When temperatures turn cold, the urge to curl up with a movie under a blanket rises, and there are some classics many reach for this time of year. Titles like “A Christmas Story” or “Elf” or even “Home Alone” come to mind.

However, there’s a veritable tidal wave of holiday “classics” to choose from along with new titles vying for audiences attention each year, it’s enough to make anyone a little tired of the same stories depicting holiday spirit the same way.

So, this holiday season, why not reach for something new or unconventional to share with the family? The following list was compiled on the basis of the movie still having the holiday season as a core part of the plot, action or impetus and still reflects themes of family that are often central to holiday movies.

1. “Jaws 4: The Revenge”– IMDB lists the description of the fourth installment of the “Jaws” movie franchise released in 1987 as “Chief Brody’s widow believes that her family is deliberately being targeted by another shark in search of revenge.” Indeed, the movie starts around the Christmas holiday and even features a family-centric scene where the Brodys celebrate a Bahama Christmas. While this movie only holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 2% it has Michael Caine and plenty of animatronic shark action for everyone.

1. “Black Christmas”– This 1974 thriller is summarized by IMDB with “During their Christmas break, a group of sorority girls are stalked by a stranger.” This is a hidden gem, marrying the conventionally opposite genres of holiday and slasher together. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 71%, it tells its story with bloody practical effects in the midst of bright decorations, tinsel and lights to bring in the festive spirit. Just make sure to find the ‘70s version, and not the one from 2019.

1. “Lethal Weapon”– Despite it’s 81% Rotten Tomatoes score, IMDB’s summary of Richard Donner’s “Lethal Weapon” is sparse with the single line: “Two newly paired cops who are complete opposites must put aside their differences in order to catch a gang of drug smugglers.” What this movie holds is themes of found family and the process of dealing with grief as Mel Gibson’s character picks himself up from his lowest point with the help of Donny Glover’s character. It’s action-packed and finishes up with a touching holiday scene about being able to move on and find hope again.

1. “Trading Places”– If you’re looking for something a little more fanciful, “Trading Places” with Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy is up next with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 87%, the highest on this list. “A snobbish Wall Street commodities broker and a wily street hustler find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaire brothers who run a brokerage house,” is IMDB’s synopsis of this 1983 movie. This movie hosts comedy, commentary on wealth disparity and nurture versus nature with a touch of holiday theme to make spirits bright.

1. “American Tail”– The holiday season isn’t all about Christmas and the last entry on this list is a reflection of that. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 76%, IMDB summarizes this animated classic as: “Fievel is a young Russian mouse separated from his parents on the way to America, a land they think is without cats. When he arrives alone in the New World, he keeps up hope, searching for his family, making new friends and running and dodging the cats he thought he’d be rid off.” The movie starts during Chanukah with Fivel’s father giving him his trademark blue cap and the events during the celebration kick off the rest of the movie’s plot. With heavy themes of hope, family and finding a place in the world even when things seem dark, this movie is not one to forget come the holidays.

Some honorable mentions that almost made the cut were “Gremlins” (1984), “Die Hard” (1988) and “Batman: Returns” (1992). So, however the holidays are or are not celebrated, there’s plenty of entertainment to choose from that isn’t so steeped in classic Western lore.