Few artists ever achieve the level of greatness that Actor Val Kilmer was able to in his sixty-five years on this planet, but for over four decades, the world was able to witness that greatness firsthand with awe.
As a child of the ’80s, I simply grew up watching Kilmer’s movies. His first role in 1984’s Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker parody flick Top Secret! was a staple on Comedy Central back in the day, while his follow-up to that, 1985’s Real Genius, was another cable TV mainstay on stations like TBS and TNT, and remains one of my personal favorites to this day.
In 1986, Kilmer played bad guy Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky opposite Tom Cruise in the massive blockbuster hit Top Gun. With its stellar aerial shots and rocking soundtrack featuring Kenny Loggins, it was a surefire hit of the time, one that I would often overplay on a dubbed VHS tape much to the chargin of my brothers and sisters.
1988’s Willow directed by Ron Howard and co-starring Warwick Davis of the Star Wars universe, was a fantasy film for the ages, part Masters of the Universe, part Lord of the Rings, and remains another standout role in Kilmer’s flimography.
His follow-up to this, 1989’s oft-forgotten neo-noir piece Kill Me Again, segued him into the role as legendary rock frontman Jim Morrison in 1991’s The Doors. Kilmer’s notority seemed to blossom after this, while also spawning my personal love for the rock biopic sub-genre.
1992’s Thunderheart and 1993’s The Real McCoy may have each paled in comparison, but his portrayal of Doc Holliday in 1993’s Tombstone helped solidify it as one of the greatest modern western films to date. An appearance in the ensemble flick True Romance (his third of 1993), would pave the way for yet another one of his most memorable roles, as Batman/Bruce Wayne in 1995’s Batman Forever (coincidentally the first film of his I would see on the big screen).
Heat (also 1995), The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) and The Saint (1997) were a few more notable appearances prior to a period of more obscure features (although his role as the villain Dieter Von Cunth in 2010’s MacGruber contained its own level of brilliance).
But by 2015, things began to look grim for Kilmer, with rumors of a tumor and eventually throat cancer becoming a reality, and chemotherapy and two tracheotomies taking enormous tolls on his health.
By the time the long overdue Top Gun sequel Maverick appeared in 2022, fans caught a glimpse of what life was really like for the actor by that stage, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the theater by the time Iceman’s funeral is reached.
I didn’t know Val Kilmer on any sort of personal level, but for nearly my entire life, he has simply been there – as both an artist on the screen, and as a figure worth looking up to – much like fellow Actor/film legend Gene Hackman (who unfortunately I was unable to write a similar tribute piece for after his passing last month due to my own recovering at the time from surgery).
But mourn these men not because we knew them, but because they brought a joy to our own lives we would’ve never known without their existence in it. Rest in peace Gene and Val – your legacies will live on for a lifetime in each of our memories.
Tom Cruise returns as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and director Joseph Kosinski takes over for the late Tony Scott (whom the film is dedicated to) to deliver the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun. And unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably already well aware of what an all out thrill ride Top Gun: Maverick truly is.
Kenny Loggins’ hit from the original film “Danger Zone” opens the film the only appropriate way possible, as we quickly find our protagonist still working as a test pilot in the U.S. Navy, purposely avoiding promotions all these years in order to continue flying. But he’s quickly whisked away back to Top Gun to train a group of elite pilots for a specialized mission that ultimately only he can pull off.
Initially, my only complaint was the actual establishments of said new pilots – who come off just a tad on the obnoxious side at first – and the quick pace we’re introduced to new characters as though we already know them (the lovely Jennifer Connelly plays a former love interest perfectly, though). But once the awkwardness passes, it’s pure escapist entertainment of the highest level, filled with plenty of action, and unexpected drama (no spoilers, but the scenes with Val Kilmer, who briefly reprises his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky from the first film, really got me).
In this entry, Maverick not only faces adversaries in the sky, but several on his own team, having to prove himself not only to an admiral (Jon Hamm) who doesn’t want him there, but the son (Miles Teller) of his former late RIO and best friend from the first film, Goose (Anthony Edwards).
Forget whatever negativity the anti-establishment, blue-haired “critics” out there might want to spew about this being a “recruitment” video (they’re just miserable with their lives anyway); this is a damn good film that brings back the days of when movies were actual “events,” and I felt like that kid in the ’80s again, popping his copy of the first film in the VCR to re-watch it again for the umpteenth time). Cruise is at the top of his game in Top Gun: Maverick, and you’re missing out if you don’t take flight along with him.
What really constitutes a ‘classic’ Christmas movie? Is the term limited strictly to the holiday specials of yesteryear, like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, or Santa Clausis Coming to Town? Or does it refer only to the same films played to death on cable television every year, such as A Christmas Story, Home Alone, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?
