Christmas time...
Fancy watching a Christmas movie but shuddering at the thought of slinging on Home Alone for the hundredth time? Well, Christmas is alive and well in these 10 movies, though they all have far more important things to be getting on with (like killing aliens, or taking down terrorists) than quaffing mulled wine and wearing silly jumpers.
Still, they technically are Christmas movies, so grandma can't complain when you shove American Psycho on after dinner, can she?
Iron Man 3 (2013)
The Movie: In the wake of the attack on New York (in Avengers Assemble), Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) is having nightmares about his own mortality. He doesn't have time to dwell, though, as there's a dangerous new criminal on the loose in the form of scary terrorist The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley).
Christmas Spirit? If buying your girlfriend a toy bunny the size of The Hulk counts as Christmas spirit, then Tony's got it in spades. He also gifts pint-sized helper elf Harley (Ty Simpkins) an awesome new lab after he digs him out of a depressed fug. Plus, SNOW!
Sleepless In Seattle (1993)
The Movie: Genre-defining rom-com written and directed by Nora Ephron. When young Jonah (Ross Malinger) calls into a radio station on Christmas Eve, he reveals that his Christmas wish is for a new mum (sob). Listening in is Annie (Meg Ryan), who wonders if she should dump boring boyfriend Walter (Bill Pullman) for the hunky-sounding Sam (Tom Hanks).
Christmas Spirit? Well, Annie certainly seems to enjoy singing Horses, horses, horses, horses a lot. And being miserable at Christmas seems pretty normal to us, though Annie's sudden obsession with a man she heard on the radio is probably taking it a step (or 12) too far. That said, who doesn't go positively green with envy at Sam and Jonah's gorgeous, decoration-festooned house? Now that's a Christmas pad we'd kill for.
Prometheus (2012)
The Movie: In this sort-of prequel to Alien, a group of scientists jet off into space in search of aliens after discovering a space map (or something). Landing on a desolate planet, they discover they may have bitten off more than they can chew when they uncover a buried space ship populated with unfriendly creepy crawlies.
Christmas Spirit? Janek (Idris Elba) definitely has it he's popped a lovely little Christmas tree in the ship, despite the fact that pretty much nobody mentions it's the season to be jolly. Meanwhile, Elizabeth (Noomi Rapace) has some sort of religious epiphany. Oooh, symbolism.
Batman Returns (1992)
The Movie: Gotham is blanketed in snow as Batman (Michael Keaton) goes up against two pesky foes in the form of the Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer).
Christmas Spirit? Could be worse: my nose could be gushing blood, cackles the Penguin, moments before chewing off some poor chump's snout at a party. Which, uh, isn't particularly festive, but it sure is funny. Mistletoe, however, is festive, and even acts as a clever little plot point as Batman and Catwoman share a smooch, accidentally exposing their secret identities to each other. Whoops.
Stalag 17 (1953)
The Movie: World War II drama directed by Billy Wilder. Paranoia fills a Luftwaffe prisoner-of-war camp when two inmates are caught and killed during an escape attempt. Sgt. J.J. Sefton (William Holden) is accused of being an informer, and must rat out the real snitch before the whole camp turns on him.
Christmas Spirit? Not gonna lie, it's in pretty short supply here, not least when it comes to Colonel von Scherbach, who cheerily tells the prisoners: I'll have you all deloused for the holidays and I'll have a little Christmas tree for every barrack. Gee, thanks?
Brazil (1985)
The Movie: In a dystopian world reliant on machines, miserable government employee Sam (Jonathan Price) stumbles across a woman he keeps glimpsing in his dreams. And his life becomes considerably more complicated when he's blamed for a series of terrorist bombings...
Christmas Spirit? Sam has some in the spirit of Christmas generosity, he personally delivers refund tickets to the family of a man who was wrongfully killed. Director Terry Gilliam revels in subverting sickly Christmas cheer in his twisted black comedy definitely one to watch if you're the Bah! Humbug! sort.
American Psycho (2000)
The Movie: Christian Bale heads up Mary Harron's deliciously dark adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' novel. Bale plays Patrick Bateman, a wealthy, successful investment banker who daydreams about murder. But are the violent crimes he commits real or imagined?
Christmas Spirit? Bateman uses a Christmas party as an excuse to get chatting to Paul (Jared Leto) before luring him back to his apartment to butcher him. While dancing to 'Hip To Be Square'. Who says you can't give yourself a gift at Christmas?
Lethal Weapon (1987)
The Movie: Written by Shane Black (so, naturally, it's set at Christmas), this buddy cop comedy sees chalk-n-cheese officers Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) teamed up to investigate an apparent suicide.
Christmas Spirit? What's Christmas about if not the power of redemption and rebirth? Poor old Riggs hits rock bottom over the festive period, going so far as putting a gun in his mouth. He comes out of it a better man, though, and even earns himself a place at Murtaugh's Christmas table. Ah, bless.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
The Movie: Shocked when his wife (Nicole Kidman) discloses that she considered having an affair, Dr. Bill Harford (Tom Cruise) does the rational thing and embarks on an orgy-tastic night of primal pleasure. Because you just would, wouldn't you?
Christmas Spirit? Christmas is everywhere in Eyes Wide Shut, which isn't surprising, considering director Stanley Kubrick specifically chose the festive period for his movie (in the book, the story's set around Mardi gras). According to those in the know, Kubrick's decision to set the film around Christmas was to capitalise on the period's theme of rebirth. Also, he liked the coloured Christmas lights...
LA Confidential (1997)
The Movie: Classy crime noir set in 1950s Los Angeles. The labyrinthine plot follows three cops who investigate a murder, but their different methods could end up jeopardising the case.
Christmas Spirit? In the true spirit of a Los Angeles mired in crime and corruption, the film's most Christmassy moment is the event referred to as Bloody Christmas, in which seven men were brutally beaten by police officers.
