30 of the best alternative Christmas movies for the holidays

'Batman Returns' (1992) - Tim Burton is known for his dark and uncomfortable tales, and this take on the Batman story is no exception. Michael Keaton plays the Caped Crusader fighting crime during the holiday season. For additional cheer watch him use gadgets to defeat villains like the Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer).

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'Trading Places' (1983) - With its all-star cast, this 1980s film is all about good old family values, and is known for the hilarious repartee bounced around between the characters. A young Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd play two men of different social classes, that have their lives upended and turned around. Look out for a salmon-stealing Santa Claus.

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'Lethal Weapon' (1987) - The Christmas version of buddy cop movies, ‘Lethal Weapon’ is also played out during the festive season. The shoot out in the Christmas tree lot is a real giveaway.

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'The Apartment' (1960) - 'The Apartment' follows company man C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) who rents out his apartment to his superiors for secret romantic trysts with their mistresses in exchange for climbing a couples of rungs on the corporate ladder. However, in another Christmas party twist of fate, the… snowballs… really hit the fan.

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'Bad Santa' (2003) - Combining a bit of heartwarming comfort with a heavy dose of dark humor, ‘Bad Santa’ is a truly alternative Christmas movie. Follow Billy Bob Thornton’s unconventional take on the mall Santa, as he drinks and shouts his way through the holidays.

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'In Bruges' (2008) - You would normally think of Bruges as a magical place to spend Christmas. However, it’s the last place Colin Farrell wants to be. After a botched crime job, he and Brendan Gleeson have to hide out in the city during the holidays.

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'Eyes Wide Shut' (1999) -

Probably the furthest you can get from a family-friendly Christmas film, ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ is set during the festive break and has a religious theme running through it. Definitely not one to watch with the kids. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star in this edgy Kubrick offering.

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'Iron Man 3' (2013) - Great for kids and adults alike, this movie plays out during the holiday season, so why not sit back with Robert Downey Jr while the kids zoom around the room as Iron Man.

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'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (1993) - It has often been debated whether this particular Tim Burton effort is a better choice for Halloween or Christmas. We reckon it's great for either.

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'The Hudsucker Proxy' (1994) - If you’re a fan of the Coen brothers, this may be your perfect choice for the holiday season. Starring Paul Newman as the corrupt boss, his scheming is turned upside down when recently hired naive graduate (Tim Robbins) ends up being far more successful than the boss thought possible. All this is played out during, you guessed it, the Christmas season.

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'Black Christmas' (1974, 2006 and 2019) - This film was remade in 2006, however we recommend either sticking to the original or checking out the new remake. The 1974 version is considered one of the original slasher films, and has inspired all those subsequent Halloween flicks. However, given the title and the yuletide setting, it is still one for the holidays.

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'An Affair to Remember' (1957) - If you’re an admirer of classic romances, hearts will flutter with this Christmas love story. Cary Grant stars as a playboy artist who has an affair with Deborah Kerr. A missed appointment leads to all sorts of adventures.

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'Santa Claus Conquers the Martians' (1964) - Shot on a budget that could buy you a cup of coffee and a donut, this sci-fi flick is both hilarious and Christmas-themed! If you’re a fan of things like ‘Trolls 2’ or ‘Jurassic Shark,’ you’ll love this campy film.

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'Krampus' (2015) - Beginning with an uncomfortable family Christmas gathering that perhaps some can relate to at this time of year, Krampus then gets much darker when a campfire monster-esque villain is released. The film is ideal for anyone hoping for some holiday fear.

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'Edward Scissorhands' (1990) - The third Tim Burton film featured in this list sees Johnny Depp playing Edward Scissorhands. The doctor who created him dies before completing his work, so Depp's character ends up with scissors instead of real hands. He is then taken in by a family that includes a young Winona Ryder, and dark humor ensues.

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'Office Christmas Party' (2016) - The annual office Christmas party gets a little out of control. But how could it not with Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, and T.J. Miller running the show?!

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'Go' (1999) - While a movie about a drug deal may not seem particularly festive, Timothy Olyphant in a Santa hat may change your mind. The star-studded cast includes actors Katie Holmes and Taye Diggs, players that have helped turn this film into a cult classic.

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'Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale' (2010) - This Finnish film is set at Christmas and based on two different short films. It's a dark Christmas story where a company traps wild Santa Clauses and exports them to locations around the world. Festive fantasy or what?

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'The Ice Harvest' (2005) - Based around a Christmas Eve heist, John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton star in this crime caper, the plot of which revolves around a plan to steal from the Mob. However, ice and snow are not conducive to quick getaways.

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'Mean Girls' (2004) - While it may only include one iconic Christmas scene, ‘Mean Girls’ is a great movie to watch any time of year.

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'While You Were Sleeping' (1995) - Like most of us, Sandra Bullock spends her Christmas with family. The only difference here is that she's staying with her fake fiancé’s family.

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'L.A. Confidential' (1997) - Commencing at ‘Bloody Christmas,’ this cop film features a suitably festive soundtrack, lots of parties, and plenty of decorations in the background of the action scenes. Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce are among those appearing in this distinctly non-Christmasy Christmas film.

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'Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone' (2001) - Pretty much every Harry Potter film involves a Christmas scene or two, however the first outing seems like a pretty good place to start. If you feel like binging all eight movies back-to-back, the cold winter months are a good time to do so.

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'The Night Before' (2015) - A modern comedy, this is great to watch if you’re looking for a light laugh. Trying to gain entry into the best Christmas Eve party in town, childhood friends Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie go all out for their final holiday together.

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'Gremlins' (1984) - Everyone remembers the three rules: no food after midnight, no bright lights, and don’t get them wet. Set during Christmas time, these mischievous little critters are sure to leave you entertained.

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'Just Friends' (2005) - Set during the Christmas holidays, watch Ryan Reynolds try to win over his childhood best friend/crush (Amy Smart), despite various mishaps. Bonus: Reynolds has to wear a fat suit for all of the flashbacks.

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'Rise of the Guardians' (2012) -

If you’re a parent, you may think that you’ve seen every animated Christmas movie ever made at least 100 times. However, this surprisingly refreshing take on Santa (Alec Baldwin) and other favorite holiday characters depicted as action heroes makes better viewing than endless reruns of ‘Rudolph.’

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'Brazil' (1985) -

This Yuletide satire written by Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam has become a cult classic with its comic take on excessive bureaucracy. If you’re into films with a dystopian theme, then this manic movie littered with weird Santa-related imagery is for you.

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