5 Non-Christmas Christmas Movies To Watch Over the Holidays
A non-Christmas Christmas movie – What is it? Well, it’s a movie that takes place during the Christmas season, but its story is not actually about Christmas. The most common and well-known of these is Die Hard, which started the trend of movies being labeled as Christmas movies by fans looking for taking place at Christmas time that still gets them in the holiday spirit.
So, without further ado, here are five non-Christmas Christmas movies for the family to enjoy this holiday season:
5. Gremlins
An ’80s classic, Gremlins follows a father who buys an unusual present for his son from a shop in Chinatown. Warned that the creature can be as menacing as it is cute, the father is told to follow three rules: never expose it to bright light, or water, or feed it after midnight. Inevitably, all of these rules are broken leading to a swarm of Gremlins causing mayhem around Kingston Falls on Christmas Eve. With its seasonal snow, music, carolers and toys, this horror comedy is a fun non-Christmas Christmas movie to enjoy during the holidays.
Gremlins is available to stream on HBO Max, Peacock, and to buy or rent here.
4. Rise of the Guardians
Having flown under the radar since its release in 2012, this animated film is a great story to get the family in the Christmas spirit. Rise of the Guardians follows Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and the Sandman, who enlist the help of Jack Frost to stop the evil Pitch Black from casting darkness over the entire world. Not only is this a fun team-up film set around the holidays, but it features an all-star cast including Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher, Chris Pine, and Jude Law as voice actors.
Rise of the Guardians is available on Prime Video.
3. The Chronicles Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
As WWII rages on, the Pevensie children evacuate from London to the English countryside where they take shelter at the home of Professor Kirke. During a game of hide-and-seek, Lucy Pevensie hides inside a wardrobe and discovers that it leads to the magical winter wonderland of Narnia, where she meets a friendly Faun named Mr. Tumnus. Eventually, all the Pevensies are transported to Narnia and embark on an adventure, including talking Beavers, a White Witch, and Aslan, the talking Lion. Not only this, but the children even meet a gift-bearing Father Christmas, making this a great feel-good movie for the holidays.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is available to stream on Disney+ and to buy or rent here.
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Even though most people have likely seen this film, it still deserves the number two spot on this list. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone follows an 11-year-old orphan who, living with his unpleasant aunt, uncle, and cousin, receives an invitation to enroll at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The film follows Harry as he delves into the unknown Wizarding World, attends school in a magical castle, and learns spells with his new friends. Although the movie follows Harry throughout the school year, it features a heart-warming Christmas scene where Harry opens presents for the first time.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is available on HBO Max, Peacock, and to buy or rent here.
1. Shazam!
Shazam! follows 14-year-old Billy Batson who bounces from foster home to foster home. After being welcomed into the Vasquez home, Billy proves himself worthy and is chosen by a Wizard to receive the power of the gods. Shazam! is a fun and light-hearted movie exploring what a teenager would do if given superpowers and put into an adult’s body. At its heart, Shazam! is a movie about family and takes place right around the holidays with Philadelphia having snow and Christmas lights galore.
Shazam! is available to stream on HBO Max and to buy or rent here.