More than any other holiday, Christmas has inspired hundreds if not thousands of movies from "It's a Wonderful Life" to "Home Alone." But the most wonderful time of the year also plays a role in films that don't necessarily involve Santa Claus, baby Jesus or ol' Ebenezer Scrooge.
Headlines & Global News picked its favorite non-traditional Christmas movies to give viewers an alternative choice this holiday season instead of sorting through the dozen adaptations of "A Christmas Carol."
(Editor's Note: Films that traditionally air during the holidays such as "The Holiday," "Love Actually" and "The Sound of Music" were not included on this list.)
So, Merry Christmas, you filthy animal... and a Happy New Year.
"Harry Potter" franchise
Magic fills the halls of Hogwarts on a daily basis, but the school also celebrates the magic of Christmas ever year. The Great Hall is filled with The Twelve Christmas Trees and a feast is held on Christmas Day for the students and teachers who don't venture home for the holidays.
Harry Potter always preferred to avoid his horrible aunt and uncle during the holidays, so he remained at school or joined his best friend Ron Weasley and his family for Christmas. Searching for Vodemort's Horcruxes, he and Hermione spend Christmas Eve visiting the graves of Harry's parents, James and Lilly, at Godric's Hollow.
"Serendipity"
Is it coincidence or is it fate that Sara and Jonathan meet while Christmas shopping in New York City? They are both forgetful, like the number 23 and have the same taste in women's gloves.
But it's not enough for Sara, who insists they write their name and phone number on a five dollar bill and a copy of "Life in the Time of Cholera" and let fate decide whether they are destined to be together.
"Mean Girls"
You can't receive a candy cane at Christmas and not say to yourself, "You go, Glen Coco!" Or see someone else get one and say, "And none for Gretchen Wieners." The 2004 comedy written by Tina Fey gave us many memorable lines and hilarious moments, like Cady and the Plastics' scandalous rendition of "Jingle Bell Rock."
"The American President"
Before his thoughtful Christmas-themed episodes on "The West Wing," Aaron Sorkin celebrated the holidays with the Shepherd Administration. President Andrew Shepherd had such a dedicated and hard-working staff, they almost forgot it was Christmas.
Robin McCall: Fellas, we haven't slept in three years. Can't we forget work for one night and take this moment to enjoy each other as friends? It's Christmas.
Lewis Rothschild: It's Christmas?
Leon Kodak: Yeah, you didn't get the memo?
"Meet Me in St. Louis"
Is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on your annual Christmas playlist? Then thank Judy Garland, who first performed the classic holiday song in a scene where her character, Esther, comforts her little sister, Tootie.
That same evening, Esther attends the Christmas Eve ball where she's left to dance with a number of unattractive men until her grandfather and later her love, John, save her on the dance floor. By the end of the night, she and John are engaged. That's a nice Christmas gift.
"Die Hard"
Fighting off a band of terrorists is a hell of a way to spend Christmas Eve, but NYPD Det. John McClane has no other choice when his wife and her co-workers are taken hostage by Hans Gruber and his 12 armed thugs during their holiday office party.
And so began the franchise that Bruce Willis has led over four sequels. "Yippee-ki-yay, motherf----r!"
"Just Friends"
Chris Brander never quite got over his high school crush, Jamie Palamino, whose rejection turned the overweight teenager into an absolute womanizer. Thinner and more successful, he returns home for Christmas and hopes the girl of his dreams will finally see him as more than just a friend or worse... "like a brother."
"
"Sleepless in Seattle"
"Christmas Eve, he phones in one of those radio call-in shows, tells them I need a new wife..."
Luckily for Sam Baldwin, Annie Reed from Baltimore heard that fateful call to Dr. Marsha Fieldstone and two months later, they finally met on the top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day.
Writer-director Nora Ephron also brought her romantic leads Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan a little closer together during the holiday season in "You've Got Mail."
"Iron Man 3"
Tony Stark may be a genius billionaire, but his Christmas gift ideas lack some serious imagination. He buys an oversized bunny rabbit for his girlfriend, Pepper Potts, and then practically gets her killed. She does a much better job... by saving his life.
"About a Boy"
Take note, kids. Marcus Brewer best demonstrates how to put on a happy face even when you receive crap gifts for Christmas, like socks or a tambourine, which don't top the list of many boys. But the real key is to not get more excited about cooler gifts - a Mystical album and personal CD player - and hurt the feelings of those who gave you the less than stellar gifts.
