Christmas is fast approaching which means one thing, an overload of Christmas movies you love to hate. Perhaps you are in the mood for something a little different, but still in the festive spirit this year? Luckily, Newsweek has a rundown of the 10 most heartwarming movies that'll put you in the holiday spirit, despite not being about Christmas at all.
1. Harry Potter
For millennials and Gen Z's everywhere, Christmas and Harry Potter probably go hand-in-hand.
With eight films to make your way through, you can spend your holidays feeling festive by fuelling your days (or one day if you want to binge) with childhood nostalgia instead of Christmas content.
There are some Christmas references throughout all eight films, but who doesn't want to see Hogwarts covered in snow, Christmas dinner with your favorite families, or gift-fiving in the Gryffindor common room?
You can watch all eight Harry Potter films now via Peacock in the U.S.
2. When Harry Met Sally...
When Harry Met Sally... is the perfect rom-com to sit down and watch this Christmas.
Unlike Love Actually and Last Christmas, the entire plot point of When Harry Met Sally... does not center solely around Christmas. Sure, Christmas trees (a few of them) feature, and Sally (played by Meg Ryan) even goes Christmas Tree shopping in the Upper West Side. There is a Christmas office party but that is pretty much all the Christmas you are going to get.
Instead, the film builds up to New Year's Eve, when two long-time friends are forced to face their true feelings for one another.
When Harry Met Sally... is available to stream via Amazon Prime and Hulu now.
3. Paddington
Paddington is a heartwarming, animated comedy film about the famous children's character, Paddington Bear.
Created by author Michael Bond in 1958, the 2014 movie brings Paddington to life as he arrives in a wintery London from the jungles of "Darkest Peru."
Upon his arrival, he is adopted by the Brown family, where he has to dodge the hateful museum taxidermist Millicent Clyde (Nicole Kidman).
Paddington was so popular, it returned for a sequel in 2017 simply titled Paddington 2 and stars Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, and Hugh Grant with Ben Wishaw voicing the loveable bear.
Paddington is available via Amazon Prime now.
4. Die Hard
Is Die Hard a Christmas movie or is it simply an action film? That is the question that has been haunting us since 1988.
Yes, the film takes place on Christmas Eve in Los Angeles, when New York City Police Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) arrives in Los Angeles, hoping to reconcile with his estranged wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) at her Office Christmas party.
Just as he arrives, his wife and everybody in the building is taken hostage by German terrorists.
Is Die Hard a straight-up action film or a Christmas action film? You can decide.
Die Hard is available to stream via Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Peacock now.
5. The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz is the perfect film to watch if you want to watch something uplifting by avoiding any references to Christmas.
The 1939 classic stars Judy Garland as Dorothy, who after a tornado in her hometown of Kansas, finds herself in the Munchkinland in the Land of Oz, where Dorothy's home has killed the Wicked Witch of the East.
To make her way back home, Dorothy travels down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, enlisting the help of Scarecrow, who wants a brain; a Tin Woodman, who seeks a heart; and a Cowardly Lion, who wants nothing but courage.
Christmas or not, The Wizard of Oz is a film you do not want to miss. After all, it has been classified as one of the greatest films of all time and holds a place on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.
The Wizard of Oz is streaming now on HBO Max.
6. Ice Age
Nothing will make you feel cozier than watching all of the Ice Age movies.
Ice Age and its sequels, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Ice Age: Continental Drift, and Ice Age: Collision course follows a group of mammals surviving the Paleolithic ice age.
Enjoy being under blankets with a cup of hot drink as you watch Sid, Diego, Manny, and Scratch attempt to migrate to the much warmer south side of the planet.
If you like the first five movies in the Ice Age world, the sixth installment, The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild is currently in production, starring Simon Pegg.
Ice Age is available to stream via Disney Plus.
7. The Sound of Music
There's nothing like a musical at Christmas and if you are tired of watching re-runs of White Christmas, Frozen, and The Muppet Christmas Carol, why not watch The Sound of Music instead?
The musical itself has nothing to do with Christmas and instead follows governess Maria (Julie Andrews), Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), and his seven children as they flee Nazi rule in Austria.
However, the 1965 movie still feels quintessentially festive. You will see a glimpse of snow at the very end of the movie when the Von Trapps make their journey across the Alps. Julie Andrews even references the holiday season in the song "My Favourite Things."
The song is full of festive lyrics, with "snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes", "silver-white winters that melt into springs", "warm woolen mittens" and of course, "brown paper packages tied up with strings."
Watch The Sound of Music now via Disney+.
8. Bridget Jones's Diary
If you are a fan of Hugh Grant and Colin Firth but do not fancy watching Love Actually, Bridget Jones's Diary is a romantic comedy for you, without all of the extra added Christmas.
Starring Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones as a single 32-year-old, Grant and Firth star as her love interests Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy respectively, who both want to vie for her affection and attention.
There are three films in the series, the most recent being Bridget Jones's Baby in 2016 which saw Grey's Anatomy's Patrick Dempsey take on the role of another love interest of Jones's.
Bridget Jones's Diary is streaming on HBO Max now.
9. Mean Girls
If you fancy a guilty pleasure over the holidays, Mean Girls is the film for you.
The 2004 pop culture classic has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas, other than one of the most iconic moments of the early noughties.
Yes, the Mean Girls (Linsday Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, Rachel McAdams and Lacy Chabert) perform "Jingle Bell Rock" at the school talent show but the last thing it's going to do is remind you of Santa. Instead, you'll probably want to go have an "awesome time, drinking awesome shooters" or go and make "fetch happen."
Alternatively, it is always nice to watch something familiar and laugh out loud over the holidays. Enjoy!
Mean Girls is streaming on Paramount+ now.
10. Babe
Last but not least, Babe is the 1995 comedy-drama you will want to add to your festive movie list.
Christmas does feature in the film, particularly the moment when Babe is almost chosen as the meat of choice for Christmas dinner, but the majority of the film is set over the entire holiday period, bringing you all the joy you will need.
Based on Dick King-Smith's 1983 novel "The Sheep-Pig", Babe follows the story of a young orphaned sheepdog who is taught by his owner Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell) how to herd sheep. However, at the annual fair, Babe's talents are threatened by the rival sheepdog Rex (Hugo Weaving).
If you enjoy Babe, there is even a sequel titled Babe: Pig in the City you will not want to miss.
Babe is streaming Hulu now.
