Top 10 Unconventional Christmas Movies To Watch During The Holidays

It's that time of year again! The time for hot cocoa, ugly sweaters, and, of course, watching Christmas movies. Many of us have watched familiar classic films multiple times such as A Christmas Carol, Scrooged, A Christmas Story, and It's a Wonderful Life. This year, let's shake things up and watch some Christmas movies that are a little more unconventional. To help you out, here’s a list of ten unconventional Christmas movies to add some edge to your holiday viewing lineup.

Die Hard (1988) - Bruce Willis stars as John McClane, a cop who finds himself fighting for survival against a group of terrorists who have taken over a high-rise office building on Christmas Eve. With its intense action and Bruce Willis one-liners, Die Hard is one of the best Christmas movies ever made and for some reason, people still debate whether or not it’s a Christmas movie.

New York City policeman John McClane (Bruce Willis) is visiting his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and two daughters on Christmas Eve. He joins her at a holiday party in the headquarters of the Japanese-owned business she works for. But the festivities are interrupted by a group of terrorists who take over the exclusive high-rise, and everyone in it. Very soon McClane realizes that there's no one to save the hostages -- but him.

Gremlins (1984) - This classic horror-comedy follows a young man who receives a strange creature as a gift, only to have it multiply into a horde of mischievous monsters that terrorize a small town on Christmas Eve. It's a great choice for those who want to add a little darkness to their holiday viewing. I loved watching this movie as a kid, and I’ve enjoyed watching it every year during Christmas!

A gadget salesman is looking for a special gift for his son and finds one at a store in Chinatown. The shopkeeper is reluctant to sell him the `mogwai' but sells it to him with the warning to never expose him to bright light, water, or to feed him after midnight. All of this happens and the result is a gang of gremlins that decide to tear up the town on Christmas Eve.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) - This neo-noir black comedy crime film from director Shane Black follows a thief who, after stumbling into an audition, is cast as an extra in a movie being shot in Los Angeles. It's a great choice for those who want a more quirky and irreverent take on the traditional holiday movie and it’s just a lot of fun to watch!

Two-bit crook Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) stumbles into an audition for a mystery film while on the run from the cops. Winning the part, he lands in Hollywood, where he's flung into a tangled, murderous conspiracy with his childhood sweetheart, Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), and hard-boiled private eye Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer). This deadpan, affectionate parody of film noir tropes is named for film critic Pauline Kael's influential 1968 collection of film reviews and essays.

Batman Returns (1992) - Tim Burton's dark and gothic take on the Batman franchise features the villainous Penguin trying to take over Gotham City with the help of a corrupt businessman, while Batman and Catwoman team up to stop them. With its blend of action, drama, Penguin ooze, and Burton’s signature dark holiday cheer, Batman Returns is a great movie choice to watch during the holidays. I also just have to point out that I absolutely loved Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in this movie!

The monstrous Penguin (Danny DeVito), who lives in the sewers beneath Gotham, joins up with wicked shock-headed businessman Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) to topple the Batman (Michael Keaton) once and for all. But when Shreck's timid assistant, Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer), finds out, and Shreck tries to kill her, she is transformed into the sexy Catwoman. She teams up with the Penguin and Shreck to destroy Batman, but sparks fly unexpectedly when she confronts the caped crusader.

Go (1995) - This fast-paced comedy-thriller from director Doug Liman follows a group of young people over the course of one hectic Christmas Eve, as they navigate a series of interconnected stories involving drugs, parties, and a convenience store robbery. With its non-stop action and clever writing, Go brings some good awkward holiday craziness.

Grocery store clerk Simon (Desmond Askew) occasionally sells drugs from his cash register at work, so when soap opera actors Adam (Scott Wolf) and Zack (Jay Mohr) come looking for Ecstasy on a quiet Christmas Eve, they are surprised to find Ronna (Sarah Polley) covering his shift. Desperate for money, Ronna decides to become an impromptu drug dealer, unaware that Adam and Zack are secretly working for obsessed narcotics officer Burke (William Fichtner).

Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) - Here’s another Shane Black action-comedy that stars Geena Davis as a suburban housewife who discovers she was once a highly-trained assassin. When her memories come flooding back just in time for the holidays, she sets out on a mission to take down the mastermind behind her programming. With a killer cast (including Samuel L. Jackson and Brian Cox) and a clever script, The Long Kiss Goodnight is the perfect mix of holiday cheer and kick-ass action. Davis is badass in this movie and shortly after it was released I ran into her at the Price Club and got her autograph. I still have it!

Schoolteacher and single mother Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) lives an average suburban life -- until she begins having strange memories of unexplained violence and discovers that she has physical skills that she never imagined. Hiring private detective Mitch Hennessey (Samuel L. Jackson) to probe into her past, Samantha discovers that she's a well-trained government assassin who went missing after suffering a bout of amnesia and that her former handlers want her back in their employ.

Krampus (2015) - If you're in the mood for a good holiday scare, Krampus is the perfect movie for you. This horror-comedy follows a dysfunctional family who unleashes the ancient demon of Christmas punishment upon themselves. Let's just say, naughty or nice, no one is safe from Krampus' wrath.

While the holiday season represents the most magical time of year, ancient European folklore warns of Krampus, a horned beast who punishes naughty children at Christmastime. When dysfunctional family squabbling causes young Max (Emjay Anthony) to lose his festive spirit, it unleashes the wrath of the fearsome demon. As Krampus lays siege to the Engel home, mom (Toni Collette), pop (Adam Scott), sister (Stefania LaVie Owen) and brother must band together to save one another from a monstrous fate.

The Ref (1994) - This dark comedy follows a thief who takes a bickering couple hostage on Christmas Eve and finds himself reluctantly serving as their couples therapist. With its sharp wit and great performances from Denis Leary and Kevin Spacey, "The Ref" is a unique and hilarious holiday movie.

Bickering spouses (Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey) annoy the cat burglar (Denis Leary) who takes them hostage in their Connecticut home.

Trading Places (1983) - This classic comedy follows two wealthy brothers who make a bet to see if they can turn a homeless man into a successful businessman, while simultaneously taking a successful businessman and making him homeless. With its clever premise and hilarious performances from Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, Trading Places is a funny Christmas movie that's sure to put a smile on your face.

Upper-crust executive Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) and down-and-out hustler Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) are the subjects of a bet by successful brokers Mortimer (Don Ameche) and Randolph Duke (Ralph Bellamy). An employee of the Dukes, Winthorpe is framed by the brothers for a crime he didn't commit, with the siblings then installing the street-smart Valentine in his position. When Winthorpe and Valentine uncover the scheme, they set out to turn the tables on the Dukes.

Black Christmas (1974) - This horror film follows a group of sorority sisters who are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant during their Christmas break. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's a great choice for those who want to add a little scare to their holiday season.

As winter break begins, a group of sorority sisters, including Jess (Olivia Hussey) and the often inebriated Barb (Margot Kidder), begin to receive anonymous, lascivious phone calls. Initially, Barb eggs the caller on, but stops when he responds threateningly. Soon, Barb's friend Claire (Lynne Griffin) goes missing from the sorority house, and a local adolescent girl is murdered, leading the girls to suspect a serial killer is on the loose. But no one realizes just how near the culprit is.

So if you're tired of the same old Christmas movies, give some of these unconventional films a try. They're sure to add some excitement and variety to your holiday viewing lineup.