How do you describe an “anti-Christmas” movie?
For me, they’re movies that are holiday-adjacent, but the main story isn’t exactly about Christmas. Some people watch these because they either don’t like the cheesy plots or the holiday itself.
We’re not saying people who don’t like Christmas movies are complete Scrooges. But when you’ve seen too many themed movies with almost the same storylines, you’d steer clear from them, too.
Are you looking for films to watch while lounging at home? Our gift to you is this list—you’re welcome.
“Mean Girls”
One could argue that “Mean Girls” is a Halloween movie, but who could forget the iconic “Jingle Bell Rock” scene?
“Iron Man 3”
We miss Tony Stark every day since he died in “Avengers: Endgame.” If you feel the same, then go add “Iron Man 3” to your Christmas movie list. It’s set in winter, it’s funny, and it has many scenes with families getting together. But it’s obviously not your usual Christmas movie, which is perfect. (Marvel Studios did claim that “Iron Man 3” deserves a spot in the Christmas Movie Hall of Fame. We didn’t even know this existed.)
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”
This movie’s Christmas scene is one of the most memorable for me because it’s where Harry Potter received his invisibility cloak; it’s also the first time we all saw the Great Hall in all its holiday glory. Who wouldn’t want to spend Christmas (and also fight evil) in Hogwarts?
“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”
The fourth “Harry Potter” movie features the Yule Ball—you know, that scene where Hermione Granger went with Viktor Krum, and Ron was all jealous. Drama aside, the ball was also a nice respite from Harry’s battle against Voldemort and his dark forces.
“When Harry Met Sally”
Sure, the story of “When Harry Met Sally” spans both Christmas and New Year’s Eve. However, some people would say the movie mostly focuses on the two characters’ friendship and feelings rather than on the period in which it’s set.
Any “Star Wars” movie
At this point, December can easily associated with “Star Wars.” The most recent one, “The Rise of Skywalker,” even had an exclusive three-day screening before the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) starts. There’s no Christmas theme whatsoever and the Skywalker family is complicated AF. The whole franchise is an anti-Christmas staple and you should definitely binge-watch it.
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What are your go-to anti-Christmas movies?
Screengrab from “Mean Girls”
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