5 Best Christmas Action Movies for Anyone Who Chooses Die Hard Over Love Actually
Christmas movies don't have to be all sweet and magical.
If you're tired of romantic comedies and want something more aggressive and energetic, here are five outstanding action movies set on Christmas Eve.
1. Die Hard, 1988
Die Hard is not only an action movie that changed the genre forever, introducing the image of a vulnerable, easily killed main character who hides in vents from villains instead of always charging straight ahead.
It is also one of the most classic movies of the Christmas holidays: McClane's adventures take place to the strains of Let it Snow, and the movie itself, for all its cynicism and cruelty, is surprisingly well suited to the holiday spirit.
2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service, 1969
This is perhaps the most controversial part of the Bond series and the only one in which George Lazenby plays the role of Agent 007.
After the last few films with Sean Connery, which gradually moved towards the absurdity, the creators of the franchise decided to make Bond more down-to-earth and show a little humanity instead of impossible stunts and amazing gadgets.
The Christmas setting is a great way to do this: On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the movie that finally shows 007 alive and feeling. After all, this is the first movie in which we see Bond cry.
3. Batman Returns, 1992
Batman Returns may be the strangest Christmas action movie ever. Tim Burton was given free rein with the second Batman, and he took full advantage of the opportunity.
There is the overt sexuality of Catwoman, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, and truly terrifying scenes with the Penguin, whose plan is to destroy all the first-born children of Gotham.
4. The Long Kiss Goodnight, 1996
A cold-blooded CIA assassin with the face of Geena Davis loses her memory and finds herself trapped in the simple, peaceful life. But as we know, miracles happen around Christmas, and the woman begins to remember her bloody past, and her old skills unexpectedly return.
Together with a detective played by Samuel L. Jackson, who found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, she must figure out what is going on and at the same time take part in a secret CIA operation.
5. Lethal Weapon, 1987
Screenwriter Shane Black, either because of his great love for Die Hard or because of some childhood trauma, loves to set his movies on Christmas Eve. And Lethal Weapon – a buddy movie about a cop and his retiring partner – takes place on Christmas Eve.
It is a sparkling comedy that at the same time operates very successfully in the realm of psychological drama. In a way, you can even see the influence of It's a Wonderful Life, a classic Christmas movie in which the suicidal main character also reconciles with reality in a very radical way.