The Best Ballistic Christmas Movies

As the holidays approach, it’s an absolute must to cuddle up with some hot cocoa to watch classic Christmas films with your loved ones. It’s a great pastime, especially if it’s too cold to go out. But why not introduce something a bit more exciting? These movies are action-packed and full of firepower. And don’t worry, these are still perfect to watch for the holidays because, in one way or another, they’re festive enough even through the action. Be aware, though; there are several spoilers ahead. With that said, let’s get to it!

Lethal Weapon 

I know, I know — it’s not Die Hard. Every year, there seem to be extensive debates between the two movies, but Lethal Weapon definitely deserves to be mentioned. The movie opens with “Jingle Bell Rock” as we are introduced to what will be a much larger drug issue. This movie is set in December of 1987, and one of the first major gun fights ensues at a Christmas tree farm, which is actually used as a front for drug dealers. L.A.P.D. Narcotics Detective Sgt. Martin Riggs (played by Mel Gibson) approaches the dealers before displaying his badge and telling the thugs that they’re all under arrest. In a few short minutes, the once quaint tree farm is filled with gunfire and destruction. 

Riggs is paired with L.A.P.D. Homicide Detective Sgt. Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover). Murtaugh is a happy family man who wants to embrace Riggs. Meanwhile, Riggs mourns the death of his wife and aims to stay alone through the holidays. The holidays can be a sad and lonely time for some people, and Lethal Weapon highlights that. Throughout the movie, even though Riggs tries to push Murtaugh away, he refuses to leave, and Riggs finds friendship and warmth in the cold holiday season he had been struggling through. Action aside, this is a heartwarming movie where it counts. 

Die Hard

Yes, now we get to the all-time classic Die Hard. Police officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) visits his wife and two kids on Christmas Eve. He attends a company Christmas party with his wife before terrorists begin attacking the building and taking everyone hostage. McClane quickly realizes he needs to save the day, and does so with Christmas cheer. 

McClane’s first showdown with a terrorist ends with his victory and decision to send a Santa hat down the elevator to the terrorists with a note stating “Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho.” The movie follows McClane as he evades the terrorists, gets the police involved, and works to save the hostages without anyone getting hurt. This is scattered among Christmas songs, multiple “ho ho ho’s,” Christmas trees, and the fact that this is entirely set within the hours leading up to Christmas day. 

In the final moments, the terrorists hold McClane’s wife hostage, and all McClane has left is a machine gun and two bullets in his Beretta 92FS. After shooting the terrorist and knocking him backward to fall to his death, of course, he holds onto McClane’s wife, and McClane just barely saves her. The movie ends on Christmas morning with everyone safe and the bad guys defeated; a Christmas miracle. 

Fatman

In this 2020 film, Chris Cringle (Mel Gibson) has lost his Christmas spirit. For years he has been just giving and this generation’s children are beginning to frustrate him. Meanwhile, even with his generosity, he can barely get by and has had to partner with the U.S. military to get by. And this year, one petty kid with too much money creates a stressful holiday season for Chris.

Twelve-year-old Billy Wenan (Chance Hurstfield) receives coal in his stocking, and in his view, he did nothing to deserve that. Spoiler: he did deserve it as he took a classmate hostage for having a better science project than him and threatened her with a shock from a car battery. In retaliation, Billy orders an assassin, known as the Skinny Man (Walton Goggins), to kill our beloved Santa Claus (AKA, the Fat Man) for doing him wrong.

After lots of shootouts and Chris somehow surviving a shot to the head, the assassin is killed by Mrs. Claus (Marianne Jean-Baptiste). Chris visits Billy in the end, delivering an epic monologue, admitting that he has lost his way but warning Billy that he better not try this again. By no means is Fatman a traditional Christmas movie, but its gruff, action-packed moments are perfect to watch this holiday season.

Violent Night 

This time around, Santa is played by David Harbour who is a surprisingly good shot. This story starts similarly with a Santa who is worn down by a greedy, materialistic world and is considering quitting his century-long career. On Christmas Eve, Santa is going about his business delivering gifts to a family. However, this family is insanely rich and has attracted the attention of mercenaries after their fortune.

Santa runs into mercenaries and kills two of them in a surprisingly festive way before finding a walkie-talkie. The walkie-talkie tunes in to hostage seven-year-old Trudy (Leah Brady) who tells him what’s happening. Santa finds that Trudy is on his nice list and the mercenaries are on his naughty list. He then decides to help save the family.

The house is now packed with mercenaries being picked off by an armed Santa, and through a lot of bloodshed and an almost-dead Santa, the day is finally saved. Oh, and did I mention that the leader of the mercenaries is nicknamed Mr. Scrooge? Plus the mercenaries are all nicknamed after different Christmas icons like Candy Cane. This movie has plenty to offer and has become one of my personal favorites.

The Night the Reindeer Died

This movie isn’t actually a movie. Instead, it’s a parody trailer seen in the 1988 movie SCROOGED. This two-minute clip shows Santa’s workshop getting ready for Christmas before missiles blow up part of the shop and attackers begin shooting out the windows. Mrs. Claus screams “Let’s get ’em!” and races to their conveniently placed gun cabinet packed with guns of all shapes and sizes. Santa and his elves are all armed to the teeth when a mysterious figure with a machine gun bursts in. Santa realizes with relief that it’s Lee Majors there to save the day!

This two-minute clip is hilarious and worth the watch. It’s sad that this isn’t a full movie, because even almost 40 years later, that preview would garner plenty of attention. But alas, this will at least for the time being remain an idea left in the 80s that we can all assume would have been an awesome movie.

So that’s it; that’s my list of some of the best gun-toting Christmas movies out there. Do you have any you’d add? Let us know in the comments below.