These 7 Christmas films are not Christmas films and still provide a Christmas atmosphere

Christmas movies just don't make it easy to like them. The stories are mostly flat, interchangeable and bursting with exaggerated romance, unrealistic situations and one cheesy happy ending after another. If you don't want to do this, you may find it difficult to get into the Christmas spirit you so desire, after everyone else. It can't stay like this, we thought and started looking for Christmas films that aren't actually Christmas films but still spread Christmas spirit. The seven best non-Christmas films can be found here.

Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) is a strict and cynical teacher at an elite all-boys school who has to look after some students over the Christmas break who can't go home. Among them is Angus (Dominic Sessa), a rebellious teenager who has difficulty fitting in. They are supported by Mary (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), the school's warm but grieving cook, who is coping with her own loss. Together they spend the holidays in the empty school, reluctantly developing an unlikely connection and finding healing in their loneliness and personal struggles. A wonderful film drama that is only partially about Christmas but still gets you in the Christmas spirit.Available on Sky Go and WOW.

Against a darkly humorous one, which takes place in Los Angeles at Christmas time, there's nothing wrong with it, right? Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.), a petty criminal, ends up in a casting by chance and is signed for a film role. To prepare, he is brought together with a cynical private detective, but the two find themselves caught up in a real murder case faster than they can imagine. Between sharp dialogues, chaotic twists and lots of self-irony, a turbulent story with a few selected Christmas vibes unfolds.Available to rent on Amazon Prime Video.

In the 1950s, the young saleswoman Therese (Rooney Mara) meets the elegant Carol (Cate Blanchett), who is trapped in a difficult marriage. What begins as a fleeting encounter in a department store develops into a tender, forbidden love story. Both women must battle societal expectations and personal doubts as their feelings for each other grow stronger. Against the backdrop of wintry New York, with festive decorations and snow-covered streets, a bittersweet story of longing and self-discovery unfolds.Available on Joyn.

The wealthy doctor Bill Harford () and his wife Alice (Nicole Kidman) face a crisis when Alice confesses to him a disturbing fantasy about another man. Driven by jealousy and curiosity, Bill takes to the nighttime streets of New York and stumbles into a mysterious, exclusive society whose dark rituals put him in danger. Stanley Kubrick's final film combines psychological depth with visual opulence to create an exceptionally fascinating Christmas atmosphere.Available to rent on AppleTV+.

The March sisters Meg (Emma Watson), Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Beth (Eliza Scanlen) and Amy (Florence Pugh) grow up during the American Civil War and each fight for their dreams in their own way. Between big family reunions, first loves and heartwarming moments at Christmas, they experience ups and downs that bring them closer together. The wintry, festive mood runs like a common thread through the film.Available on Netflix.

Christmas spirit reigns in Gotham City, but the peace is of course deceptive. Batman (Michael Keaton) has to face two opponents: the grotesque Penguin (Danny DeVito), who wants to plunge the city into chaos, and the mysterious Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer), who pursues her own goals. As snowflakes fall and Christmas trees sparkle, Tim Burton manages to create a truly extraordinary and grotesque Christmas atmosphere.Available on Sky Go and WOW.

InFour KingsFour young adults spend the Christmas season in a psychiatric clinic because they are not welcome at home. Under the guidance of the understanding doctor Dr. Wolff (Clemens Schick), Lara (Jella Haase), Fedja (Jannis Niewöhner), Timo (Moritz Leu) and Alex (Paula Beer) are forced to face their inner conflicts. Between group sessions and unexpected moments of closeness, a fragile community emerges that is both touching and challenging. The clinical, Christmas-like setting, with its mix of hope and loneliness, gives the story a special warmth and depth.Available on Joyn and YouTube.