Not all of the best Christmas movies are particularly family-friendly. For example, there are many horror films that are both hilarious and scary Christmas, and there are many horror films that fuse highly stylized thrills into the holiday setting – the latest (and perhaps the most defining one yet) violent night.
The 2022 movie starring David Harbor as the funniest Santa Claus ever made me excited to revisit other great flicks that some might hesitate to consider as Christmas movies, but still keep the holidays bright with gag flashes and visceral explosions, like Die hard. In fact, let’s start with this masterpiece – which I think deserves to be called a Christmas movie despite the contrarian arguments – and a similarly festive sequel on our list of the best Christmas action movies, along with info on where to find it.
Die Hard and Die Hard 2 (1988, 1990)
On Christmas Eve, a New York City cop (Bruce Willis) is tasked with rescuing his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and her co-workers when burglars take them hostage in a Los Angeles skyscraper, and exactly two years later, he becomes involved in a similar incident. The situation at Washington Dulles International Airport.
Why they are among the best Christmas action movies: While it’s not quite perfect, director John McTiernan does Die hard It’s widely considered one of the best action films ever made for its suspenseful suspense, first-rate action sequences, and the sequel’s incredibly talented cast and director Renny Harlin – which also makes great use of the vacation setting – is full of fun, too.
Stream Die Hard on Starz (Opens in a new tab).
Rent (or buy) Die Hard on Amazon (Opens in a new tab).
Play Die Hard 2 on Starz (Opens in a new tab).
Rent (or buy) Die Hard 2 on Amazon (Opens in a new tab).
The Tower (2012)
On Christmas Eve, residents of a 108-story apartment complex in Korea are tasked with finding a way out alive when a devastating fire breaks out during a party.
Why it’s one of the best Christmas action movies: Borrow plot elements from Die hard And the Towering hell (Before Dwayne Johnson Skyscraper she did), the tower is a high-stakes South Korean thriller that – like any great holiday classic – is about a family coming together despite insurmountable odds.
Rent (or buy) the tower on Amazon (Opens in a new tab).
Lethal Weapon (1987)
The holidays are postponed for an aging detective (Danny Glover) and his younger, looser new partner (Mel Gibson) who are thrown together to hunt down drug smugglers in Los Angeles.
Why it’s one of the best Christmas action movies: before there was Die hardThere was the first final buddy cop movie directed by Richard Donner, lethal Weaponwhich is arguably the best of the many Shane Black holiday classics on our list.
Rent (or buy) a lethal weapon on Amazon (Opens in a new tab).
The Last Scout (1991)
A private investigator (Bruce Willis) and former NFL player (Damon Wayans) become embroiled in a violent corruption conspiracy in the world of professional sports after a mysterious murder-suicide by a star athlete on the football field.
Why it’s one of the best Christmas action movies: The second Shane Black Christmas classic on our list—the most obvious evidence of his connection to the holiday is a gory portrayal of “evil Klaus ”- is directed by Tony Scott The last scoutand it is one of the best Bruce Willis movies.
Stream The Last Boy Scout on Tubi.
Rent (or buy) The Last Boy Scout on Amazon (Opens in a new tab).
A Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
After her memories as a government killer surface, an amnesiac woman (Geena Davis) teams up with a detective (Samuel L. Jackson, as a character he would like to return to) to help her protect her family from the enemies of her past.
Why it’s one of the best Christmas action movies: Another Christmas classic, Shane Black Bened Good night kisswhich is also another fun buddy movie and action-packed flick from Die Hard 2 Director Renee Darlin.
Stream The Long Kiss Goodnight on Showtime.
Rent (or buy) The Long Kiss Goodnight on Amazon (Opens in a new tab).
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
After being mistaken for an actor, a runaway thief (Robert Downey Jr.) teams up with a private investigator (Val Kilmer) to solve a case as part of the search for a movie role in Hollywood over Christmas.
