Best Christmas-Themed Sci-Fi Movies

Nothing goes together like science fiction and Christmas, right? Most moviegoers would tell you that is not the case, but the spirit of Christmas has bled into even the best sci-fi films. While some may not be altogether Christmas films, elements of Christmas and Christmas-related scenes make them as much of Christmas films as the movie Die Hard. For serious sci-fi fans, they can use this list to convince their friends to tune in to some of their favorite films during the holiday season and be surprised when they get a dose of holiday spirit.

Some of these stories may be dystopian and at times challenging, but sci-fi and Christmas films are alike in the joy of getting swept away in a story, even if one may be darker than the other. Check out or rewatch some of the amazing films below for an unexpected burst of holiday cheer in a genre you’d never expect to capture the essence of Christmas.

5 ‘Brazil’ (1985)

Brilliant director Terry Gilliam creates a beautiful dystopian satire in Brazil that is easily one of his best films for its dark analysis of bureaucratic society. Set against the backdrop of Christmas, Brazil follows its main character stuck in an oppressive system that focuses on materialistic ideals. Starring Jonathan Pryce and featuring Robert De Niro, it has become an essential part of sci-fi viewing and ranks as one of the best sci-fi films of all time.

A Dystopian Christmas

While a dystopian movie may not get you into the holiday spirit, this film is a must-watch for film buffs and Terry Gilliam fans. If looking to break up the monotony of love stories and unexpected romances, this film is the perfect watch that turns the genre on its head and will leave new viewers with a piece of art well worth talking about. The film may offer challenging topics but is known for its sharp wit and humor, helping to add levity and give a spirited critique of society.

4 ‘Prometheus’ (2012)

Release Date

May 30, 2012

Runtime

124

The fifth installment of the Alien film series is directed by the legend Ridley Scott and features top actors Idris Elba, Noomi Repace, and Michael Fassbender. Another dark film that isn’t necessarily about Christmas, but takes place during the iconic holiday and even sees an inebriated Idris Elba interacting with a Christmas tree. And what could be more Christmas-like than that? Getting merry on the holidays with your friends and families is a staple for most adults. And while Prometheus may feature some truly difficult scenes, it is well worth a watch for an offbeat, Christmas-adjacent film.

Sci-Fi Sequel

The Alien series has seen countless sequels and television series adapted from the original film. This story is a prequel to the 1979 film and follows a team of explorers who endeavor to the darkest parts of the universe. Searching for benevolent beings, the explorers find the exact opposite when stumble upon terrors like they’ve never seen. The Christmas themes are limited in this film, but features a search for something better which is a staple of some of the best Christmas films. It is the perfect film to watch in the wintertime and serves as one of the best horror prequels of all time.

3 ‘Children of Men’ (2007)

Release Date

January 5, 2007

Runtime

109 minutes

Alfonso Cuaron’s dystopian action thriller film based on the 1992 P.D. James novel of the same name is one of the most critically acclaimed sci-fi films ever. It was nominated for three Academy Awards and stars A-list actors such as Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, and Charlie Hunnam. The film is set in the future in a time where all women have become infertile, but miraculously a single woman has become pregnant. An immaculate conception makes this the most realistic Christmas parable, even if set in a dystopian world. The promise of a new child offers the savior to the human race and instant connections to the classic Christmas tale.

An Immaculate Conception

Twenty years later, Children of Men still ranks as one of the best sci-fi films of the century. With a stacked cast, a renowned director, and dashes of Christmas themes, it should be essential viewing come Christmas. The film is worth viewing at any time of the year due to the quality alone, but with the connections to the immaculate conception, it is worth an immediate rewatch. It is easily one of Clive Owen’s best films and ranks high among them.

2 ‘Iron Man 3’ (2013)

Release Date

April 18, 2013

Runtime

130

There are many reasons why Iron Man 3 is a Christmas movie and that is due to the film taking place during the holidays and the general plot relating to Tony Stark battling a ghost from his past. The story features multiple Christmas-related scenes among the usual plotlines of taking down bad guys and saving the world. The only Iron Man film not directed by Jon Favreau is instead helmed by Shane Black, who has shown a penchant for inserting Christmas elements in unusual places. The additional Christmas-related films of his are another Robert Downey Jr. picture Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and the ’80s classic, Lethal Weapon.

A Very Iron Man Christmas

In the titular film, Stark takes on a dangerous enemy known as The Mandarin. Another non-holiday surprise for fans is that it features a small cameo from a then very young Jenna Ortega. Aside from the Christmas lights and cheer that surround the film, it is one of the best in the series and is worth watching for fans who will be missing Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man as he takes on a new Marvel character, Doctor Doom.

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1 ‘A Message From Mars’ (1921)

The first British sci-fi film just so happens to be a Christmas film. The story follows the same trajectory as Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. The main character in A Message From Mars focuses on the lead character Horace Parker (Charles Hawtrey), an awful man who is confronted with his misgivings on Christmas Eve by a messenger from Mars. Parker must watch in terror as he sees all the awful things his family and friends have to say about him with the hopes that he can turn his life around.

A British Sci-Fi Classic

Based on Richard Ganthony’s play of the same name, it manages the classic story with a sci-fi twist. The lesser-known film is a true Christmas story and can be watched alongside the likes of Christmas classics like It’s A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story. For fans of sci-fi, Christmas films, and British classics, this is the perfect watch for cinephiles and the Christmas-obsessed viewer.