Top 12 Holiday Movies Every D&D Nerd Should Watch This Holiday Season

The holidays are in full swing, nerds! This time of year is steeped in fantasy and magic. With themes of good will toward men, cosmic evils facing the peril of true hope and whatnot the season feels ripe for nerds and fans of Dungeons & Dragons everywhere. For me the holidays entail gathering with family and friends to watch our favorite holiday movies while bingeing junk food. I’m sure many of you readers do something similar but maybe you’re not sure what to recommend to your family, or maybe you just want to find something new or unusual.

Inspiration for D&D holiday adventures

Finding good holiday movies can be difficult when you and your family hold different ideas of what an elf is, from the helpers at Santa’s Workshop to the immortal inhabitants of Tolkien’s Middle-earth.

Don’t worry because I’ve got you covered with enough movies to share for bridging the gap between nerds and normies this holiday season. Even if you gather ‘round your TV with likeminded fellows I’d wager the lot of you still eat up this list of holiday treats. Today, I’m sharing my top 12 holiday movies every D&D nerd should watch. These should get you through all 12 days of Christmas.

Bear in mind this is my personal list of favorites, ranked from worst to best. If your list is different, please share it in the comments below, tweet @Nerdarchy, or connect with us on Facebook. Now let’s dive into the holiday spirit!

12. Frozen

I know, I know. You’re going to tell me I just need to let it go already, but hear me out. This fantasy adventure is about a sorceress discovering her magic and how to control it. The themes of family love mingle with comedy, a talking snowman and all the trimmings of a classic holiday flick.

Even if you’re sick of the infamous ear worm still playing on my radio station every holiday season, consider giving this one a watch. I like this movie for its inspiration to playing a sorcerer if nothing else. While the writing leaves a bit to be desired (hence its ranking at the bottom of the list) this movie still makes the top 12 and I love Elsa. I refuse to let her go. Don’t @ me.

11. Die Hard

So what if it’s not a feel good fest? Die Hard takes place at Christmas, which qualifies it for this list. An action packed, explosion ridden thrill ride, this movie stars a younger Bruce Willis playing a New York cop setting out to free a Christmas party from terrorists. Hanging in the balance is the wife of our protagonist, only fueling the passions with which he mows through the baddies in this holiday escapade that’s more red than green.

Die Hard offers a new twist on the holiday one shot by making the focal conflict mundane with a holiday backdrop. After all, who doesn’t want weapons for Christmas? Pretty sure that was the plot of another Christmas classic…

10. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

What would this list be without a Rankin/Bass classic? While you might wonder why such a traditional movie made the list, this is really a quintessential for any D&D nerd. The story of Rudolph and his pal Hermie the elf has all the trappings of your classic D&D adventure.

The pair take a journey through magical foreign lands, face terrible monsters and overcome adversity with the power of friendship. Anyone who denies the classic adventure tropes in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is blinded by the fog and needs a red nose to light their path.

9. The Christmas Dragon

If you’re familiar with the Mythica franchise then you’ll recognize many familiar faces in this offbeat Christmas flick I’d wager most readers haven’t encountered. I first discovered the piece last year on Netflix. This movie could easily be interpreted to portray a D&D campaign and it’s rife with inspiration fodder. It hits all the notes of old school campy fantasy movies while offering an original tale.

The Christmas Dragon is an underrated gem and the campiness only serves to make it better. While The Christmas Dragon might be arguably the most niche movie on this list it’s a solid pick for any holiday nerd gathering.

8. Krampus

Are you burnt out on holiday feels? Is your family terrible? Then maybe Krampus will offer a touch of catharsis.

This movie is anything but typical holiday fare. The movie showcases a family who just can’t see past their own noses enough to pass the pumpkin pie. Karma strikes when the dreaded Krampus rains havoc upon them.

What makes this film great for gamers is it gives inspiration for a holiday horror one shot. You could adapt D&D for ’80s teen horror, as suggested by Ginny Di, or you could play it in a system like Call of Cthulhu, Ten Candles or To Serve Her Wintry Hunger.

If you want to mix up your movie list with a touch of horror and some justice in the vein of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, then reach for Krampus and a bowl of popcorn.

7. A Christmas Carol (starring Patrick Stewart)

This tale might be done to death (pun intended), but this story of nighttime ghosts haunting an old miser is understandably a classic. Melding Halloween and Christmas vibes before it was cool, my personal favorite rendition of this story is the one starring Sir Patrick Stewart, whom you might recognize as Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek.

