While Die Hard is considered by many to be the best Christmas movie ever, some insist that just because a movie is set during Christmas, doesn’t make it a Christmas movie. That argument—perfectly reasonable at any other time of year—fails to sway even the most ardent cinephile during the season of incessant reruns of It’s A Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story or the ultimate holiday horror story, Love Actually.
Good thing it’s easy to find the holiday spirit in pretty much any movie you’d rather watch, especially when the only other option is shooting out both your eyes with a Red Ryder BB gun. But finding alternative viewings such as Die Hard, Die Hard 2 (and arguably, Die Hard 3: Die Hard With A Vengeance) on regularly scheduled programming this time of year, isn’t always easy.
We’ve listed a few you can stream on Netflix, Amazon or iTunes, along with some social media crowd-sourced arguments to employ when engaged in intellectual battle for the remote control.
(Note: All movies listed below feature Christmas in some capacity. Obligatory reference to streaming The Interview here.)
Die Hard
“John McClane (Bruce Willis) officer of the NYPD, tries to save wife Holly Gennaro (Bonnie Bedelia) and several others, taken hostage by German terrorist Hans Gruber during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles. In doing so, he discovers the inner meaning of what is important to him—his family. He finds inner salvation for what is troubling him in his life, his fight against personal demons, and what is important to him. It’s a modern day It’s a Wonderful Life.” —Mark Preston
“Similar to Scrooge … but without the time traveling dead people.” —Brenda Haynes
“Love Actually is the worst Christmas movie ever. Alan Rickman is more of a jerk in that movie than in Die Hard. Hans Gruber forever!” —Kelly McMahon
Die Hard
Netflix: DVD only; not available for streaming
Amazon Instant Video: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
iTunes: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
Die Hard 2
Netflix: Criminally not available via DVD or streaming!
Amazon Instant Video Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
iTunes: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
Die Hard 3: Die Hard With A Vengeance
Netflix: Criminally not available via DVD or streaming!
Amazon Instant Video: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
iTunes: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
“I still say Die Hard 3 might be a Christmas flick. Too many references to Santa and the time of year.” —Chris Cain McKalpain
Trading Places
“Charity and the dangers of wearing a gorilla outfit.” —Mike Harris
Trading Places
Netflix: Available for streaming.
Amazon Instant Video: Unlimited streaming with Prime membership.
iTunes: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
Batman Returns
“God help ye nasty psychopaths, there’s nothing you can say, to save your ass from Batman’s wrath, this joyous Christmas day!” — Martin Medearis
“Batman is the Krampus.” —Patricia Thündercat Oun
“Not even because Christmas but because I don’t care what anybody says, Michael Keaton is Batman.” —Kevin Fischer
Batman Returns
Netflix: Available for streaming.
Amazon Instant Video: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
iTunes: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
Eyes Wide Shut
“Christmas shopping is the pits, go home and do drugs to bond with your partner.” —Justin Conklin
“Even though it’s Christmas, things can still suck.” —Scott Winkels
Eyes Wide Shut
Netflix: DVD only; not available for streaming.
Amazon Instant Video: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
iTunes: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
In Bruges
“After a botched hit leaves a child dead, hitman Ray is taken to Bruges by a cheeky and gay Brendan Gleeson to lay low. Unbeknownst to Ray, this is his bosses’ way of giving the failed hitman a nice vacation before he’s killed for his mistake. Watch, as Ralph Fiennes shouts obscenities at everyone while Colin Farrell does witty banter better than he ever has before.
It’s A Christmas Carol, but better because there’s hookers, coke, midgets with hookers and coke, and all the bad guys actually get their karmic justice!” —Josh Carter
In Bruges
Netflix: Available for streaming.
Amazon Instant Video: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
iTunes: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
Edward Scissorhands
It’s wrong to “exploit a person with a physical handicap, causing physical harm and mental anguish, all in the name of ‘helping’ out the less fortunate. With lots of snow!” —Brenda Haynes
Edward Scissorhands
Netflix: DVD only; not available for streaming.
Amazon Instant Video: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
iTunes: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
Rosemary’s Baby
“After giving birth to what turns out to be literally (not just metaphorically) demon spawn, a woman’s life changes, and, with it, her perception of reality. A searing indictment of American crass commercialization of Christmas, as well as a feminist manifesto.” —Stuart Phillips
Rosemary’s Baby
Netflix: Available for streaming.
Amazon Instant Video: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
iTunes: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
Brazil
Uhhhh … I got nuthin’.
Brazil
Netflix: Criminally not available via DVD or streaming!
Amazon Instant Video: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
iTunes: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
Ordinary People
Awkward Family Photos: Christmas Edition
Ordinary People
Netflix: Available for streaming.
Amazon Instant Video: Unlimited streaming with Prime membership.
iTunes: Not available.
The Ref
What, are you kidding me? Kevin Spacey, with that thing on his head! Don’t say I never gave you anything.
The Ref
Netflix: Criminally not available via DVD or streaming!
Amazon Instant Video: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
iTunes: Rental $2.99 SD; $3.99 HD
Less Than Zero (Bonus!)
“Snow is pretty and can be fun but it can also kill you. It’s a modern day To Build A Fire.” —Charlie Kersey
Less Than Zero
Netflix: Available on DVD only, plan for next year because…
Amazon Instant Video: Criminally not available!
iTunes: Criminally not available!
