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As such, Christmas action movies present a welcome alternative to viewers who like the holidays but are in the mood for something unusual. The best Christmas action movies have the power to entertain the audience regardless of whether they watch them during Christmas or not.
5 Violent Night (2022)
It remains an open question whether the new action Christmas movie Violent Night will become such a classic as other movies belonging to this genre. However, its overall quality and positive reviews and ratings are promising for the movie’s reputation. David Harbour of Stranger Things fame steals the movie as a cynical Santa who unexpectedly ends up defending a rich family against a bunch of criminals.
The movie takes a premise that could easily turn absurd and makes it into a fast-paced story with a dark sense of humor and beautifully choreographed action sequences which there are plenty of for the viewers to enjoy. The movie offers an untraditional portrayal of Santa and shows that even in the popular genre of Christmas action movies, there are still refreshing stories to be told.
4 Batman Returns (1992)
Crime never sleeps in Gotham, not even during the Christmas holidays. As such, Michael Keaton’s Batman has his hands full, not just with the Penguin but also with Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman who seems to have nine lives and crosses his path more than once. Superhero movies tend to be full of action, but the Christmas setting is rare in them. Batman Returns changed this and incorporates the holidays into the story in an organic way.
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Of course, nothing is rosy in Gotham, but the city is made slightly more beautiful thanks to the Christmas trees and blinking lights and decorations. Batman Returns takes the time to explore the twisted relationships between the characters and creates more than one action scene that will stick with the viewers for a while.
3 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Before he rose to a new level of stardom as Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. starred in the underappreciated Shane Black action comedy. Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer create a strong duo that wouldn’t be out of place in some of the best buddy cop movies. And that’s despite the fact that one of them is a thief and the other one a private eye. The movie doesn’t have as strong a Christmas atmosphere as other movies, but it doesn’t matter in the slightest since the story keeps a fast pace, offers more than one surprising twist, and it can make the audience laugh.
The Christmas decorations in Los Angeles only add another layer of charm to the movie. Shane Black is no stranger to action movies, having written the screenplays for the Lethal Weapon series, to name just one, but Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is the one movie his fans shouldn’t miss out on watching during Christmas.
2 Home Alone (1990)
Most Christmas action movies orient primarily toward the adult audience. Home Alone as well as its successor from 1992 is one of the few notable exceptions and serves as an excellent introduction to the genre for children. Macaulay Culkin plays Kevin, a smart boy who has to deal with two burglars after his family forgets him at home at Christmas. The movie offers a fair amount of action sequences that usually include Kevin dealing with his unwanted guests in a variety of (often brutal but also fun) ways.
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At the same time, the viewers realize that Kevin is still in real danger, which adds a sense of urgency to the story. The fact that the main hero is a child is then best reflected in the stronger Christmas atmosphere and the message about the importance of family and forgiveness.
1 Die Hard (1988)
Die Hard doesn’t need a detailed introduction since it’s one of the classics and the most iconic non-Christmas holiday movies of all time. Bruce Willis stars as John McClane, a police officer who attends a Christmas party in a skyscraper and has to save the building and everyone in it from a group of terrorists, even though he’s underpowered and doesn’t even have shoes…at first.
The movie keeps throwing new challenges at John, and he tries to take them in stride but unlike the undefeatable movie supermen, John’s still just a man which makes it easy to cheer him on and wish him luck. That’s despite the fact that the late Alan Rickman plays Hans Gruber, the leader of the terrorists and one of the most charismatic movie villains of all time. The role of Gruber sent Rickman on the path to mainstream stardom. The movie spawned several sequels, but many fans agree the first film is also the best.
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