Not everyone wants heartwarming holiday films on repeat; sometimes, the best way to celebrate the season is by diving into non-traditional holiday films that are actually Christmas movies at heart. If you’re ready to trade the tinsel for high-stakes action or dark comedy, our list of eight 8 Non-Christmas Christmas Movies, serves as the ultimate guide for your next holiday movie marathon. But let’s kitck it up a notch by pairing each of these movies with unique signature Christmas cocktails, from festive blended drinks to on the rocks cocktails. Whether you’re hosting a lively holiday party or settling in for a cozy holiday movie marathon at home, these pairings are the perfect way to toast a new tradition. Cheers and Happy Holidays!
Batman Returns
Tim Burton’s gothic superhero masterpiece finds Batman facing off against the Penguin and Catwoman in a dark, twisted tale set against the backdrop of Gotham City’s snowy Christmas season, blending comic book action with Burton’s signature macabre holiday aesthetic.
The Gotham Penguin
- 2 oz. gin
- 1 oz. elderflower liqueur
- 1 oz. fresh lemon juice
- Activated charcoal for black color
- Edible silver glitter
- Instructions: Combine all ingredients and garnish with edible silver glitter.
Better Watch Out
This wickedly dark home invasion thriller with shocking twists follows a babysitter whose routine night watching a 12-year-old boy on Christmas Eve turns nightmarish when what seems like a break-in reveals something far more sinister.
The Babysitter’s Nightmare
- 2 oz. spiced rum
- 1 oz. pomegranate juice
- ½ oz. cinnamon syrup
- Splash of ginger beer
- Candy cane garnish (with red “blood” drip)
- Instructions: Combine all ingredients, drip with “blood” drip and garnish.
Die Hard
I know what you’re thinking, “Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?” The answer is YES, and it may be one of the best Christmas movies of all time! New York cop Bruce Willis is in LA to see his family for the holidays. The trip takes an action-packed turn when terrorists hijack the holiday party he and his wife (Holly) are attending.
Spiced Holly Highball (courtesy of The Cocktail Project)
- 1 ½ parts Dark Rum
- 5 Cranberries
- ¾ Tsp. pumpkin Spice
- 1 Tsp. agave syrup
- Ice
- Handful fresh mint
- Instructions: Muddle the cranberries, mint, pumpkin spice, and agave. Add rum and shake well. Strain over ice into a highball glass. Top with club soda. Garnish with mint and three cranberries.
Gremlins
This dark comedy horror classic follows a young man who receives an adorable Mogwai as a Christmas gift, only to accidentally unleash chaos when the creature spawns mischievous and destructive gremlins that terrorize a small town during the holidays.
The Mogwai Mischief
- 2 oz. vodka
- 1 oz. blue curaçao
- 1 oz. lime juice
- Splash of lemon-lime soda
- Gummy bears for garnish
- Instructions: Combine all ingredients and shake well. Pour over ice and garnish with mint gummy bears.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Shane Black’s razor-sharp neo-noir comedy follows a petty thief (Robert Downey Jr.) who stumbles into acting and gets caught up in a real Los Angeles murder mystery alongside a private detective (Val Kilmer) during a chaotic Christmas season filled with wit, violence, and unexpected twists.
The Hollywood Detective
- 2 oz. bourbon
- 1 oz. sweet vermouth
- Dash of bitters
- Orange twist
- Luxardo cherry
- Instructions: Combine all ingredients and garnish with orange twist.
The Long Kiss Goodnight
Amnesia meets mayhem! Geena Davis plays Charly Baltimore, a suburban mom harboring a deadly past. With the help of private investigator Samuel L. Jackson, she uncovers her forgotten assassin identity in this thrilling Christmas-themed action romp.
A Kiss Under the Mistletoe
- 2 oz. rye whiskey (bold, spicy backbone)
- ¾ oz. cranberry liqueur (or unsweetened cranberry juice for lighter sweetness)
- ½ oz. fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz. spiced simple syrup (recipe below)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 whole cloves
- Simmer 5 minutes, cool, strain.
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Optional: tiny pinch of cayenne or a ginger liqueur splash for “assassin heat”
- Instructions: Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake hard — controlled violence only. Strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass over a large cube. Garnish with orange peel (express the oils) and a floating cranberry or cinnamon stick.
P2
This claustrophobic Christmas Eve thriller stars Wes Bentley as a deranged parking garage security guard who traps a young businesswoman (Rachel Nichols) in an underground parking structure, forcing her into a terrifying cat-and-mouse game to survive the holiday night.
The Parking Garage
- 2 oz. bourbon
- 1 oz. coffee liqueur
- ½ oz. cream
- Dash of peppermint extract
- Mint garnish
- Instructions: Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake hard, pour and garnish with mint
Reindeer Games
Ben Affleck stars in this twisty Christmas heist thriller about an ex-con who assumes his cellmate’s identity after release, only to get caught up in a dangerous casino robbery scheme orchestrated by his new girlfriend’s criminal brother on Christmas Eve. And did I mention Charlize Theron is in it…
The Casino Heist
- 2 oz. whiskey
- 1 oz. amaretto
- Splash of cranberry juice
- Orange peel twist
- Instructions: Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake hard, pour and garnish with orange peel twist.
Which non-Christmas Christmas movie is YOUR favorite? Tell us in the comments! Happy Holidays!
