We all know and love the Christmas classics — “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “A Christmas Story,” “Elf” — the movies that play on a loop every December and feel as familiar as the ornaments you’ve had since childhood. They’re comforting, reliable and endlessly rewatchable.
But sometimes the holidays call for a little novelty. Maybe you’ve already hit your annual quota of leg lamps and Buddy the Elf, or maybe you’re just in the mood to discover something that hasn’t been worn smooth by decades of cable rotation.
If that’s the case, these lesser-known holiday comedies are well worth your time. They’re charming, funny and a little off the beaten path, and three of them are refreshingly romance-free, which can feel like its own holiday miracle.
‘Millions’ (2004)
Heartwarming isn’t a word often associated with Danny Boyle, the filmmaker behind “Trainspotting