20 Christmas Movies that are not Christmas Movies 

There are a lot of movies set during Christmas, but unlike the typical Christmasy plot of kindness and family bonding, these movies feature many different and diverse themes. Often set against the backdrop of a Christmas setting with decorated trees all around and landscapes adorned with snow, contrary to what one might believe these movies are not about Christmas. They are rather about much deeper issues. For example, corruption, saving the world, high school rivalry, and many others.

Here is a list of 20 Christmas movies that are not Christmas movies actually.

20) The Book Thief

Released in 2013, the movie The Book Thief is about a young girl stuck amidst World War II in Germany. Her only calm in the chaos all around her was books. This fictional account of a historical event is a classic masterpiece. Some might believe it to be a Christmas movie because of its message about hope, resilience, love, the importance of family, and a lot more. But quite contrary to this notion, this is a deep movie about the futility of war and the loss of innocent human lives.

19) Annie Hall

Annie Hall is another movie tuning on the note of Christmas. Set near the holiday month which can be seen featuring the protagonists driving in front of Christmas decorations. This movie is much deeper than being simply a Christmas movie. It is a timeless tale of growth in relationships and growth of an individual overall. It is a unique take on how people fall in love and how, with time, they fall out of love.

18) Rocky IV

The Sylvester Stallone classic Rocky IV is an iconic movie. Sometimes, people consider it as a Christmas watch because of the movie taking place on Christmas, but Rocky IV is anything but that. It is a movie about vengeance and perseverance and the role of triumph and failure in shaping a person. Featuring Rocky and Ivan, two boxers, this movie is great at capturing what goes on behind the scenes in fighting competitions.

17) Jerry Maguire

Jerry Maguire takes place mostly during Christmas. It qualifies as a Christmas movie with its romantic comedy appeal, but is quite different. It is about Jerry, a sports manager, and how the entry of a single mother and her cute and intelligent son changed his life. This movie is about reinventing oneself in the face of adversaries and how companionship is vital in life.

16) While You Were Sleeping

Set during the holiday season, the movie While You Were Sleeping qualifies as a perfect Christmas watch. But on second thought, this movie is deeper and deals with more profound issues. For example, it is about the importance of self-identity and self-respect and something more important - a sense of belonging, which Lucy finds in the Callaghan family.

15) Clueless

Some people might consider Clueless a Christmas movie because of a few scenes taking place against the backdrop of Christmas. But it is much more than that. It is a coming-of-age movie about a teenager learning the importance of being humble in life and how empathy and compassion help make one's life beautiful. With its inclusion of fashion, humor, and a classic take on the prevalent social hierarchy in high school, this movie works to send some deep messages to the audience.

14) The Parent Trap

The Parent Trap, featuring Lindsay Lohan, is about two twins separated at birth who are on a mission to reunite their parents. With its moments of warmth and generous holiday spirit, some people might associate it with being a Christmas movie, but it is more than that. It is a tale about the importance of family and how every kid desires the stability of having both their parents around themselves.

13) Mean Girls

Although Mean Girls might have produced one of the classic Christmas cultural phenomena in the form of the dance jingle bell rock, it is simply not a Christmas movie. It is another coming-of-age movie delving into the intricacies of high school cliques, their social hierarchy, and the drama it ensures. It is a story about finding yourself amidst constant peer pressure and a wish to stand out.

12) Little Women

Based on the book by Louisa May Alcott, the movie Little Women is about four sisters and the hardships they face with their father off to war. The movie features a very humble Christmas morning as they can't indulge in luxuries because of their financial struggles, and what little they have, they happily give to someone who needs it more. Although it encapsulates a lot of lessons Christmas tends to teach us, it even focuses on more profound issues like the thin line between friendship and love.

11) A Star is Born

The Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper starrer, A Star Is Born, has won a lot of Oscars and Grammys alike. With a few scenes of togetherness and connections happening during the holiday, some might think this musical masterpiece is a Christmas movie. But A Star Is Born is anything but that. It is a movie about ambitions and complicated relationships and how emotional vulnerability plays an important role in connecting them.

10) Catch Me If You Can

Catch Me if You Can, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is a movie about a con artist scamming his way through life. The FBI is on a mission to catch him, but he is always two steps ahead. With its few scenes set during the holiday season and its theme of the prodigal son, people might think of it as a Christmas movie. But Catch Me If You Can has a very different tone to it. It is a movie about the weight of living a life based on lies and how your perfectly assembled story of corruption can scramble with one small mistake.

9) The Chronichles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

The Chronicles of Narnia, the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, with its cameo by Father Christmas and extravagant holiday setting, might be considered by many kids and adults as a Christmas movie. But this memorable tale transcends into much deeper topics. It is about good versus evil and how sacrifice and redemption shape one's life. With its fantastical elements, this movie also works on themes of courage, friendship, and faith.

8) Lethal Weapon

Lethal Weapon might feature a Christmas party, but in a much broader sense, it is far from a Christmas movie. It is an action-packed movie about a cop working in the Los Angeles police department on a mission to uncover drug trafficking. This movie is about trauma, friendships, and, most important of all, redemption.

7) Frozen

The Disney classic Frozen is about the two sisters, Elsa and Anna, and is considered a great Christmas movie. But in hindsight, it is far more than a mere Christmas movie. It is a tale about the everlasting bond between two sisters and the sacrifices your family can make for you. It also spreads the message about the importance of overcoming your fears and how, only after that, you can truly embrace yourself.

6) Batman Returns

Batman Returns is about the savior of Gotham City and is set against the backdrop of the holiday season. The snow, the lights, and the decoration are in stark contrast to its dark themes of corruption, vengeance, and betrayal. It is about a superhero struggling with self-identity and trying to balance his life while on a mission to save his city from sinister elements.

5) Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3 can be labeled as a Christmas movie by some because of its lavish Christmas parties, holiday music, and decorations. In fact, it also features a savior saving the Earth. But while its warmth might disguise it as a Christmas movie for a while, Iron Man 3 is nothing but that. It is a movie about a superhero on a journey of redemption while facing personal demons. It shows how even the mighty suffer from vulnerabilities.

4) Deadpool

While Deadpool features scenes set at Christmas, this gruesome and violent tale cannot be labeled as a Christmas movie. With a love story at its center, this movie is a dark comedy about issues like revenge transformation and, in the end, self-acceptance. Featuring Ryan Reynolds, this movie is a unique superhero tale filled with graphic and grotesque, violent elements.

3) GoodFellas

The movie Goodfellas features a Christmas party and a Christmas dinner with family, but all this warmth isn't enough to mask the dark and violent crime world. This iconic story set against underworld criminal organizations, with its irony and dark humor, is about Henry Hill and his journey in the world of crime. It has elements of betrayal and crimes with a detailed portrayal of the gangster lifestyle.

2) The Godfather

The Godfather is said to be one of the greatest films ever made in the history of cinema. While the movie might feature a Christmas scene or have a layer of festivities wrapped around it, there is no denying that the true theme of the movie is about the mob world. The story, contrary to the warmth and relaxing nature of Christmas movies, is about betrayal, loyalty, vengeance, and ruthlessness prevalent in the criminal world.

1) Die Hard

One of the most debated notions in the world of cinema is about whether the film Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not. Although it is set during a Christmas party and has all the holiday elements, this movie has a much deeper and darker undertone. It's an action-packed film about a cop trying to save the day. It might feature some elements of a Christmas movie, like forgiveness and redemption, but there is no denying the prevalence of dark themes like violence, betrayal, ruthlessness, and rashness.