Over the years, there’s been many a film with Christmas either on the side or in the background all together, some more obvious than others, some more off-the-cuff. I tried to find twenty-five movies (for December 25th) for those with “alternative” tastes that prefer something slightly less than typical, and once and for all end the debate what exactly classifies as a Christmas movie (and of course, once and for all declare that Die Hard IS in fact a Christmas movie!).
It was not easy narrowing it down; as much as I wanted to include the likes of Maniac Cop 2, Reindeer Games, or Jaws: The Revenge, there were simply others that better fit the mold. Other films that also came to mind that deserve an honorable mention include Mean Girls (pictured above), Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Can’tBuy Me Love, Vice Versa, and even the original Karate Kid, all featured some Christmas in them, but not quite enough to make the list. And as tempting as it was to include some horror films like Black Christmas or Silent Night, Deadly Night, they indeed still fall under the Christmas banner in their own demented ways. So, compiled here for you now, I present the ultimate misfits guide of not-so-obvious Christmas movies…
25. Running Scared (1986): What better way to start things off than with an over-the-top, mid-’80s action/comedy starring Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines? The two portray Chicago police officers dreaming of retiring in sunny Florida, who first have to take down a drug dealer (played by Jimmy Smits), and take down they do as the bad guy eventually meets his demise in a pile of Christmas presents. A recent re-watch proved the film still has its own charm, and if you like a good dose of violence with your holiday cheer, than this one’s for you.
24. Night of the Comet (1984): Okay, I know I just said I was not going to include horror on this list, but I’ll make an exception for Night of the Comet since this mid-80s flick starring Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney is not only more of a Sci Fi/comedy feature, but there’s no killer Santa in sight. Instead, the main protagonists here are zombies after a comet hits the Earth just days before Christmas.
23. Trapped in Paradise (1994): Nicholas Cage, Jon Lovitz, and Dana Carvey star as three bumbling brothers who rob a small town bank. The plot is predictable, and the jokes few and far between, but the winter scenery is on point and enough to put anyone in the holiday spirit.
22. Invasion U.S.A. (1985): Die Hard was far from the first action film to incorporate yuletide carnage in it. This mid-’80s Chuck Norris romp features plenty of exploding Christmas trees as Norris tears his way through shopping malls (among numerous other suburban settings).
21. Screwed (2000): When chauffeur Willard (Norm Macdonald) gets a lousy pair of cuff links from his boss for Christmas, he snaps and devises a plan with his friend Rusty (Dave Chappelle) to kidnap her dog and hold it for ransom. Everything that can go wrong, does, as the two bumbling anti-heroes scramble to keep their heads above water.
Dave Chappelle (left) and Norm Macdonald enjoying some holiday cocktails in Screwed (2000).
20. Light of Day (1987): Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett star as brother and sister and bandmates in a struggling Ohio rock group trying to “make it.” Sure, the actual Christmas side of things are few and far between, but the amount of white snow seen throughout is enough of a holiday reminder, despite the dreary atmosphere.
19: Diner (1982): This early ’80s buddy film who center around a group of friends (played by Steve Guttenberg, Kevin Bacon, and Mickey Rourke, among others) hanging out and experiencing adulthood for the first time in late 1950’s Maryland. Almost every frame is dark and filled with frigid cold, often with Christmas decorations appearing.
18. Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009): Paul Blart (Kevin James) is a harmless New Jersey mall security officer who must rise to the occasion when thieves disguised as Santa’s Village employees attempt to heist the mall on Black Friday. The majority of the film takes place within the mall itself, something once as synonymous with Christmas as mistletoe.
17. Less Than Zero (1987): Andrew McCarthy, Jami Gertz, and Robert Downy, Jr. play rich kids lost in the decadence of 1980’s Los Angeles. Scenes of Christmas parties include plenty of “snow” despite the film’s often bleak, western setting.
16. Robocop 3 (1993): Often getting the worst rap of all the Robocop films (and rightfully so), Robocop 3 will always hold a special place in my heart for personal reasons (I have fond memories of going to see it on opening day with my mother and late Aunt Roberta) despite its many flaws. Aimed more at family audiences than the previous two entries, it features a Christmas backdrop throughout, with the donut shop scene towards the beginning displaying some of the most festive sites, as well as one of Jeff Garlin’s earliest roles.
15. Daddy’s Home 2 (2017): The two co-dads (Mark Wahlberg, Will Ferrell) from the original Daddy’s Home take their respective families to a ski resort for Christmas vacation, with their own fathers (Mel Gibson, John Lithgow) in tow as well. One mishap after the other leads to a few memorable moments, with the film even culminating complete with an epic sing-a-long of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?.”
14. Grumpy Old Man (1993): Walter Matthau and Jack Lemon play two bickering old neighbors in Minnesota. Snow covers nearly everything the eye can see in exterior shots (many centering around the two men ice fishing), while interior settings center around the holidays when family comes to visit.
13. Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986): Long before there was “The Dude,” there was Nick Nolte’s brilliant portrayal of a homeless man who is reluctantly taken in by Beverly Hills elitists (Richard Dreyfus, Bette Midler) during the holiday season. Things eventually get so out of hand, even Little Richard shows up at the family’s Christmas party.
12. Eyes Wide Shut (1999): Stanley Kubrick’s odd masterpiece of cults and cheating spouses starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman immediately starts off at a Christmas party in New York. The film maintains a cold, dark tone throughout, with the Christmas elements contrasting the material perfectly.
11. Better Off Dead (1985): High school dances, ski competitions, and hamburgers singing Van Halen are just a few of the highlights in this John Cusack vehicle directed by Savage Steve Holland. It’s absurd and over-the-top in every way imaginable, but contains just enough Christmas to earn your mom’s approval during the holiday season (I know this firsthand).
Curtis Armstrong, Amanda Wyss, and John Cusack prepare to hit the slopes in 1985’s Better Off Dead.
10. Hook (1991): This early ’90s take on the classic animated Disney film Peter Pan (which contained Christmas itself) starring the late Robin Williams only featured Christmas in the beginning and ending of the film, but contains enough magic to qualify here. Williams would appear in another similar fantasy film just a few years later in Jumanji (1995), which also featured some Christmas scenes in it.
9. First Blood (1982): The true O.G. of the Christmas action film, Sylvester Stallone’s first time portraying John Rambo contains more festive cheer than one might realize at first glance. From the sheriff’s office in the beginning, to the big in town shoot up ending, there’s plenty of Christmas decor to spot throughout.
8. Ghostbusters II (1989): From ghostbusting in Santa hats on the streets of New York, to an outdoor sing-a-long on New Year’s Eve, this 1989 sequel to the original Ghostbusters no doubt contained the Christmas spirit.
7. Rocky IV (1985): Going back to the 1976 original, the Rocky films were no strangers to holiday atmosphere. But by the time the Italian Stallion (Sylvester Stallone) got to the fourth entry, it was full-on, with the film’s final fight taking place on Christmas day in Russia. The trend would continue further five years later with Rocky V (1990), which also featured plenty of Christmas, but lacked much of the heart.
6. Edward Scissorhands (1990): Tim Burton was hitting his stride as a director by the time he reached Edward Scissorhands in the early ’90s. Johnny Depp stars as the Frankenstein-like titular character trying to fit in in a pristine suburbia, and Winnoa Ryder appears as his love interest. Again, the Christmas season doesn’t appear until near the end of the film, but the snowy flurries from Edward’s ice sculpting throughout the film adds to the seasonal feel.
5. Batman Returns (1992): In this entry, Batman (Michael Keaton) takes on the sleazy Penguin (Danny Devito) and slinky Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) in sub zero temperatures. Children are kidnapped, and Christmas parties are crashed in this final Batman entry with Keaton and directed by Tim Burton.
Mel Gibson gets more than he bargained for while shopping for a Christmas tree in Lethal Weapon (1987).
4. Lethal Weapon (1987): One of the greatest of its kind, the original Lethal Weapon with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover blended fast-paced action over a Christmas backdrop flawlessly. Perhaps the most memorable festive moment comes when a bullet goes through Tom Atkins’ torso into a glass of egg nog (I was thoroughly pleased to see Atkins actually had stills of this to sign when I met him this past October). It’s great to see Lethal Weapon is finally getting the recognition it deserves as a Christmas classic.
3. Trading Places (1983): Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy brilliantly portray an upper class broker and a small time street hustler whose lives are swapped at the whim of two millionaires making a bet. Much of the film takes place in the frigid temps of winter in Philadelphia with Christmas decor in aubundance. Very few on screen Santa’s before or since have compared to Aykroyd’s boozed-up, show-stopping performance.
2. Die Hard (1988) and Die Hard 2 (1990): Yes, the original Bruce Willis blockbuster Die Hard, which takes place at a high rise holiday party on Christmas Eve, is absolutely a Christmas film. But its first 1990 follow up, which includes terrorists taking over an airport on Christmas Eve, is often overlooked as an equal Christmas film. Of course, nothing will ever top Hans Gruber falling off the Nakatomi Plaza in the original, but each deserves their own holiday viewing.
1. Gremlins (1984): Marketed as a horror/comedy upon its initial release, the original Gremlins has since become a staple Christmas time classic. When teenaged Billy (Zach Galligan) gets a cute and fury, foreign creature as a Christmas present, it turns out to be too good to be true when it multiples, and the rest turn into hideous little monsters who wreak havoc on the small town. From start to finish, Christmas is everywhere in Gremlins, which has been a go-to in my household since I first received it as a gift (for Christmas) on VHS when I was a kid in the ’80s.
