December is full of Christmas movies, Christmas shows, Christmas episodes, and Christmas shows.
As it should be.
But sometimes don’t you want want to put on a Christmas movie that’s not all that Christmasy?
I know I do.
Here’s five motion pictures for your Chirstmas non Christmas movie consideration.
Die Hard
Die Hard is easily one of the best action movies ever made.
It not only set the bar for all action movies that came after it, it also made Bruce Willis a movie star.
And according to to Mr. Willis, while the story is set on Christmas Eve, “”Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. It’s a g** damn Bruce Willis movie.”
This was said at a celebrity roast of Willis, so it could merely be part of a joke.
Either way, I do consider Die Hard to be a Christmas movie but even it it’s not, it’s the perfect movie to kick off this list.
Here’s a Christmas themed trailer produced a few years ago by the studio.
Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon’s opening credits are set to the song “Jingle Bell Rock.”
The entire movie takes place in the days leading up to Christmas.
Gary Busey’s Mr. Joshua even shoots a TV in the Murtaugh’s house that’s showing A Christmas Carol.
Screenwriting Shane Black has a thing for making Christmas the setting of his movies.
Not only does Lethal Weapon take place at Christmas, so does The Last Boy Scout, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and even Iron Man 3.
Here’s first scene with Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs showing off his skills and his insanity during a drug deal bust at a Christmas tree lot of all places.
Grumpy Old Men
I’ve given you a couple of the best action movies ever to come out of the 1980s as well as ever made period.
That means its time to lighten it up.
And it doesn’t get much lighter than seeing Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ann-Margaret, and Burgess Meredith in Grumpy Old Men.
Lemmon and Matthau starred opposite of each other in eight movies. Many consider The Odd Couple to be their best.
I’m a huge Neil Simon fan so I can’t argue that, but Grumpy Old Men is definitely my favorite pairing of the actors.
There’s even a great bit in the movie where broccoli is used as a substitute for mistletoe.
L.A. Confidential
This is definitely the grittiest of the entries on this list.
L.A. Confidential is an incredible adaptation of James Ellroy’s novel is a stellar movie with a phenomenal cast.
Set in Los Angeles in the early 1950s the movie that deals with crimes of the time as well as corruption within the Los Angeles Police Department
One of the key scenes early on shows police officers beating unarmed prisoners in the jail on Christmas.
The scandal became known in the movie, the book, and in real life as “Bloody Christmas.”
Gremlins
I can’t end this list with a movie featuring police corruption and brutality.
I have to recommend something lighter for your viewing pleasure.
Though some would argue that Gremlins was a pretty dark movie.
So dark in fact, this movie is one of the reason the rating of PG-13 exists.
Still there’s plenty of laughs in Gremlins and Gizmo the Mogwai is one of the most adorable Christmas gifts a father ever brought home for his son.
That was until he got him wet and didn’t do his due diligence when it came to post midnight snacking.
But if those rules hadn’t been broke there wouldn’t be any movie to watch, would there?
I hope you enjoyed this list and get the chance to watch a couple of these movies.
And if you’re more of a traditional Christmas movie person, then tap this link to see my 12 Movies for 12 Days of Christmas recommendations.