Our Top 7 Christmas Movies That Are Not Typically Recognized as Such - MovieMaker Magazine

      These Christmas-themed films in disguise will amuse you whether you're in the mood for a Christmas movie or feeling fatigued by the typical holiday fare.

      Why are we discussing Christmas movies in June?

      Because nothing makes us long for Christmas quite like summer.

      Die Hard (1988)

      20th Century Fox – Credit: C/O

      Let’s address this first: Die Hard stands as the quintessential "is it a Christmas movie" Christmas film. No one regarded it as such upon its release; it was simply a thrilling action film about NYPD officer John McClane trying to save his estranged wife Holly Gennero (Bonnie Bedelia) in a Los Angeles skyscraper.

      However, over the years and amidst various internet debates, Die Hard has effectively become widely acknowledged as a Christmas movie.

      Holly’s name plays a significant role in this interpretation of Die Hard — not only due to the Christmas symbolism of "holly," but also because she has forsaken McClane as her last name, indicating the family’s disintegration. Ultimately, Die Hard, much like Christmas, revolves around family reunification and building a future.

      Additionally, it proudly features on our list of the 11 Most Helpful Ventilation Shafts in Movies.

      The Apartment (1960)

      United Artists – Credit: C/O

      In Billy Wilder’s brilliant film, The Apartment, the Christmas aspect is cleverly and subtly incorporated. The story revolves around Fran (Shirley MacLaine), an elevator operator, and her secret affair with high-ranking executive Jeff Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray).

      Meanwhile, the well-meaning Bud Baxter (Jack Lemmon) secretly longs for her, even as he permits Sheldrake and other executives to use his apartment for their affairs, including Sheldrake’s rendezvous with Fran.

      During the company Christmas party — a representation of workplace extravagance — Fran discovers Sheldrake has been misleading her. While it's a season meant for family and togetherness, she realizes she is not just "the other woman," but merely one of many with whom Sheldrake has been involved. The narrative takes a darker turn but arrives at a rather joyful conclusion by New Year's Eve.

      Similar to It’s a Wonderful Life — which is absent from this list due to its clear designation as a Christmas movie — The Apartment effectively conveys the somber realities of life alongside its more cheerful moments.

      Little Women (2019)

      Sony Pictures Releasing

      Greta Gerwig’s beautiful adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s acclaimed novel about the March sisters doesn’t initially feel like a Christmas movie… until a heartwarming scene where Bob Odenkirk’s Father March returns home from the Civil War.

      “My little women,” he warmly proclaims, deftly underplaying the film's title with one of the finest line deliveries in a movie brimming with splendid performances.

      This moment is immensely cathartic and poignant, largely because it doesn’t overreach for an exaggerated emotional impact.

      Tangerine (2015)

      Magnolia Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Like Die Hard, Tangerine unfolds during Christmas in Los Angeles — where the warm winter temperatures can easily give the illusion that it isn’t the holiday season, unless you're near an outdoor shopping center.

      When it was released, much of the discussion revolved around two noteworthy aspects: the film’s candid, compassionate, and humorous portrayal of the lives of transgender sex workers (played by Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, both remarkable), at a time when trans representation in cinema was scarce. Additionally, it was famously filmed entirely on iPhones, a groundbreaking approach in indie filmmaking at the time.

      Nonetheless, beneath those distinctions lies a traditional narrative: Tangerine revolves around a family during Christmas. Although it depicts a found family — one not typically shown in typical festive films — it makes the movie all the more captivating.

      The Terminator (1984)

      Orion Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Indeed, The Terminator. No, it doesn’t take place during Christmas, nor does it feature a scene where Arnold Schwarzenegger dons a Santa suit. However, The Terminator is arguably the most authentic Christmas movie on this list, as it draws inspiration from the Biblical story of Christ's birth.

      Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor embodies the Virgin Mary — a young woman soon to deliver humanity’s savior through extraordinary circumstances: her encounter with Michael Biehn’s Kyle Reese, a time traveler from the future. Moreover, her son, John Connor, shares initials with Jesus Christ.

      SkyNet, the menacing artificial intelligence that sends The Terminator back to terminate Sarah before her child is born, parallels King Herod of Judea, who commanded the “massacre of the innocents” — ordering the deaths of Bethlehem’s infants out of fear that Jesus would reclaim his kingdom.

      Interestingly, James Cameron conceived The Terminator’s idea in Rome, not too far from the Vatican.

      Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

      Warner Bros.

      Set