Our Top 7 Christmas Movies in Disguise - MovieMaker Magazine

      These disguised Christmas films will provide entertainment whether you're in the mood for holiday cinema or want a break from conventional Christmas flicks.

      They serve well as Christmas movies or simply as enjoyable films.

      Let's dive in.

      Die Hard (1988)

      20th Century Fox – Credit: C/O

      First things first: Die Hard is the quintessential “is it a Christmas movie” debate film. No one regarded it as such upon its release; it was simply an action-packed movie featuring NYPD officer John McClane attempting to rescue his estranged wife Holly Gennero (Bonnie Bedelia) from a Los Angeles high-rise.

      However, through years of online discussions and interpretations, Die Hard has gained acceptance as a Christmas movie by many.

      Holly’s name plays a crucial role in this perspective—not only due to the festive connotation of “holly,” but also because she has dropped McClane as her surname, which signals the deteriorating state of their family. Ultimately, Die Hard, much like Christmas, revolves around family reunification and hope for the future.

      It also holds a well-deserved spot on our list of the 11 Most Helpful Ventilation Shafts in Movies.

      The Apartment (1960)

      United Artists

      In Billy Wilder’s exceptional The Apartment, the Christmas aspect is effectively, beautifully subtle. The story follows Fran (Shirley MacLaine), an elevator operator engaged in a secret affair with powerful executive Jeff Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray).

      Meanwhile, the kind-hearted Bud Baxter (Jack Lemmon) harbors feelings for her, all while allowing Sheldrake and other company executives to use his apartment for their liaisons, including Sheldrake’s encounters with Fran.

      During the company Christmas party—a symbol of corporate excess—Fran discovers that Sheldrake is merely leading her on. At a time meant for celebrating family and togetherness, she realizes she isn't just another woman but one of many with whom Sheldrake has been involved. The narrative takes a darker turn, but things manage to conclude happily by New Year’s Eve.

      Similar to It’s a Wonderful Life—which is omitted from this list due to its obvious Christmas theme—The Apartment thrives by acknowledging life’s darker realities alongside its joyful moments.

      Little Women (2019)

      Sony Pictures Releasing

      Nothing in Greta Gerwig’s beautiful adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s two-volume 1868-89 novel about the March sisters overtly resembles a Christmas film... until a festive scene when Father March, portrayed by Bob Odenkirk, joyfully returns home from the Civil War.

      “My little women,” he affectionately states, delivering one of the film’s best lines in a moment of genuine emotion amidst a cast filled with outstanding performances.

      This incredibly moving moment resonates because it refrains from overreaching for excessive emotionality.

      Tangerine (2015)

      Magnolia Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Like Die Hard, Tangerine unfolds during Christmas in Los Angeles—a location where weather in the 70s can easily obscure the holiday spirit unless you’re at an outdoor mall.

      When the exceptional Sean Baker film premiered, its coverage largely concentrated on two significant aspects: firstly, its candid, compassionate, and humorous depiction of transgender sex workers (played by Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, both remarkable) during an era when transgender representation in cinema was scarce; and secondly, the fact it was filmed entirely on iPhones, a rarity that hinted at a potential shift in indie filmmaking.

      Beneath these two notable points lies a classic narrative: Tangerine is a story about family at Christmas. It’s a found family, certainly, deviating from the typical sugar-coated Christmas portrayals. This uniqueness makes Tangerine even more engaging.

      The Terminator (1984)

      Orion Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Indeed, The Terminator. No, it doesn’t occur during Christmas, and no, you haven’t overlooked a scene featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa. Yet, The Terminator might be the most authentic Christmas movie on this list due to its evident inspiration from the Biblical story of Christ’s birth.

      Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor represents the Virgin Mary—a young woman who will soon give birth to humanity’s savior, through extraordinary circumstances: her encounter with Michael Biehn’s Kyle Reese, a time traveler from the future. Her child, John Connor, shares initials with Jesus Christ.

      SkyNet, the menacing AI that dispatches The Terminator to eliminate Sarah before her baby is born, resembles King Herod of Judea, who ordered the “massacre of the innocents”—the slaughter of newborns in Bethlehem—fearing that Jesus would one day take over his reign.

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

      Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

      Warner Bros.

      Set during Christmas in Los Angeles once again, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang marks the directorial debut of screenwriter