You know it's holiday time when Home Alone, Elf and Hallmark Christmas movies are on your TV all of December. Yet, although Buddy's endearing naivety and Kevin McCallister's persistent determination bring a warm sense of comfort, watching the standard holiday movies can become monotonous. If you're looking to take a break from the usual offerings this season, there are plenty of alternative films that take place during the winter holidays.
We have a small batch of suggestions to get you inspired to go outside of the typical Christmas movie box, from gangster films to horror flicks to the incredibly sad. Find a new favorite tradition to watch this holiday season. For more, check out our 15 favorite Christmas cartoons.
A classic in any genre, Gremlins deserves to be on your holiday watchlist for its charm, chaos and educational service about Mogwai. Gizmo is cute, but Stripe and his ilk bring destruction and Christmas disaster to your TV screen.
A babysitting gig goes terribly wrong in Better Watch Out, a Christmas-y horror film that may have flown under the radar. 17-year-old Ashley shows up to watch her 12-year-old charge, Luke, and odd things start to happen -- like a brick thrown through the window and a home invasion. But nothing is what it seems in this twist-filled flick.
Santa Claus may be the star of the season, but Krampus deserves his due. He gets it in this black comedy starring Adam Scott, Toni Collette and Allison Tolman. The film has holiday lights, snow, a family party and a monster. What more could you need?
Talk that sass! Released on Christmas Day in 2015, Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight features a blizzardy winter backdrop and a bunch of strangers trapped together at a haberdashery. Armed with guns, slick mouths and hidden agendas, there's no telling who will survive. Sounds like a good time, right? The movie includes Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins and Michael Madsen.
A weird phone call to a sorority house sets the stage for this holiday slasher film starring Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder and John Saxon. College students turn up missing -- and worse -- during the holidays, and there seems to be no way to escape. Fire pokers and Christmas carolers are no help here, either. Watch the 1974 original or the 2006 remake on Tubi.
Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder feature in this eclectic Tim Burton classic that brings snow, holiday decorations and an isolated yet mild-natured man into the neighborhood. Depp's shear-handed Edward has a special moment with Ryder's Kim on Christmas, but the movie is filled with (somewhat) tender scenes and winter themes.
No unconventional holiday movie list would be complete without including Die Hard. That's it.
Marlon Brando won an Academy Award for his role as Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's gangster gem. This movie may not have your traditional Christmas vibe, but it has a theme of family togetherness along with that famous scene where Michael Corleone and Kay are out holiday shopping. Stream the first film, then follow up with The Godfather II.
If you're in the mood for a film with fellowship, love and good music, then The Best Man Holiday fits the bill. But there's tragedy in this story that will have you bawling your eyes out by the end. The star-studded cast stars Morris Chestnut, Monica Calhoun, Sanaa Lathan, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau and Melissa De Sousa. Watch it this season if you can handle the sadness.
Adam Sandler has a track record with holiday-themed movies (that includes Hubie Halloween, folks), but Bedtime Stories may be one of his less popular releases. Still, if you like goofy fantasy movies with lessons about being grateful for who and what you have, this one is a family-friendly pick.
