# Lesser known, underrated, or simply unconventional Christmas movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 22, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536 "2018-12-22T15:31:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/21 "2018-12-23T04:19:12Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > The Ref, with Denis Leary. Funny, festive and irreverent. One of my favs, certainly lesser known I should think. This the first one I thought of when I read the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/22 "2018-12-23T04:23:14Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > I never did find the name of it when I seen some of it last year …… Was it [Uncle Nick](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3163336/reference)? ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/23 "2018-12-23T12:55:04Z")
I like Christmas movies that have miracles happen in them One Magic Christmas Course I cant think of any other ones similar I do like: House without a Christmas tree Man who saved Christmas Oldie but goodies Holiday Affair The Shop around the corner (off to see what holiday crap I need to take care of) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/24 "2018-12-23T14:30:07Z")
One Magic Christmas – is that the one with Mary Steenburgen and Harry Dean Stanton? My wife used to have a tape of that movie… in fact it may still be in a box in the basement, but it’s been years since we had a VCR. One I thought of while reading through the thread is “The Silent Partner” with Elliot Gould and Christopher Plummer. Not really a Christmas movie but it does take place around Christmas. A bank teller foils a robbery attempt by a mall Santa and gets away with the loot himself. When the bank robber figures out what happened, he goes after the bank teller. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/25 "2018-12-23T17:03:49Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > [**A Christmas Without Snow**](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080532/?ref_=nv_sr_1) > > If you like or have ever sung Handel’s Messiah (or sung in a church choir), this is for you. A divorced woman joins a choir that is rehearsing the piece for Christmas. The choir director is a very crotchety John Houseman (Prof. Kingsfield with a baton). Rivalries and personality clashes, some romance (IIR). Lots of Messiah. (Hint: in the final performance, real singers take the solos.) > > Wow–looking it up on IMDB, I just found that it’s available to stream from Amazon Prime for free. Oh boy! Haven’t seen this one in years, but I’ll be watching it (and getting teary-eyed) this evening. > > Aside: Amazon has plenty of movies that never show up on the pre-arranged lists. You have to search for them by name. When you find one you like, go to “customers also watched” to find more of the same. Was going to recommend this one myself 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/26 "2018-12-23T17:40:07Z")
One of my favorite Christmas movies is [Mixed Nuts,](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110538/) with Steve Martin and Madeline Kahn. It concerns a failing suicide hotline in Venice, California, and includes a transvestite, a very pregnant Julia Lewis, and Rob Reiner as a veterinarian. What more do you need for Christmas? ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/27 "2018-12-23T17:50:39Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Was it [Uncle Nick](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3163336/reference)? that’s it oh another one is david bowies “merry Christmas mr christan” its about a squad in a ww2 Japanese pow camp……… ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/28 "2018-12-23T21:59:40Z")
^ It’s, “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence.” ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/29 "2018-12-23T23:25:47Z")
One that used to be shown here in the U.K. is It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/30 "2018-12-23T23:28:18Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > The Ref, with Denis Leary. Funny, festive and irreverent. One of my favs, certainly lesser known I should think. Seconded. Funny movie. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett\_s\_Bazongas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@Scarlett\_s\_Bazongas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett_s_Bazongas)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/31 "2018-12-24T00:10:38Z")
_A Little Christmas Tail_ ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/32 "2018-12-24T00:17:26Z")
[Kiss Kiss Bang Bang](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373469/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) takes place during Christmas, including a Christmas party where one of the characters dresses up in costume for it. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![Orr\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ee59a6/32.png) [@Orr\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orr_G)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/33 "2018-12-24T00:26:24Z")
Not a movie, but definitely unconventional, I really enjoyed _Happy_! They’re doing a marathon of it this year on SyFy, but I just binged it on Netflix. The opening scene alone is gold, if gold is being fucked up the ass by a hobo while having a meth-induced heart attack. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/34 "2018-12-24T14:50:39Z")
[The Great Rupert](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Rupert), about a generous squirrel. Live action, though Rupert is stop motion. With Jimmy Durante. Directed by George Pal. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/35 "2018-12-24T19:08:34Z")
If you like totally ridiculous B movies watch _Santa Claus Vs. The Martians_. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/36 "2018-12-24T19:30:17Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > If you like totally ridiculous B movies watch _Santa Claus Vs. The Martians_. I love the Wham-O air-puff guns the Martians use as weapons. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/37 "2018-12-24T21:34:00Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > If you like totally ridiculous B movies watch _Santa Claus Vs. The Martians_. Even I have standards in bad movies, Christmas or otherwise. So a good bad Xmas movie that I like to mention is [_Trapped in Paradise_](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111477/). Great cast doing their usual shtick. Just ignore the “plot”. In the Firpo family, the man with half a brain is king. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/38 "2018-12-24T22:15:42Z")
_Things to Come_ (1935) Opens on Christmas, 1940…but there will be very little to celebrate. _Christmas Holiday_ (1944) Christmas in New Orleans finds nightclub/brothel singer Deanna Durbin recalling her failed marriage to wastrel Gene Kelly. _Conquest of Space_ (1953) Christmas is briefly celebrated in outer space, making this almost as much of a Christmas movie as _Die Hard_. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2018, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/39 "2018-12-25T04:36:05Z")
According to early script treatments, Disney’s 1979 film _The Black Hole_ actually takes place at Christmastime—however, while fitting with some of the religious imagery in the story, very little of this seems to have made it into the final film. For a straighter example, though, how about Kirk Cameron’s [1990 Christmas film, “_A Little Piece of Heaven_”](http://disploitationreviews.blogspot.com/2018/01/a-little-piece-of-heaven.html)—he plays a struggling pig farmer who drugs and kidnaps orphaned and abused children, convincing them that they’ve died and are in heaven, so they can help out on his farm and keep his mentally handicapped sister company! It’s a comedy! And he’s the good guy! And the first child he captures and puts to work is black! 1984’s [_“The Night They Saved Christmas”_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_They_Saved_Christmas) is probably a better movie for this thread and one’s soul. A Christmas movie for the tyke who believes in Santa, but is also a nascent chiphead, and also handy for coming up with plausible explanations for suspicious questions. (“How does Santa get to every house in one night?” Taking advantage of speed, time zones, and time dilation equipment. “How does he carry all the toys in his sleigh?” He actually doesn’t—but he prepositions large cargo satellites full of gifts around the planet beforehand, and periodically resupplies during the mission.) Come to think of it, this is the Christmas Special that teaches children one of the most valulable lessons of all—the importance of[logistical planning](https://www.thelogisticsoflogistics.com/famous-logistics-quotes-2/). ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2018, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536/40 "2018-12-25T10:38:30Z")
Clearly not including TV specials in your list, because “A Charlie Brown Christmas” didn’t make the list. But you’re gonna be watching these movies on a small screen, right? For me, the one I like most is “Hooves of Fire” (BBC Animation). Running time around 30 minutes. A product of it’s time (1999), but then, so am I. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesser-known-underrated-or-simply-unconventional-christmas-movies/826536.md?page=3)