Merry Christmas…ish
Christmas movie alternatives
It's that time of year again: Santa, gifts, family, Sprite Cranberry, and of course, Christmas movies. With all the holiday festivities, you might get tired of all the Christmas-themed movies. I get it. You want to watch something else, but unfortunately, your mother has the Hallmark Channel playing all hours of the day. You're sick of it and want something different. Well, I'm here to help! Here are some not-quite-Christmas movies, but you can still use the excuse that they are still technically Christmas movies.
Iron Man 3 (2013)
The third and final installment in the Iron Man trilogy sees Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark working to bring down a global terrorist organization led by the mysterious Mandarin while simultaneously struggling with the post-traumatic stress following the battle of New York in The Avengers. As a result of his post-traumatic stress, Stark attempts to cope by building countless Iron Man suits, straining his relationship with his girlfriend Pepper Potts. The film deals with the more serious ramifications of being a hero, while also having some very good comic relief along with some amazing twists to keep you on your toes.
Krampus (2015)
Michael Dougherty's rather unconventional Christmas film is unique as it opens the doorway to blending genres that have not been blended very much over the years: Christmas, horror and comedy. As the name suggests, the film is based on Krampus, a legend in Alpine folklore who is the opposite of Santa. Rather than rewarding nice children, Krampus punishes naughty children. This film makes for a good choice because it does many things to set itself apart from all other Christmas movies. It also carries a PG-13 rating, so it contains many horror elements that you horror fans out there seek, yet it's still somewhat family-friendly, so you can watch it with your younger siblings.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The debate is still ongoing: is it a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? Tim Burton's unconventional blending of completely different holidays works so well that this film is a timeless classic. It's the classic story of Jack Skellington of Halloween Town growing tired of Halloween and later discovering Christmas Town. Despite its darker theme, this is the most family-friendly option, so even smaller kids can enjoy this film with you.
So you see, not all Christmas movies are about the small-town girl who goes to find herself in the big city and has a chance encounter with a rather attractive man from her past. Hopefully, these suggestions will help you escape this genre and enjoy the holiday season the way you want!
By: Evan Majors