6 Superhero Movies To Watch This Christmas

by

Around the holidays, many people enjoy watching entertaining movies. While classic Christmas films are popular, sometimes it’s nice to switch things up. Superhero movies are a great choice because they’re full of action and are simply fun to watch.

If you’re watching a superhero movie around the holidays, it’s nice when it has some connection to Christmas. Luckily, many of the greatest superhero films are either set during the holiday season or include themes that make them feel festive.

A handful of recent superhero movies are perfect for watching during the month of December.

Shazam! (2019)

It doesn’t immediately seem like Shazam! would be a great holiday movie. Like many superhero films with holiday elements, it’s not the main focus – those parts are subtle. But actually, setting Shazam! during the holidays really works in its favor.

Later in the film, there’s a key scene where the foster siblings finally unite and use their powers together, all set against a backdrop of twinkling Christmas lights. This moment is visually striking and really emphasizes the movie’s central ideas.

While Shazam! centers around a teen gaining superhero powers, at its heart it’s a story about the importance of family. Billy Batson finds the loving support he always lacked with his foster family, and that heartwarming connection makes it a great movie for families to enjoy together.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

As a huge Marvel fan, I’ve noticed they don’t really do a lot of Christmas-themed stuff. There’s basically only one actual Christmas movie, but thankfully, the Disney+ shows have given us a few options. I especially loved how Hawkeye used the holiday season—it really added to the story. And while it’s technically a ‘special,’ The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special feels more like a full-length movie to me!

This special is surprisingly packed with fun despite its short runtime of about 45 minutes. The plot follows Mantis and Drax as they attempt to lift Peter Quill’s spirits by bringing his idol, Kevin Bacon, to Knowhere. However, the pair are hilariously ill-equipped for the task.

Honestly, watching Quill and Mantis bicker and stumble through everything is hilarious – they really get into some messy situations trying to figure things out. Kevin Bacon showing up as himself is a fun little bonus, but what really makes this special work is how genuinely heartwarming it is. It’s where we find out Quill and Mantis are actually siblings, which perfectly emphasizes the importance of family – something you see in so many great Christmas specials.

Merry Little Batman (2023)

We need more animated holiday specials featuring superheroes. Prime Video did a great job with this recently, releasing Merry Little Batman, a full-length cartoon that takes place during the holidays and stars characters from the Batman universe.

The story has a great starting point: Batman goes on assignment, leaving his son, Damian Wayne, to watch over Gotham City with Alfred. While Batman’s away, Damian steps up to protect the city from the Joker. It’s a fun, exciting adventure that really highlights these characters.

Viewers really enjoyed the movie, and it featured a talented voice cast including Yonas Kibreab, David Hornsby, and Luke Wilson. Plus, because Merry Little Batman was so popular, it spawned a fun spin-off series called Bat-Fam on Prime Video that’s definitely worth watching.

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Shane Black has a knack for weaving Christmas into his films. From his screenwriting work on movies like Lethal Weapon to his directing on films such as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys, the holiday season often appears as a key element.

This was true for his only appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man 3. The film is set during Christmas time, although you might not realize it initially because Tony Stark lives in a warm, sunny place. However, there’s a large Christmas tree in his house, and when he travels to Tennessee, it’s covered in snow.

While Iron Man 3 isn’t a traditional family-focused Christmas movie, it’s still a heartwarming story with love at its center. The connection between Tony Stark and Pepper Potts remains a key part of the film, and it’s packed with imaginative action sequences, making it a really enjoyable watch – especially considering it doesn’t always get the credit it deserves as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Batman Returns (1992)

Tim Burton is famous for his dark and gothic style, perhaps more than any other director. Although his work often feels like it belongs around Halloween, he intentionally added a Christmas atmosphere to Batman Returns, which many consider to be one of the greatest Batman movies of all time.

In Batman Returns, Batman faces off against multiple villains during the holiday season. He has to contend with Catwoman, who is out for revenge, the crazed crime boss The Penguin, and the corrupt businessman Max Shreck. A key moment in the film takes place during a Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

There’s a unique holiday feel to Batman Returns that’s hard to beat. While the movie’s themes aren’t traditionally cheerful, the festive visuals and winter backdrop make it a popular choice to watch every year.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

It’s hard to find a superhero movie better than Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. It’s visually amazing, tells a great origin story, and brilliantly uses the idea of multiple universes – it truly has something for everyone.

I have to say, one of the things that really struck me about this movie is its Christmas backdrop. The very first scene we saw was beautifully decorated for the holidays, with snow falling – it immediately sets a really festive mood. While Christmas isn’t necessarily the focus of the plot, it’s woven throughout the entire setting, giving the film a warmth and cheerfulness I didn’t anticipate.

The movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse had a fantastic soundtrack, and surprisingly, they also released a Christmas album! Called A Very Spidey Christmas, the album came about from a funny moment in the film and includes songs performed by cast members like Shameik Moore and Jake Johnson.

Read More

2025-12-18 21:40