5 Christmas Action Movies Worth Watching This December (and Owning on Disc)
Every year I try to squeeze in a few Christmas movies but I’m not always in the mood for the cosy, sugary stuff. Sometimes you just want explosions, sarcasm, and a hero who spends more time bleeding in a dirty vest top than wrapping presents. Christmas action movies scratch that itch perfectly.
And while these films are easy to find online, I’ve learned (the hard way) that most streaming platforms don’t exactly give action movies the treatment they deserve. Fast cuts, dark scenes, snow, night-time shootouts, all of it turns into a blurry mess when the bitrate drops. Watching the Blu-ray, UHD, or even a good DVD gives you a cleaner picture and proper sound, especially for older action films.
These five are perfect for Christmas week and even better if you’ve already got them on your shelf. If you want something more lighthearted, my post 5 Essential Old-School Comedies That Couldn’t Be Made Today will hit the funny bone the way comedies were meant to. If you’re in the mood for something cosy and family-friendly afterwards, my list of 5 Essential Family Films for Christmas is packed with great options too.
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1. Die Hard (1988)
It’s not Christmas until John McClane is barefoot, bleeding, and crawling through air vents. Die Hard is the ultimate Christmas action movie whether people want to admit it or not. Christmas party? Check. Music? Check. Decorations? Check. Mayhem? Definitely.
It holds up incredibly well on disc, especially in the darker rooftop and corridor scenes where streaming usually falls apart.
My 2 Cents: I watched this again at the weekend because I knew I had this post to finish, and I wanted to start on a truthful note. I really miss Alan Rickman; he was a fantastic actor. And seeing Bruce Willis on screen again feels a bit poignant now, knowing how much his health has deteriorated.
The film doesn’t hold the same magic it once did for me (to be fair, very few films do these days), but it is still a rock-solid action movie and a real gem from the Action Man golden era. I may have to finish the whole Die Hard series over the next few weeks now that I’ve started the ball rolling.
Save the streaming for another time and buy the Blu-ray Experience on Amazon today.
Buy Die Hard on Amazon Ireland.
2. Die Hard 2 (1990)
Another Christmas Eve, another disaster. Snow, airports, terrorists — and McClane in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s more chaotic than the first film, but that’s half the charm. The Blu-ray is surprisingly sharp for a film from 1990 and the sound mix is far stronger than the tinny versions you often get online.
My 2 Cents: This is one of the rare cases where a sequel came very close to matching the original. The premise is solid, the scenario is just believable enough, and of course John McClane is once again sticking his nose into trouble that technically isn’t his business. Dennis Franz is perfectly cast as the grumpy airport chief of police, and William Sadler and John Amos make for convincing villains (sorry… spoiler alert).
Bonnie Bedelia spends most of the movie stuck on a plane, but she still gets one brilliant moment when she tazes William Atherton mid-whine. It’s worth watching Die Hard 1 and 2 back to back; you’ll feel like you’re right back in the late 80s or early 90s.
Buy on Amazon below!
Buy Die Hard 2 on Amazon Ireland.
3. Lethal Weapon (1987)
People forget this is a Christmas movie, but the film never lets you. Trees, lights, decorations, and an opening that drops you straight in with “Jingle Bell Rock.” It’s pure ’80s buddy-cop energy, dark humour, and great action.
If you’ve only ever streamed it, the disc version absolutely wipes the floor with the soft, over-compressed copies you see on TV.
My 2 Cents: I’ve always had a soft spot for the Lethal Weapon series. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover were perfectly cast, and this first film had a much grittier edge than the later entries. Once they realised that the mix of grit and humour actually worked, the chemistry between the two of them became unbeatable.
I first saw this movie on a VHS tape recorded straight off the TV (yes, I really did say VHS — you might have to look that up). It was my introduction to proper ’80s action and it captures that era better than almost anything else. The music, the tone, the slightly rough look of it all… it was the beginning of a brilliant series and still one of the standout action films from that decade.
Buy on Amazon below!
Buy Lethal Weapon on Amazon UK.
Buy Lethal Weapon on Amazon Ireland.
4. The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Now this one is a gem. Geena Davis as an amnesiac schoolteacher who suddenly remembers she used to be a lethal government assassin — all set against a Christmas backdrop of snowy towns and festive decorations. It’s stylish, explosive, funny, and completely overlooked these days.
The physical-media version really shines because the film has a lot of nighttime sequences, flame and snow effects, and fast-motion scenes that streaming struggles with.
My 2 Cents: I’ve always enjoyed this movie since the first time I saw it on VHS (yes, I said VHS again). I probably didn’t expect much with Geena Davis in the lead, and Samuel L. Jackson was fairly unknown to me at the time. It was one of those films I picked up without even reading the synopsis on the back of the jewel case, it may even have been on sale at the time.
I was genuinely surprised by how well Geena pulled off the action sequences and how entertaining the whole film turned out to be. The mix of humour, chaos and Christmas atmosphere gives it a charm most people forget about. It’s one of those underappreciated 90s action films that deserves more attention, especially at this time of year.
Buy on Amazon below!
Buy The Long Kiss Goodnight on Amazon UK.
Buy The Long Kiss Goodnight on Amazon Ireland.
5. Violent Night (2022)
This is the most recent film on the list, but it already feels like a cult Christmas favourite. Picture Home Alone meets Die Hard… except Santa is the one doing the fighting. It’s ridiculous, gory, surprisingly heartfelt, and perfect if you want something modern but still dripping in Christmas atmosphere.
The Blu-ray looks fantastic — colourful, sharp, and far cleaner than the muddy stream I saw last year.
My 2 Cents: I had to fast forward a bit for this one and bring you all the way to 2022 for this one. I thought Santa Claus and violence were the perfect way to finish off this post.
Buy on Amazon below!
Buy Violent Night on Amazon UK.
Buy Violent Night on Amazon Ireland.
Why I Prefer These on Disc at Christmas
December is the time when good movies need to be watched. Streaming platforms that just don't have the exact title you want to watch that night or even worse, they have the first and third movie in a series but not the second.
If you’re building your Christmas movie lineup this year, these five movies above are guaranteed winners and they’re even better if you watch them the way they were meant to be seen. If they are missing from your collection, Christmas time is
Thanks for Reading,
David
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About the Author
I’m David Condon, a movie enthusiast from Tralee, Co. Kerry. I’ve been collecting DVDs and Blu-rays for years, and along the way my shelves have become a mix of favourites, hidden gems, and titles I occasionally decide to resell.
I’m not a professional critic, just someone who enjoys good films, well-made discs, and the odd rant about the quirks of collecting. This blog is where I share my thoughts, opinions, reviews, and experiences as a fan.
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