It’s criminal not to watch a Christmas film as soon as December hits. The holiday season is an ideal time to hunker down with the family and enjoy a festive movie or two. But some of the best Christmas films offer a unique twist on the traditional feel-good stories by weaving in a bit of crime.
Whether it’s a high-stakes heist or a criminal mastermind trying his luck before the big day, these Christmas capers have all the crime and chaos you never knew you needed to get into the holiday spirit.
Here’s our list of top crime films to watch during the festive season.
1. Home Alone
It’s a Christmas classic, but you have to admit Home Alone is full of criminal activity. Kevin McCallister, the young protagonist, takes matters into his own hands after he’s accidentally left behind by his family. As two bumbling burglars, Harry and Marv, try to rob his house, Kevin turns his home into a booby-trapped fortress.
The crimes here? Attempted robbery, destruction of property, and a whole lot of assault (on the burglars, of course). Still, it’s undeniably heartwarming – and Kevin gets away with it all.
2. Die Hard
It doesn’t matter if you consider Die Hard a Christmas movie or not, it’s got all the ingredients for a crime-fuelled Christmas film. Bruce Willis stars as NYPD officer John McClane, who finds himself fighting terrorists who hijack a Christmas party at Nakatomi Plaza.
This action-packed movie features enough explosions, shootouts, and criminal masterminds to make even the most jaded viewer check twice for Christmas spirit. Bonus points: It's set during a Christmas Eve party, and the soundtrack is peppered with holiday tunes.
3. Bad Santa
This dark comedy might be the ultimate 'crime at Christmas' film. Billy Bob Thornton plays Willie T. Stokes, a drunken, foul-mouthed conman who dresses up as Santa Claus in shopping malls, only to rob them with his partner. It's an irreverent, raunchy ride filled with criminal behaviour and cynical characters, but there's a surprisingly sweet heart underneath it all. It's the Christmas film that proves that even the worst criminals can learn a little redemption.
4. The Ref
In The Ref, Denis Leary plays a cat burglar named Gus who botches a robbery and ends up taking a bickering couple (played by Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey) hostage on Christmas Eve. What ensues is a hilarious and tense family holiday dinner full of criminals, dysfunctional relationships, and plenty of dark humour.
Gus isn't your typical hero. His interactions with this odd family add a unique layer to the film. A holiday crime movie that is all about who’s the bigger criminal – Gus or the family?
5. Lethal Weapon
Another Christmas film that might not be considered a traditional ‘Christmas film’ is Lethal Weapon. Although it might be more famous for its police procedural action and buddy-cop antics, it also takes place during the festive season. Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Glover) investigate a series of crimes, including drug deals and murder, during the Christmas period. With shootouts, shady drug lords, and more, Lethal Weapon is a Christmas movie that proves crime never takes a holiday
6. The Santa Clause
The Santa Clause might not be a crime film in the traditional sense, but it does involve some criminal shenanigans. Tim Allen plays Scott Calvin, a man who unwittingly becomes Santa Claus after accidentally causing the real Santa’s death.
The movie centres around how Scott tries to balance his new life as Father Christmas with the criminal consequences of his new identity. There’s a little bit of breaking-and-entering (Santa-style) and even some moments of fraud that would make any criminal lawyer sweat.
7. Scrooged
Scrooged is Bill Murray’s take on A Christmas Carol, but with a criminal edge. As Frank Cross, a cynical TV executive, Murray is haunted by three ghosts (who aren't afraid to break some laws in their quest to teach Frank a lesson).
There’s corporate fraud, unethical media manipulation, and plenty of moral crimes to go around. It’s a criminally funny, yet uplifting take on the holiday spirit, with just enough law-breaking antics to keep things interesting.
