Ah, Christmas – a time of joy, gifts, and for some, an unbearable amount of festive cheer.
If you're more 'bah humbug' than 'ho ho ho', we've got you covered. Here's a list of 10 Christmas (or should we say anti-Christmas?) movies available on Aussie streaming services that are perfect for those who prefer their holidays with a side of cynicism and a dash of unconventional fun.
1. Die Hard (Disney+)
Who needs Santa when you have Bruce Willis? Die Hard is the ultimate holiday escape, featuring a Christmas party that's more about dodging bullets than dodging the mistletoe.
2. Lethal Weapon (Binge)
If the idea of watching The Santa Clause for the umpteenth time makes you groan, try Lethal Weapon instead. It's like a Christmas dinner – but with more explosions and fewer in-laws.
3. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Stan)
Forget Miracle on 34th Street; it's all about Robert Downey Jr. navigating a criminally funny Christmas in LA. Who knew holiday mishaps could be so entertaining?
4. Bad Santa (Stan)
Billy Bob Thornton as a boozy, foul-mouthed Santa? It's the holiday spirit for those who like their Christmas movies with a bit more... spirit.
5. Christmas Bloody Christmas (Shudder)
It's Christmas Eve and Tori just wants to get drunk and party, but when a local toy store’s robotic Santa Claus goes haywire and begins a rampant killing spree through her small town, she's forced into a battle for survival.
6. The Nightmare Before Christmas (Disney+):
For those who can't decide between Halloween and Christmas, why not both? This Tim Burton classic gives 'festive' a whole new, slightly spooky meaning.
7. Batman Returns (Paramount+)
This isn't your average Christmas movie. It's Gotham City during the holidays, which means more brooding and less carolling - plus, who could go past a film starring screen legends Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, and Michelle Pfeiffer?
8. Gremlins (Binge)
When a teenage boy receives an unusual pet as a Christmas gift, he unwittingly violates the three essential rules for its care which unleashes a horde of mischievous green gremlins, who wreak havoc across the country, turning the holiday season into a chaotic and bizarre adventure.
9. The Advent Calendar (Shudder)
Eva, a paraplegic for three years, receives an unusual advent calendar for her birthday. Contrary to typical advent calendars filled with sweets, this one reveals a mix of pleasant and horrifying surprises, with events growing increasingly bloody as days pass.
10. A Sunburnt Christmas (Stan)
A family living on an outback farm that’s seen hard times suspect there won’t be much Christmas joy this year, but when a strange man dressed as Santa Claus crashes a van full of toys onto their property, their world is turned upside down.
So, there you have it – a list of Christmas movies for those who prefer their holidays a little less traditional and a lot more entertaining.
Whether you're in the mood for action, comedy, or a touch of horror, these films will keep you entertained without a jingle bell in sight. Merry Grinchmas!
