What Defines a Christmas Movie?
As the holiday season approaches, it sparks a debate: what truly qualifies a film as a Christmas movie? Is it merely the prominence of red, white, and green hues or quaint storylines revolving around love and small-town life during the festive season? Iconic titles such as Die Hard, Home Alone, Harry Potter, and Love Actually often come to mind, but could there be broader criteria at play? The internet has become a treasure trove of humorous perspectives on this age-old question.
The Annual Discourse on Christmas Cinema
For those frequently engaged with social media, particularly Film Twitter, the onset of December often marks the annual reaffirmation that films like Die Hard are celebrated as honorary Christmas flicks. This tradition has largely remained predictable over the years. However, the conversation is evolving, with some individuals proposing unconventional—and sometimes absurd—justifications for categorizing various films as Christmas stories, provided they can muster a compelling argument.
Unexpected Entries into the Christmas Movie Canon
For instance, consider the film Conclave, featuring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci. One social media user suggested it qualifies as a Christmas movie due to its rich use of red, akin to the cardinals depicted in the film. While it may sound far-fetched, the reasoning is amusing enough to spark conversation.
conclave is a christmas movie because it has a lot of red in it
— kelsey weekman (@kelsaywhat) December 6, 2024
Similarly, others have claimed that Se7en qualifies as a Christmas movie based on its theological discussions. The scene where Brad Pitt expresses childlike excitement over a gift—”What’s in the box?” —could easily fit the festive narrative.
Unpopular opinion, but bear with me:Se7en is a Christmas movie because people talk about the Bible and Brad Pitt gets a present at the end. pic.twitter.com/bZWi23bsDM
— Mr. J? ? (@direllac12) December 11, 2024
Christmas Elements and Symbolism
Even the faintest trace of Christmas décor seems to grant a film the coveted title. Take, for example, A Different Man, which includes a Christmas tree in one scene, or American Psycho, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, and even Babygirl, which gained honorary status thanks to similar visual cues.
BABYGIRL is a Christmas movie. 🎄 pic.twitter.com/Djctu5LE2X
— Tomris Laffly (@TomiLaffly) December 11, 2024
Redefining Genres: A Broader Lens
While some may initially scoff at the idea of categorizing films like Longlegs or Blade Runner as Christmas movies, the explanations from their advocates are intriguing. They argue that thematic depth and visual elements—like color palette and underlying messages—can expand a film’s classification beyond its primary genre, whether it’s horror, sci-fi, or crime drama.
Goodfellas is a Christmas movie ☺️🎄 pic.twitter.com/dre5CezQSV
— K ❤️ (@misskaren1981) December 9, 2024
Inclusive Spirit of the Holiday Season
At the core of these discussions lies the essence of the holiday spirit: the notion that any film can embody the themes of hope and love, provided it possesses something worthy of celebration. By expanding the definition of a Christmas movie, viewers are thrilled with a more extensive selection of films to enjoy with family during the festive season. Ultimately, can you justify your favorite film as a Christmas movie? We invite you to share your reasoning!
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