10 Best Alternative Christmas Movies

6. Trading Places

Dan Aykroyd Trading Places
Paramount Pictures

Though it's remembered for Eddie Murphy's high-sass performance, as a homage to Mark Twain and chiefly as an opportunity to watch Jamie Lee Curtis get her puddings out, it's easy to forget Trading Places is set at Christmas. There's the scene where a desperate Dan Aykroyd packs heat dressed as a decidedly-down-and-out Santa.

But the story's themes of the rich bigmouth being brought down a few pegs also calls to mind Charles Dickens, who brought us the definitive festive fool in Ebenezer Scrooge. The audience's memory of the film could well be framed by the prospect of a henchman about to be extensively molested by a pre-CGI primate. Yet this story of good triumphing over evil remains a rollicking slice of entertainment to digest your turkey by.

Contributor
Contributor

I am a journalist and comedian who enjoys American movies of the 70s, Amicus horror compendiums, Doctor Who, Twin Peaks, Naomi Watts and sitting down. My short fiction has been published as part of the Iris Wildthyme range from Obverse Books.