He said if Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie then neither is White Christmas and to disagree is to deny an infographic which is the holiest of facts presented in the most understanding way. We can agree that it does make sense and while the idea of a German Ringleader being a qualification necessary for a Christmas movie is thought provoking (Joe Pesci playing a German in Home Alone) it’s not necessary. What is necessary though, are conditions. Using the “scientific method” or whatever I remember from school as being the scientific method I’ll determine what movies are action Christmas movies and which ones you should actually watch.
Condition #1 - What is an action movie? According to extensive (3 wikipedia pages) Internet research, an action movie is a film in which protagonists are sent into a difficult series of challenges often including violence, life-threatening situations, extended fighting sequences, feats of strength and frantic chases. Book it. We can quibble over details but quibbling something Professor Quirrell probably did which is why he was weak enough for Voldemort to take the back of his head.
Condition #2 - Must take place on Christmas. Can you be a Christmas movie and not feature Christmas? No. Does the whole movie have to take place on that day, also a no, but Christmastime has to be a feature.
Condition #3 - It’s not enough to just take place on Christmas, there must be Christmas cues involved when handing out the title of Christmas Action movie. This would include but not be limited to, Christmas music, Santas, Snow, phrases like “Ho, ho, ho" “Merry Christmas” “Bah Humbug” etc, and of course Christmas puns like “Santa doesn’t have to put up with this shit.” or “Let it snow,” (has to be in reference to a bad guy talking about cocaine).
Condition #4 - The last condition is the most important. It has to be an action movie first, Christmas movie second. This would in theory eliminate Christmas movies that involve action like Home Alone (though I’m open to the argument) and The Grinch (which involves more violence than you remember).
Top 5 Action Christmas Films of All-Time
Honorable Mentions
Gremlins: Although maybe more of a horror film than action, there is a lot of action in the movie I once hailed as The Scariest Movie I’d ever seen (I was young). The best part about Gremlins is mostly the fact that is is a Christmas movie! There are songs, hats, and the spirit of Christmas is alive and well, until the murdering and whatnot. Great film and definitely worth your time this Christmas.
Batman Returns: A top 5 Batman movie… OK top 7 minimum, Batman Returns features the best Catwoman, Pfeiff dog, and one of our best Batmen, Michael Keaton, in a BATMAN MOVIE SET AT CHRISTMAS! What more could you want? Perhaps a better plot and it being less weird, but telling Tim Burton to be less weird is like telling Denzel Washington to be less The Man. This Batman feature grows better with age and who knows, if Keaton had been able to actually move his head in this movie maybe it would be even better, but as far act Action and Christmas goes, this movie is the hot coco with a little Schnapps that you crave.
Rocky IV: This is the most iffy on the list. Rocky IV has action, montages, death, and more montages, but what is so Christmas about it? There are three factors to consider. The fight with Drago is on Christmas day, Rocky frolicking through the snow for 1.5 montages, and Rocky tells his kid Merry Christmas after he wins the fight. I get the Christmas spirit just thinking about it. If you want to quibble over the “details” fine I get it, but I would rather live in a world where Rocky IV is an Action Christmas movie.
The Long Kiss Goodnight: Haven’t seen it, but it has Samuel L. Jackson and Geena Davis so 4/4 stars.
Harry Potter Series: Happy Christmas, Ron. Happy Christmas, Harry. Are there any two more iconic Merry Christmases since the words have ever been uttered. Truly not, and just one game of quidditch will qualify it as action, why not!