Lethal Weapon Is a Christmas Movie!
Get Ready For The Holiday Debate!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: the office parties, the family get-togethers, the inevitable debates over what qualifies as a Christmas movie. Someone—there’s always someone—insists Lethal Weapon isn’t a Christmas movie.
Don’t worry. You’ve got this.
Here’s how the conversation will go and how to win every time.
Them:
“It’s not a Christmas movie—it’s just an action flick.”
You:
“Oh, really? Then explain why it starts with ‘Jingle Bell Rock.’ It’s practically announcing, ‘Hey everyone, this is a holiday movie!’ If that’s not setting the festive tone, I don’t know what is.”
Them:
“Yeah, but it’s not about Christmas.”
You:
“Not every Christmas movie is about Santa or a magical snowstorm. Lethal Weapon is about family and redemption—Riggs starts the movie completely broken, and by the end, he’s having Christmas dinner with the Murtaughs. It’s a story about finding belonging, just like Elf. Only, you know, with more gunfire.”
Them:
“But the Christmas stuff is just background noise!”
You:
“Are you kidding? The drug deal happens at a Christmas tree lot. A Christmas tree lot! They are going to give him a tree if he buys the drugs! If that’s not deliberately tying the plot to the holidays, I don’t know what is. Plus, the decorations and lights are everywhere—you can’t ignore it!”
Them:
“It’s way too violent to be a Christmas movie.”
You:
“And Home Alone isn’t? Kevin basically tries to kill the Wet Bandits with paint cans and blow torches. At least Riggs and Murtaugh are using violence for a good cause—taking down drug dealers and saving the day. That’s holiday heroism!”
Them:
“But it’s not wholesome enough for Christmas.”
You:
“Oh, come on. Christmas movies don’t have to be sugar-coated. Riggs giving up his hollow-point bullet to Murtaugh at the end is his version of a holiday miracle. He finds hope, family, and a reason to live. That’s pretty wholesome if you ask me.”
Them:
“There’s no holiday cheer in it.”
You:
“Excuse me, there’s plenty of cheer! Like when Riggs and Murtaugh bond while fighting bad guys, Riggs kills the guys that are trying to electrocute him and then rescues Roger and his daughter. That is classic cheery holiday vibes.”
Them:
“Okay, but it doesn’t have Christmas music.”
You:
“What? Did you even watch the movie? It opens with ‘Jingle Bell Rock.’ That’s a certified holiday jam. If Mariah Carey sang it, you’d call it a Christmas anthem.”
Them:
“Fine, but it’s not about getting evil to come over to good.”
You:
“Seriously? Riggs gives the last drug dealer “A shot at the title” on Murtaugh’s front lawn to save him from the dark side. Just because they have to shoot him in the end doesn’t mean they aren’t Christmas superheroes.”
Them:
“Alright, but it doesn’t end with a big Christmas moment.”
You:
“Sure it does! The final scene is Riggs being invited to Christmas dinner with the Murtaughs. It’s a story of redemption and belonging, wrapped up with a holiday bow. What’s more Christmasy than that?”
Them:
“It’s not traditional enough.”
You:
“Since when does ‘traditional’ matter? Gremlins isn’t traditional, and neither is Die Hard. Christmas movies can have chaos, humor, and explosions—just like Lethal Weapon. It’s part of what makes it so great!”
Your Christmas Moment!
Congratulations, you’ve officially won the debate. Enjoy basking in your victory with a smug sip of eggnog. And if someone tries to challenge you again, just put on Lethal Weapon and let that do the talking.
