Best Action Christmas Movies

Summary

• Die Hard, Lethal Weapon,
  and
  Fatman
  are recommended action Christmas movies for fans to enjoy during the holiday season.
• Die Hard
  is a holiday classic praised for its action and unique take on the genre.
• Ronin
  and
  Enemy of the State
  are thrilling action films with intriguing plots that explore relevant issues.

Christmas movies are often thought of as “feel-good” films that are fun for the whole family and teach a wholesome moral as part of the theme. However, modern movies take some interesting chances when it comes to combining genres, so there’s also a library of action Christmas movies for those who prefer a different kind of holiday entertainment.

Action films that use a Christmas setting and aesthetic are often seasonal releases even though they don’t always have the same “spirit of the season” tone. Some of these movies use the seasonal festivities and decor as part of the plot, while others just happen to take place at that special time of the year and it’s reflected in the clothing, sets, and characters.

Updated December 17th, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: The Christmas-action crossovers continue, with a recent example being the much-hyped but deeply flawed Red One, which feels more like a cynical cash grab than a sincere attempt at a Christmas movie. There are also different types of Christmas action movies, some of which also use comedy, suspense, or fantasy to tell their unique stories. They don’t always have a message or a moral, but “don’t mess with a good guy with a gun” is a message that’s great for any time of year.

12 Die Hard

It’s Not Christmas Until Hans Gruber Falls From Nakatomi Plaza

• Release Year: 1988
• Director: John McTiernan
• Cast: Bruce Willis, Alexander Godunov, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia
• Genre: Action

The movie Die Hard is about John McClane, an NYPD cop who gets trapped in a high-rise workplace during a Christmas party when terrorists take over the building, and it’s the action movie that made this a popular concept for genre crossovers. McClane tries to figure out how to beat the terrorists who have taken the building and its people hostage, including his estranged spouse Holly.

At first, out hero doesn’t have many tools or people to help him fight the terrorists, but he uses his wit, creativity, and drive to survive and save the captives. The original movie is still a favorite among both viewers and critics. It’s praised for taking a new look at the action genre, and it’s still a holiday classic set at a Christmas party that goes wrong.

11 Lethal Weapon

Richard Donner’s Gritty Buddy-Cop Holiday Card

• Release Year: 1987
• Director: Richard Donner
• Cast: Mel Gibson, Gary Busy, and Dabby Glover
• Genre: Action, Comedy

Lethal Weapon is the original in a well-known series of action movies that began in the late 1980s. The film series follows two Los Angeles police officers, Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh, who end up working together despite having very different personalities.

As they worked on different cases, often involving drug lords, dishonest government officials, and other dangerous enemies, these two agents became close friends and learned to respect each other. The humor, action-packed fight scenes, and times when they get along are the movie’s defining features. It also shows the character growth of these two characters, and it’s impossible to ignore the holiday message of friendship and bravery even in the face of a demoralizing daily grind.

10 Reindeer Games

Merry Casino-Robbery Christmas

• Release Year: 2000
• Director: John Frankenheimer
• Cast: Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise, Charlize Theron, Dennis Farina
• Genre: Action, Thriller

Reindeer Games is a movie that’s amassed a cult following even if it was never popular with critics or profitable in theaters. The plot is about a prison riot, a large-scale casino robbery, and a consist who’s paid his debt to society and just wants to go home to his family for Christmas.

The main character is Rudy Duncan, who takes the identity of his deceased cellmate, Nick Cassidy, to meet a girl upon being released from a Michigan prison. The rendezvous turns out to be a setup intended to force Nick to help a rival gang rob a casino where he used to work.

Rudy isn’t Nick, obviously, but goes along with the ruse to save his life and maybe make some money. There are a few more twists and turns before the holiday cheer can begin, but it’s an exciting if not bloody Christmas in a movie strictly for grown-ups.

9 Fatman

Santa Joins The Army

• Release Year: 2020
• Director: Ian Nelms, Eshom Nelms
• Cast: Mel Gibson, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Walton Goggins
• Genre: Action, Fantasy

The alcoholic legend of Santa Claus is the subject of Fatman, a Hollywood fantasy film that was released in 2020. One of the films on the list that gets into the Christmas spirit, with an emphasis on Santa, is this one. Chris Cringle, portrayed by Mel Gibson, is compelled to labor as a contractor for the United States military to ensure his survival.

An action-packed film about a spoiled child who orders assassins to target Santa sets the stage for scenes that viewers won’t forget anytime soon. This is the meat and potatoes of the plot that held the film together.

8 I Come In Peace

Also Known As “Dark Angel”

• Release Year: 1990
• Director: Craig R. Baxley
• Cast: Dolph Lundgren, Brian Benben, Betsy Brantley
• Genre: Action, Thriller, Sci-Fi,

I Come in Peace is an exciting sci-fi thriller about a Houston police officer named Jack Caine who gets into a dangerous fight with an alien drug dealer. Jack and his new partner, FBI agent Arwood “Larry” Smith, are in a race against time to stop the alien criminal, Talec, and prevent more damage from happening.

As Caine and Smith dig deeper into the case, they find out the alien’s evil scheme. They must use all of their knowledge, skills, and resources to stop his dangerous plan. The movie has a lot of committed fans because it has exciting action, sci-fi elements, and remarkable performances. It is still a notable piece in the genre.