Why it’s one of the best Christmas action movies: Considered Shane Black’s best movie (and features one of Downey Jr.’s best non-MCU performances) is his directorial debut, Kiss kiss bang bang – A new dazzling thriller based on the novel by Brett Hallyday, bodies where you find them.
Stream Kiss Kiss Bang Bang on Showtime.
Rent (or buy) a Kiss Kiss Bang Bang on Amazon (Opens in a new tab).
Iron Man 3 (2013)
After suffering a terrorist attack on his property (while trying to escape) that leaves him stranded in a small town, a traumatized Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) teams up with a young fan (Ty Simpkins) to help him get home, rescue Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow), and defeat another. his enemies.
Why it’s one of the best Christmas action movies: Shane Black later directed Downey Jr. in the MCU’s performance Iron Man 3which – you guessed it – is (along with hook PBS) is one of the few MCU installments that revolves around Christmas and even borrows some themes from traditional classics like Christmas story.
Stream Iron Man 3 on Disney (Opens in a new tab).
Rent (or buy) Iron Man 3 on Amazon (Opens in a new tab).
Batman Returns (1992)
A wealthy vigilante (Michael Keaton) finds himself at odds with a bird-like foe (Danny DeVito), but is drawn to another cat-like foe (Michelle Pfeiffer).
Why it’s one of the best Christmas action movies: One of the best live-action Batman movies is one of the best superhero movies set during the Christmas season. Batman Returns – director Tim Burton’s innovative and controversial follow-up to the box office debut of The Dark Knight.
Stream Batman Returns on HBO Max (Opens in a new tab).
Rent (or buy) Batman Returns on Amazon (Opens in a new tab).
Reindeer Games (2000)
A recently released prisoner (Ben Affleck) finds himself participating in a dangerous robbery on Christmas Eve after posing as his dead cellmate to be with the dead man’s girlfriend (Charlize Theron).
Why it’s one of the best Christmas action movies: Years before he played Batman himself, Affleck starred in director John Frankenheimer’s Reindeer games – A thriller filled with holiday themes such as the title, settings, the thieves’ choice to dress as Santa during the central crime, and the main character’s name: Rudolph.
Stream reindeer games on HBO Max (Opens in a new tab).
Rent (or buy) reindeer toys on Amazon (Opens in a new tab).
Enemy of the State (1998)
After accidentally obtaining evidence of a government conspiracy while searching for a Christmas gift for his wife (Regina King), a lawyer (Will Smith) suddenly finds himself targeted by a corrupt politician.
Why it’s one of the best Christmas action movies: It is one of the best Will Smith films of the 90s. enemy of the state An intense tale for everyone from producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
Rent (or buy) Enemy of the State on Amazon (Opens in a new tab).
The Silent Partner (1978)
After receiving a tip about an upcoming order, the bank teller (Elliott Gould) hoards most of the money for himself, leaving the crook (Christopher Plummer) confused and decidedly unhappy about it.
Why it’s one of the best Christmas action movies: Plummer’s villainous character incites the robbery The silent partner In The Santa Claus Suit, which is one of the few ways this exciting, even hilarious, adaptation of Anders Podelsen’s novel, Think of a numberIt deserves attention during the holidays.
Hire the silent partner on amazon (Opens in a new tab).
Killer Games (1989)
After a killer dressed as Santa Claus breaks into his home, it’s up to a young boy to stand up for himself and his grandfather on a fateful Christmas Eve.
Why it’s one of the best Christmas action movies: Imagine a plot Home Alonebut with much higher stakes and more graphic violence that isn’t played for laughs, and you, basically, have this French thriller (and one of the best non-horror movies on Shudder) known in the states as killer games.
Stream killer games on Shudder (Opens in a new tab).
May your holidays be merry, bright, and filled with explosive, high-octane action by gathering the family (minus the little ones, to be safe) to watch one of the classic Christmas action movies.
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