Each and every year, especially during the Christmas season, a debate erupts. People have drawn battle lines and are vehemently on one side of the issue. Years from now, there will always be people who will say that Die Hard is a Christmas movie and those with the opposing opinion who are just plain wrong.

There are going to be a lot of people who say Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie as it doesn’t have the typical characters regularly associated with the Holidays. Well, what if your movie has Santa Claus in it? It would be pretty hard to deny it if it has jolly ol’ Saint Nick in it, huh? Well, there are a ton of “alternative” Christmas movies featuring the main man himself! So, let’s go check out just five of them, shall we?

#1 Bad Santa

It has Santa in the title! Sure, it’s a “bad” one… but it still counts!

Okay, Bad Santa doesn’t actually feature Santa Claus himself. Rather, it features Billy Bob Thorton as a drunken, sex-crazed mall Santa who uses his status to rob stores during Christmas Eve with the help of his partner-in-crime. He does start changing his tune when he comes across a boy who starts looking up to him as the kid believes he’s the real Santa Claus.

Honestly, out of all the movies that are in this list, Bad Santa is pretty much the closest an “alternative” Christmas movie can get to being a traditional one. For one thing, it has the titular Bad Santa learning all about the true meaning of Christmas in a way. Okay, it took him a long time to learn it but he eventually got there! That’s gotta count for something!

#2 Violent Night

What if you had Santa Claus as John McClaine? You get Violent Night!

Violent Night seems like something out of an SNK sketch. But it’s real. It oh so real! This movie has Santa Claus, played by David Harbour, trying to protect the family of one of the kids on his nice list as their house has been attacked by a group of mercenaries planning to hold them up for the Holidays.

I really loved Violent Night. The premise, which has Santa Claus taking on a group of bloodthirsty mercenaries who hold up a rich family during Christmas Eve, is such a delight! It’s almost like the people behind the film listened to the people who keep on saying Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie and went out of their way to make a Die Hard movie that no one can say isn’t a Christmas movie!

#3 Santa’s Slay

Pro wrestling superstar Bill Goldberg as a murderous Santa Claus? Yes, please!

Santa’s Slay is a definitely a really out there take on Santa Claus. In the film, it turns out Santa is actually the son of the Devil himself and, after losing a bet, was cursed to deliver presents and good cheer for a thousand years. But now that those thousands of years are up, Santa Claus is going to start delivering more than toys this time around.

Santa’s Slay is definitely not to be taken seriously as the premise and the way Santa Claus goes about his murderous spree is actually done in a tongue-in-cheek way. It’s a pretty goofy, low-budget slasher movie and it wisely doesn’t try to hide it. I personally like it but I sadly didn’t love it as I do think it could’ve gone more over-the-top than it did. Oh, and you can actually watch it on YouTube for free if you search for it.

#4 Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

So that’s why there are so many Santa Clauses all around the world!

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is kind of a pseudo-prequel or pseudo-sequel to the other Rare Exports short films. In the series, a group of Finnish trappers hunt down and capture wild Santa Clauses to ship all around the world. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale kind of follows that plotline but, at the same time, it doesn’t. I don’t want to spoil anything because I have a feeling most of you haven’t seen this Finnish horror comedy.

I will say that the film’s version of Santa Claus is indeed in the movie and is a main reason why the events of the film is happening. He’s not exactly a main character but he is there, however, meaning he can be included on this list. It’s kind of slow paced so it’s definitely not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.

#5 Fatman

Well, calling him that isn’t that nice!

Fatman is all about a naughty kid hires a hitman to kill Santa Claus as he received a lump of coal on Christmas. There’s also a subplot where the US government subsidizes Santa Claus’ Workshop as his gift giving helps the economy but, with the increasing number of naughty kids, the government changes its contract to have Santa Claus build fighter jet parts. This upsets Santa Claus, played by Mel Gibson, who has gotten more and more cynical over the years, but he agrees to the change in order to keep Santa’s Workshop and the elves all employed.

I will say Fatman has a lot of heart to it as it takes this admittedly silly premise but plays it straight for the most part. It’s a weird mishmash of stories and I do wish they just concentrated on one or the other. Then again, they really had to fill the time with something and the two storylines kind of compliment each other thematically so I’ll give that a pass.

BONUS: Krampus

Okay, Krampus is decidedly not Santa Claus. That’s why this is just a bonus entry.

I actually never heard of the Krampus legend until the film was announced. When the trailer proudly proclaimed it was based on an ancient legend, I thought they were pulling my leg. A quick internet search did correct my way of thinking, thankfully. Unlike Santa Claus, Krampus is there to visit those who are on St. Nicolas’ naughty list… with a vengeance! While Krampus is decidedly not Santa Claus, he is noted, according to legend, his kind of partner. While Saint Nick would give gifts to the good little boys and girls, Krampus would give a different kind of gift to the naughty ones.

Krampus is a pretty effective allegory of what it feels like to lose the Christmas spirit as the creature, in the film, at least, punishes people who hate the Holidays. So, in a way, the film is one of the more closely connected to Christmas but it’s just not focusing on the positive attitude you’re supposed to be feeling throughout the season.

What other “alternative” Christmas movies can you think of that features Santa Claus? Let me know in the comments section below!