We all know the annual argument about Die Hard, but it’s far from the only movie that gets dragged into the “Is this a Christmas movie?” debate. Over the years, plenty of films that aren’t traditionally festive have earned holiday-season status thanks to snowy settings, Christmas decorations, or plots that unfold during December. A list floating around online highlights 13 movies that spark that same yearly discussion.
Here are the movies people can’t agree on:
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Every Harry Potter movie (2001–2011). Nearly all of them feature cozy winter scenes or Christmas moments at Hogwarts, giving the entire series a holiday feel.
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Batman Returns (1992). Gotham’s Christmas atmosphere plays a major role, including a memorable tree-lighting scene.
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Eyes Wide Shut (1999). Despite a summer release, the story unfolds entirely during the Christmas season.
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Gremlins (1984). Christmas is central to the plot—even if it comes with chaos, mayhem, and murderous creatures.
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First Blood (1982). A background Christmas tree makes some fans boldly declare it a holiday movie.
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Trading Places (1983). From a Christmas party to Dan Aykroyd dressed as a drunken Santa, it straddles Christmas and New Year’s.
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Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005). Set in Los Angeles during Christmas and released in November, it leans festive despite its crime-comedy tone.
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Edward Scissorhands (1990). Its snowy suburbia and emotional holiday scenes make it an easy inclusion.
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Lethal Weapon (1987). Another action film that just happens to take place during Christmas time.
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Rocky (1976). Spanning Thanksgiving through New Year’s, it covers multiple holidays—plus boxing.
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Hook (1991). The real-world scenes outside of Neverland are set during Christmas.
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Iron Man 3 (2013). The entire movie plays out during the holiday season, explosions included.
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The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). A classic debate: Halloween movie or Christmas movie? Many argue it’s both.
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