This version takes itself seriously and it works really well. The haunting visual of the ghastly child ghouls still visits my nightmares each year. Something about personifications of human hardship really catch me in the feels and this movie does it beautifully.

This version of A Christmas Carol really captures the mood and tone of a classic D&D holiday one shot. It’s got magic, horror, feels and its takes itself just seriously enough to pull it all off.

6. Rise of the Guardians

This underrated masterpiece is a superhero movie in disguise. Starring figments like Jack Frost, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, Rise of the Guardians is a favorite of mine year round though its wintry setting and holiday themes do affix it into the holiday category for me.

If you haven’t watched this one yet, what are you even doing? The whole movie is worth watching for the Swashbuckler Santa alone! This tale feels like it could be a D&D campaign in itself and I love it.

5. Gremlins

This movie is iconic. It features our protagonist receiving a tiny monster as a Christmas gift accompanied by a warning to not feed him after midnight.

Of course, the creature eats at the wrong time and chaos ensues. It’s campy horror at its finest as little green goblin monsters (called gremlins) run amok and terrorize the main characters.

While far from your traditional holiday flick, Gremlins is a classic worthy of a watch. Its premise easily fuels a night of dice rolling mayhem, especially in a more narrative game like Cypher System or Monster of the Week.

4. The Nightmare Before Christmas

You probably predicted this one would be here. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas imagines a world where every holiday exists within its own fantasy world. Equal parts Christmas and Halloween, this movie offers twice the yearly watchability for the price of one.

What makes this adventure so great for D&D nerds is not only the fantasy and atmosphere. This movie has all the vibes of a Halloween or Christmas one shot adventure. It’s elegantly concise and if you stole an element or two for a holiday adventure, I’d wager that many at your D&D table would welcome the references.

3. The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

This movie is all about Christmas, but even more than this the movie addresses themes of hope amidst darkness, a common holiday theme.

The setting is World War II. Our protagonists — siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy — must go live with a distant relative after the war strikes too close to home. The four quickly discover the magical world of Narnia through the doors of a wardrobe in their new home.

Narnia is a land ruled by the White Witch, an icy regent who’s as ruthless as the bitter cold she commands. The White Witch makes it “always winter and never Christmas” in Narnia, an allegory for the bitter wartime, devoid of hope.

However, when the children arrive they bring with them the hope of an end to winter and a Christmas accompanied by St. Nicolas himself. Narnia hits all of the classic notes and holds a wealth of inspiration for beats to incorporate into your own wintry campaign such as Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden.

2. Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

This movie was my favorite as a kid and continues to be a staple in my holiday watchlist. This movie features a more fantastical version of Santa Claus, incorporating D&D-style myth, fey creatures and gods.

A fantasy adventure framed within a Christmas tale, this holiday movie possesses just as many Yule-like elements as Christmas, a welcome breath of freshness to the holiday movie scene. Plus, the movie is worth watching for D&D players if only for the inspirational monsters called the Aguas, which are like orcs who turn invisible.

The Aguas even go so far as kidnapping Santa Claus to prevent him from bringing joy to children. The whole thing culminates in a magical battle of epic proportions, all portrayed in classic Rankin/Bass claymation.

1. Hogfather

This is the one movie I argue all nerds must see, but doubly so if you love D&D. This movie doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves.

Based on Terry Pratchett’s Discworld book by the same name, I lovingly refer to Hogfather as “How Death Saved Christmas.”

The movie is full of humor, commentary and insight. It hits many elements of Yule and Christmas alike and it examines the philosophy behind holidays and the evolution of pagan rituals to commercialized holiday events. And all of this is beautifully packaged within a two part fantasy adventure.

Incorporating the grim reaper, the tooth fairy and a variety of other mythical personifications, this witty, delightful flick is a must-see for D&D fans. I cannot praise this movie enough.

What do you think?

What are your favorite holiday movies? Have you seen any of these movies, and what do you think? Leave us a comment, tweet @Nerdarchy, or connect with us on Facebook and like the post if you want to see more holiday content! Until next time, may your puddings be figgy and may your holidays be nerdy.

*Featured image — While not a movie how can we resist an image of D&D’s iconic demon lord Orcus dressed as Santa Claus? Frog God Games’ How Orcus Stole Christmas has the characters begins at a happy village’s beloved holiday feast. The joy-filled townsfolk spotted an scary stranger arrive in his unusual sleigh. Nerdarchist Dave had a lot of fun running this one! [Image courtesy Frog God Games]

New videos every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Nerdarchy the YouTube channel here