There is often a very serious debate this time of year – namely whether the 1988 film Die Hard is a Christmas movie. The obvious answer is that it absolutely is, even though it was actually released in theaters in June. Nevertheless, it leads any list of the Best Christmas Action Movies ever made!

For those who haven’t somehow seen the film, or the first sequel Die Hard 2, they’re true holiday classics in every sense of the word. Both take place on Christmas Eve, have a character named “Holly” and are filled with no shortage of seasonal miracles, not the least of which is how John McClane (Bruce Willis) managed to survive all that happened to him!

More importantly, watch any other holiday film and it is apparent that Die Hard has the same beats as so many other Christmas films: It looks like the holiday will be ruined due to some catastrophe – in this case, armed criminals – and things look terribly bleak, yet, in the end the holidays are saved.

Best Christmas Action Movies

Those who support Die Hard being a holiday film often suggest it paved the way for a number of notable films with a Christmas theme. While none have quite the holiday magic of the first two Die Hard films, each retains the message of hope and togetherness.

That helps explain why recent films like Fatman (2020), Violent Night (2022), and Silent Night (2023) simply try too hard to be Christmas movies. Those attempting to make the next Christmas action movie should look at how it was done better. These films did it better (mostly):

The Long Kiss Good Night (1996)

Seemingly mild-mannered school teacher (Geena Davis), who was suffering from amnesia, was discovered eight years earlier in a picturesque Upstate New York town (where it is probably always Christmas). As the holidays approach, her past catches up with her and it is discovered that Davis’ character was really a former CIA assassin. She proceeds to take part in a somewhat confusing, yet rewarding holiday-themed adventure.

Notable Firearms: Ms. Davis looks like she knows her way around a Remington 700 takedown sniper rifle and later a Ruger Mini-14.

Ronin (1998)

This film from director John Frankenheimer also features French carols and its plot is what the holidays have all too often become for many of us. A group of former intelligence operatives turned mercenaries (aka Ronin) are tasked with finding what could be the perfect gift (or likely a suitcase nuke, we’re not sure and it doesn’t matter). As any parent might know, they’ll have to stop at literally nothing to get it. That includes the wild car chase through the streets of Paris and a few double crosses along the way. By the end, everyone goes their separate ways but it was a holiday to remember.

Notable Firearms: A Glock 17L with Bushnell HOLOSight 400 and an FN MINIMI-Para Mk 2 are among the weapons some former spooks might easily be able to acquire.

Reindeer Games (2000)

This one arguably has a middling story that takes a bit too long to get to the good stuff, but the climax delivers and features an action-packed casino heist on Christmas Eve – involving multiple Santas.

Notable Firearms: For a bunch of amateurs, Gary Sinise’s crew has some exotic firearms including an Olympic Arms K23B and a Steyr AUG A1.

A Few Forgotten Christmas Films – Mercenaries, Rambo and Mel Gibson!

Die Hard is undeniably a Christmas movie, but it is also often credited with being the first, and that’s not correct. Here are a few films that came even earlier:

The Wild Geese (1978)

Action movie aficionados have suggested First Blood (see below) is the first action-packed Christmas movie, but they have forgotten this British import that starred Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, and Hardy Krüger as a highly trained and financed team of soldiers of fortune who are charged with rescuing a deposed African leader from prison.

Things don’t go exactly as planned – like too many Christmas gatherings.

Based loosely on a rumored, not to mention bungled 1968 raid by the late “Gentleman Mercenary” Mad Mike Hoare of Five Commando, the film’s “mission” takes place on Christmas Day, and that’s enough to make it the original Christmas action film in our book. It also serves as a reminder that even at the holidays you don’t always get what you want!

Shot on location in South Africa, The Wild Geese is utter nonsense from beginning to end, while it is filled with dated stereotypes and needless violence. Today’s PC crowd would hate every second of it, which just makes it all the better.

Notable Firearms: No single firearm stands out, but the mercenaries rely largely on Uzis, while the African forces they fight are armed with FN FALs.

First Blood (1982)

Though no one says so much as “Happy Holidays,” and the local sheriff doesn’t seem particularly jolly, his town of Hope – where John Rambo finds himself – is decorated for Christmas; there is a tree at the police station and a billboard with a colossal Santa Claus looking over the town.

With his headband, John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) also takes on a Christ-like persona and endures a bit of torture – so maybe this one should have been set at Easter instead!

Notable Firearm: Rambo obtains his first M60 machine gun – which was irresponsibly left in the back of a National Guard Truck. Some guys have all the luck.

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Back when Mel Gibson just played someone who was a little crazy, he starred alongside Danny Glover in the Lethal Weapon series. And like Die Hard, the first outing took place during the season of joy in the City of Angels. Gibson’s character Riggs can be seen in a Christmas tree lot during an undercover drug bust and the film ends with him spending Christmas Day with the Murtaugh family.

Notable Firearms: Like John McClane, Riggs carries a Beretta 92F while he later gets his hands on Heckler & Koch MP5A3 (in actuality a “chopped-‘n-converted” Heckler & Koch HK94s that frequently appear in films made in the 1980s and 1990s).

Let’s Not Forget About This WWII Masterpiece

One other film could have the distinction of being the original Christmas action movie – if you accept a war film to also be an action film. Released nearly 40 years before McClane ever uttered the infamous catchphrase “Yippie Ki Yay,” the 1949 World War II film Battleground was released.

Set during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, the movie is centered on the exploits of members of the 101st Airborne Division – much like the more recent HBO series Band of Brothers. 

Though the squad is short on supplies, with bad weather grounding the transport aircraft, several men attend an impromptu outdoor Christmas service. The Chaplain, who had previously served as clergy at a Hanukkah ceremony and was told he wasn’t bad “for a beginner,” delivers a sermon on the importance of the fight against the Nazis. As the unit is down to its final rounds of ammunition, like a Christmas miracle the weather clears and the C-47 transports begin to drop the much-needed supplies.

That’s a holiday classic miracle if there ever was one!

Notable Firearms: Nothing says “USA” like the M1 Garand and M1 Carbine.

Ho, Ho!, Ho!