There are so many delightful traditions at this time of year.
Decorations go up. Families get together. Colorful cookies are baked!
One of the recent additions to the Yuletide festivities is arguing over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Regardless of where you stand on the dispute, one thing cannot be debated—the film’s events took place during the Nakatomi Corporation’s 1988 Christmas party.
Hans Gruber might have ruined that night with his greed, and John McClane certainly saved the day, but it was likely that the Nakatomi Corporation never had another office Christmas party after that.
I have liked watching movies that align with the seasons since I was a kid.
As a teenager, it never made sense to watch films like Hot Dog: The Movie (about skiing) during the summer or Summer School during the winter. I could never live out a fantasy about being the lead character if something as simple as the weather ruined my daydreams.
That’s why I will only watch baseball movies during summer, football movies during the winter, and cricket flicks—well, I’ll be honest, I’ve never watched a movie about cricket since no filmmaker has ever made a movie that an American like me would (1) understand and (2) enjoy.
Besides, if you told us Americans that it was a cricket movie, we’d likely show up expecting some bug named Jiminy.
This is NOT a “Best of Christmas Movies” list. You can find those elsewhere.
I aim to suggest five crime fiction movies for you to watch this Christmas season besides Die Hard (in no particular order).
Five is not too many for you to watch over the next three weeks. To start, I’ll give you an easy one you’ve likely seen multiple times. I’ll make the list progressively more challenging as we go down it.
If you’ve seen them all, consider yourself a holiday crime junkie. Let’s be friends!
The Blockbuster
Lethal Weapon (1987)
You’ve probably seen this one multiple times. I know I have. It’s one of my favorite movies, and it made my list of Top Five Buddy Cop Films.
When I first heard the argument that Die Hard was a Christmas movie, I thought, why not Lethal Weapon? Jingle Bell Rock plays in the background of the opening scene, and Christmas decorations are prevalent throughout Roger Murtaugh’s house.
Time For Action!
Invasion U.S.A. (1985)
Terrorists attack America, and former CIA operative Matt Hunter (Chuck Norris) must come to the rescue! There are two memorable Christmas scenes. The first is when the terrorists attack a neighborhood decorating for the holiday. The second is a fantastic shoot-out and chase inside a shopping mall. Yes, you read that right. A chase inside the mall!
The movie might be light on story, but it is heavy on the thrills!
Laugh Worthy
The Ice Harvest (2005)
How about some laughs with your holiday crime?
On Christmas Eve, a mob lawyer and his friend (John Cusak and Billy Bob Thornton) steal $2 million from their mobster boss. Unfortunately, icy roads and a storm postpone their getaway. Things go from bad to worse the longer the night goes on.
The Classic
The Thin Man (1934)
You can’t go wrong with Dashiell Hammett’s The Thin Man. The quick bantering between Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell and Myrna Loy) set an early Hollywood standard.
This is a classic!
Under the Radar
The Silent Partner (1978)
The Silent Partner is a fantastic Canadian crime movie about a bank heist gone wrong. Elliot Gould is the everyman in a difficult situation caused by his own greed, and Christopher Plummer is the thief whose plan went bad. And John Candy is, well, an extra.
A solid premise with an enjoyable ending.
If you haven’t seen it yet, watch it now.