7 Die Hard 2

It’s Not Just The Weather Outside That’s Frightful

• Release Year: 1990
• Director: Renny Harlin
• Cast: Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, William Atherton, Reginald VelJohnson, Franco Nero, William Sadler, and John Amos
• Genre: Action, Fantasy

The events of Die Hard 2 take place on Christmas Eve, mirroring those of the first film, but this time it’s not a mild West Coast party on the sunny rooftop. Terrorists hijack aviation traffic while McClane is waiting for his wife to land at Washington International Airport, taking advantage of the bad winter snowstorm. This essentially takes every passenger hostage and McClane must figure out how to stop the enemy so the planes can land.

Airport security was another obstacle McClane had to overcome since they were uncooperative with his pleas for their help, similar to the local cops and FBI of the first movie. Die Hard 2 was a huge success following the smash-hit first movie, with earnings in excess of $240 million.

6 Batman Returns

Villain Penguin Fits The Snowy Winter Theme

• Release Year: 1992
• Director: Tim Burton
• Cast: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, and Michael Murphy
• Genre: Superhero, Action, Sci-Fi

The superhero movie Batman Returns came out in 1992 and is a follow-up to the movie 1989 Batman. Batman Returns takes us deeper into Tim Burton’s dark, gothic vision of Gotham City and takes place during the holidays. The movie shows Batman’s first encounters with two well-known enemies: The Penguin, and Catwoman

In Batman Returns, Batman faces these powerful enemies while caught in a web of deceit, political scheming, and personal grudges. As the Penguin plans to become mayor of Gotham and get back at the people who have hurt him, Catwoman starts her mission for payback against those who have hurt her. People still enjoy the movie’s mix of action, drama, and character-based plots, which makes it a memorable addition to Batman’s cinematic universe.

5 Ronin

Santa Is The Ultimate Spy Anyway

• Release Year: 1998
• Director: John Frankenheimer
• Cast: Robert De Niro, Jean Reno
• Genre: Action, Thriller

Ronin is an action-thriller movie from 1998. Following a team of trained operatives hired to get back an unidentified briefcase, Ronin is set in a world full of global spying and mystery. Sam, played by Robert De Niro, is an American agent with a strange past who teams up with Vincent, played by Jean Reno, a Frenchman with unique skills. They work to put together a group of experts who will find and take back a valuable briefcase that is wanted by both criminal and spy groups.

To make this possible, each member of the team had to bring something different to the table, from weapons experts and drivers to planners and infiltrators. With its exciting story and memorable car chase scenes, the movie has become known as a gem in the action genre, giving viewers a thrilling and refined movie experience.

4 Shazam

Recalls The Spirit Of “Batman Returns”

• Release Year: 2019
• Director: David F Sandberg
• Cast: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, and Asher Angel
• Genre: Sci-fi, Superhero, Thriller

Part of the DC Comics Universe was the 2019 film Shazam! Steven Bucks Productions and New Line Cinema were responsible for making the release possible. Set over the holiday season, the film followed in the same vein as Batman Returns.

The 2019 film was well-received by prominent critics, and a large number of them praised Sandberg’s directing. Shazam made $367 million worldwide, making it a smashing success. Furthermore, Grazer, Angel, and Levi all received high marks for their outstanding efforts. On this list of the best Christmas movies, this is certainly up there with the best superhero flicks.

3 On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Cheerful And Tragic, Just Like Christmas

• Release Year: 1969
• Director: Peter R Hunt
• Cast: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, and Telly Savalas
• Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Thriller

Famously one of the few Bond films of the era that didn’t star Sean Connery, George Lazenby took over the role this one time instead. In On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,James Bond, a British secret agent, forms an elaborate plan with MI6 to find the villainous Hans Blofeld and assassinate him.

Unfortunately, Bond finds love with Blofeld’s daughter while on the mission. This surprising twist is one of the highlights of the movie. Will Bond abandon his love interest because her father is a crime boss? This is the only 007 movie to make the list and one of the best James Bond movies ever.

2 The Long Kiss Goodnight

The Gift Of Anonymity

• Release Year: 1996
• Director: Renny Harlin
• Cast: Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Malahide, Craig Bierko
• Genre: Action, Thriller

Health and peace are the gifts that keep on giving, which could be the subtle holiday message that underlies the action of The Long Kiss Goodnight. The story begins with the plight of Samantha Caine, a schoolteacher who was found unconscious and suffering from total amnesia eight years previously.

Despite conducting her own search, along with hiring several PIs, she still has no clue or recollection of her former identity. After a head injury as a result of a car accident, Samantha discovers she’s skilled with a knife and hand-to-hand combat skills.

Fearing for her boyfriend and daughter, she takes to the road with a mysterious suitcase and the latest private investigator she’s hired, the inept but sincere Mitch Henessey. The ensuing action takes place during the Christmas holidays and involves an outdoor parade, among other things.

1 Enemy Of The State

Santa’s Naughty List

• Release Year: 1998
• Director: Tony Scott
• Cast: Will Smith, Gene Hackman
• Genre: Action, Thriller, Sci-Fi

Enemy of the State is an action movie from 1998. A Washington, D.C. labor lawyer named Robert Clayton Dean gets caught up in a high-stakes plot involving spying and government monitoring. Edward “Brill” Lyle, who is a former NSA agent, helps Dean find the truth.

Within its plot, the movie explores issues of privacy, government surveillance, and what new technologies mean for data gathering and spying. The film’s exploration of these topics is still important today, leading to conversations about privacy rights and the right balance between personal freedoms and national security. It also just so happens to take place around Christmas.