It's at this time of year we all enjoy revisiting some of our favourite Christmas movies, whether it's Die Hard, The Nightmare Before Christmas, or even Love Actually.
However, for superhero fans, there aren't a whole lot of options. It's rare to see any comic book adaptation set during a specific point in time as, like the comic books, avoiding that helps give them a timeless feel. However, there are a handful of examples we think finally deserve to be recognised as Christmas classics in their own right!
Some might be a little more obvious to you than others, but there are a few here that we think finally deserve to be recognised among the greats mentioned above.
To find out what we've included, all you guys need to do is click on the "Next" button below.
Honourable Mention: Hawkeye
Hawkeye was Marvel Studios' first full-blown Christmastime adventure, but it's a TV series and not a movie, hence why it only receives an honourable mention here!
Based around the holiday season in New York City, the show followed Clint Barton as he was dragged away from his family to lend a helping hand to his biggest fan, Kate Bishop, after she donned his old Ronin costume. From there, they crossed paths with Echo, Yelena Belova, and even The Kingpin, with the show culminating in a battle at the Rockefeller Center.
Taking full advantage of its seasonal setting, Hawkeye was a joy and remains one of the best stories told during Phase 4. We're still waiting on renewal news, though.
6. Iron Man 3
While it being a Christmas movie is up for debate, Iron Man 3 does take place around the holidays. Heck, minutes into the threequel, Robert Downey Jr.'s Armoured Avenger showcases his new Mark 42 armour with Bombay Dub Orchestra's "Jingle Bells" playing in the background.
Later, Iron Man finds himself in snowy surroundings when he crosses paths with young Harley Keener, and there are plenty of Christmas trees around to remind us what time of year it is (even during the final battle, lights can be seen in the background that give this movie a surprisingly jolly feel).
Director Shane Black is known for having his movies revolve around the holidays, so that being the case with Iron Man 3 didn't come as a shock to most fans.
5. Shazam!
Shazam! remains one of the best DCEU movies, hence why there's such a lot of excitement for the upcoming sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods. We hope the hero has a future in the DCU, but either way, this 2019 blockbuster is always fun to revisit.
Helping matters is the fact it's set in Philadelphia at Christmas! The final battle even happens at a Christmas market, while there are plenty of reminders throughout that this superhero origin story is playing out at the most wonderful time of the year.
Throw in the heart-warming themes about family and acceptance, and Shazam! remains a fun viewing experience at this time of year (even if it was released in theaters in April).
4. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Another blockbuster with a snowy Christmastime setting, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse stops short of being a full-blown Christmas movie, but it has it's own holiday song for Pete's sake!
Actually, make that a holiday album. That post-credits scene with Chris Pine singing "Spidey-Bells (A Hero's Lament)" was a hit with fans, and the A Very Spidey Christmas EP featured catchy jingles from Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) singing "Joy to the World" and Peter Parker (Jake Johnson) calling for a sing-a-long with "Deck the Halls."
Pine even lends his voice to "Up on the House Top," while Norman Osborn (Jorma Taccone) contributes a spoken word retelling of "The Night Before Christmas 1967." So, even if it's not a Christmas movie, this album technically makes it one.
3. Batman Returns
Arguably the first Christmas superhero movie, Batman Returns is a classic in its own right; however, Tim Burton's gothic Gotham City being given a festive makeover only serves to make it that much more of a delight to watch.
The Penguin's deranged plan to kidnap the firstborn sons of the elite hinges on it being the holidays, while Batman and Catwoman even share a kiss under the mistletoe! As dark and twisted as this Batman sequel often is, we see no reason not to make this blockbuster a priority over the festive season.
Michael Keaton will return as the Dark Knight next year in The Flash, and while plans for him beyond that movie now look much less certain, we can't wait to see more of him in action!
2. Spider-Man: No Way Home
Okay, we may be pushing it with this one, but bear with us. Spider-Man: No Way Home remains one of Marvel Studios' best movies, and it ends with the wall-crawler catching up with MJ and Ned during the holidays.
From there, he heads to his new apartment in Manhattan and swings into action in a spectacular new costume. That snowy swing wraps up with him passing Rockefeller Center's iconic Christmas tree, but is that enough to make this a classic Christmas movie?
Probably not, but between this epilogue and the fact the threequel came out in December, that's a good enough excuse to revisit Spider-Man: No Way Home this December.
1. The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special
Neither a movie nor a TV show, this Marvel Studios Special Presentation is a Holiday Special we'll be revisiting for years and years to come.
Written and directed by James Gunn, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special really is one of the best stories ever told by Marvel Studios, and filled to the brim with Christmas spirit. Whether it's Mantis' big secret, that A+ soundtrack, or some downright delightful visuals, there's simply no denying that this special has earned "classic" status.
We're sure you checked this one out when it was released last month, but if you don't plan on revisiting come December 25...well, we don't know what to say! Everything about this one is downright perfect.