If Diehard is a Christmas movie, then we have a few others we'd like to add to your list of cozy holiday viewing.
If the typical Christmas film fare is a little too saccharine for your palette, we found a few with more complex plot lines that will still get you in the holiday spirit.
The Thin Man (1934)
Starring dreamboat William Powell and femme fatale Myrna Loy as a witty detective couple. A scene where Powell's character Nick Charles shoots the ornaments off the Christmas tree was improvised after Powell playfully picked up an air gun and started shooting ornaments the art department was putting up.
Fitzwilly (1967)
Dick van Dyke is a butler in Manhattan moonlighting as a criminal mastermind to keep his once-wealthy employer solvent. The final heist is Christmas Eve mayhem at a department store, and he swears off the life of crime for love interest Barbara Feldon - whose wardrobe is to die for.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
A romantic dramedy that opens at Christmas and has all the elements of a Hallmark movie? If you need to be convinced to rewatch this one, this article will spell it out.
Mixed Nuts (1994)
Nora Ephron and Rita Wilson get a second spot on our list with this selection - holiday hijinks in Venice Beach, led by Steve Martin and a cast of neighborhood characters. This one doesn't hold up so well for the 21st century, but if you can get past the insensitivity around mental health and trans rights, it's heartfelt and silly. Madeline Kahn is hilarious.
The Holdovers (2023)
Paul Giamatti is a curmudgeonly boarding school teacher with a heart of gold, charged with chaperoning a handful of boys with nowhere to go over Christmas break in 1970. This one will get you right in the feels, with plenty of silly and warm moments to break up the tough spots.
Bonus for the bibliophiles
The White House Pantry Murder is one in a series of mysteries written by Elliott Roosevelt, son of FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt. It's almost Christmas, and the White House is preparing to receive Winston Churchill on a state visit, when a body is found in the pantry. The First Lady is on the case. These books are so campy, but irresistibly fun to read the whole series. P.S. Lucky for the audiobook babes, this is the only one available on Audible so far.
Many thanks to my dear friend and pop culture maven John for helping me put this list together. ~ Allie
Over to you - do you have another hidden holiday gem you would add to this list?
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