaponjuxtaposed its Christmas mount with the violent activeness of the plot . However , this franchise - spawning smasher learn matter a step further by using the family - oriented nature of Christmas to underscore the tragedy of Gibson ’s mourning antihero .
The disputation concerning whether or not action classic Die Hard is a Christmas movie rages on after multiple decades , and will on the face of it never end .
1Die Hard (1988)
Few action movies have outdone John McClane’s terrible Christmas party
Not only isDie Hardthe best Christmas activeness film , but it is also arguably the serious action movie ever . Rewatching theDie Hardmoviesproves the dealership could never quite replicate the charm of the original , but this is for the most part due to how perfect the Bruce Willis vehicle was . John McClane ’s witty wisecrack , Alan Rickman ’s sneering scoundrel , the rascal ’s picture gallery of lesser villains , Reginald VelJohnson ’s well - meaning Al , the surprising brutality of the violence , and the acute grittiness of the action all combined to makeDie Hardfeel more grounded , fun , and impactful than most action moving picture , and itsChristmassetting was just icing on the cake .
