Saagar Kote
Directed by Michael Fimognari, ‘Jingle Bell Heist’ is the tale of Nick O’Connor (Connor Swindells) and Sophie (Olivia Holt), who team up under desperate circumstances to conduct a daring robbery. The two are frustrated employees who are overworked and in need of cash in the Christmas season. When they find out that they’ve both been planning to rob the same place, one of London’s most famous department stores, they form an unlikely alliance to achieve their goals. However, when the thieves develop romantic feelings for each other, it leads to hilarious complications in Netflix’s Christmas romantic comedy film.
The main characters must hustle through the night in order to survive their ordeal and hope for a true Christmas miracle to save their lives. The film navigates themes of love, desperation, loyalty, and the spirit of Christmas. These films, similar to ‘Jingle Bell Heist,’ will keep you on the edge of your seats, while also celebrating the festive spirit.
12. The Spirit of Christmas (2015)
Lifetime’s ‘The Spirit of Christmas’ is the tale of lawyer Kate (Jen Lilley), who has to sell a reportedly haunted bed and breakfast after an evaluation. She faces resistance from the inn’s manager, Daniel Jacob Forsythe (Thomas Beaudoin), who died many years ago, and lives as a ghost. He gains human form for twelve days each year and has until Christmas to convince Kate to help him solve the mystery of his condition. But Kate is also worried about her potential promotion in the days to come. Helmed by David Jackson, the romantic mystery-drama film has elements of secrets and unlikely connections in Christmas settings, akin to ‘Jingle Bell Heist.’ The main characters in both stories deal with personal emotions that interfere with their professional responsibilities.
11. A Christmas Mystery (2022)
HBO Max’s ‘A Christmas Mystery’ is set in Pleasant Bay, Oregon, where a magical strip of Santa’s jingle bells led to a century of peace. However, he bells vanish without a trace before Christmas. This brings a group of kids, including Violet Pierce (Violet McGraw), Kenny Bottoms (Santino Barnard), and others, into action. When a friend’s father is wrongly accused of stealing the object, the group must find the real culprit, find the missing bells, and save the town’s Christmas magic. Directed by Alex Ranarivelo, the comedy mystery-drama film’s portrayal of friendship, heists, and the spirit of Christmas connects it to the world of ‘Jingle Bell Heist,’ its world, and characters.
10. The Santa Stakeout (2021)
Hallmark Channel’s ‘The Santa Stakeout’ follows detectives Tanya Morris (Tamera Mowry-Housley) and Ryan Anderson (Paul Campbell), who partner up reluctantly to solve a series of holiday robberies in the neighborhood. They go undercover as Tasha and Rupert, a married couple, moving in next to Francis Miller (Joe Pantoliano), the prime suspect in the cases they are pursuing. The detectives’ fake relationship starts to become strangely real as they unexpectedly embrace the spirit of the season while participating in the neighborhood’s holiday activities to keep their identities secret.
The romantic comedy-crime drama film, directed by Peter Benson, complements ‘Jingle Bell Heist’ due to its focus on the themes of love, crime, and secrets. Despite the differences in plot elements, the two films are connected due to the visual tone, the Christmas setting, and the chemistry of the main characters.
9. Unlocking Christmas (2020)
Directed by Don McBrearty, ‘Unlocking Christmas’ is the story of Kevin Matthews (Steve Lund), a veteran who returns to his hometown of Cedar Park after an injury-related honorable discharge. He crosses paths with Kate Stafford (Taylor Cole), an orthopedic fellow. When they both receive identical keys with clues pointing to a riddle, they must work together to solve the mystery. However, the romantic sparks between the two of them lead to complex emotional challenges. Hallmark Channel’s romantic mystery-drama film, in the lines of ‘Jingle Bell Heist,’ is a poignant navigation of unlikely romantic connections during the Christmas season. Both stories contain mysteries, the complex chemistry of the main characters, and thrilling visual elements.
8. The Naughty Nine (2023)
‘The Naughty Nine’ follows a kid named Andy (Winslow Fegley), who is marked by Santa for being a naughty child. He recruits a team of fellow naughty kids, including Dulce (Camila Rodriguez), Albert (Ayden Elijah), and others. He intends to perform a heist to retrieve the presents they feel they deserve. When the group goes forward with the plan, the members slowly begin to understand that the real spirit of the festival is in the art of giving to others and not taking from them. This creates emotional complications for the kids, who just want to enjoy a happy Christmas. Disney Channel’s Christmas heist television film, directed by Alberto Belli, is a heartwarming navigation of friendship, connection, and the Christmas spirit, which makes it complementary to ‘Jingle Bell Heist’ and the themes it explores.
7. Die Hard (1988)
‘Die Hard’ is an action-thriller film that centers on John McClane (Bruce Willis), an NYPD cop who travels to LA to meet his wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), at the Nakatomi Plaza building, where she works. Facing marital complications, John just wants to find his rhythm with his wife again. But when the building is stormed by German terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), the cop must risk it all to save the innocent people in the plaza. As John and Hans test each other’s egos, the former will have to push beyond his limits to reunite with his wife and find redemption. Based on Roderick Thorp’s novel ‘Nothing Lasts Forever,’ the John McTiernan directorial is spiritually connected to ‘Jingle Bell Heist’ because of its heist theme, exploration of a complex romantic relationship, and the meaning of Christmas.
6. Home Alone (1990)
Directed by Chris Columbus, ‘Home Alone’ is the riveting story of Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin), whose family mistakenly leaves him behind when they go to France for the holidays. Left alone at home, Kevin must bring alive his brave side when his house and the neighborhood are targeted by Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci), two thieves, who wish to perform grand heists during Christmas. As the kid and the robbers go head-to-head, it leads to chaos and danger. The comedy film, akin to ‘Jingle Bell Heist,’ explores the intertwining elements of robbery and Christmas, while also featuring thrilling visuals and dangerous challenges faced by the main characters.
5. Violent Night (2022)
‘Violent Night’ is the story of Santa Claus (David Harbour), who lives to serve the people during Christmas. His destiny crosses paths with Jason Lightstone (Alex Hassell), his former wife Linda (Alexis Louder), and their daughter Trudy (Leah Brady). The family visits the house of a relative for Christmas, but the building is soon surrounded by mercenaries led by Scrooge (John Leguizamo), leading to a hostage situation. Unbeknownst to the hostages, Santa discreetly works in violent ways to counter the mercenaries and save the lives of the family members. The Christmas action comedy film directed by Tommy Wirkola is a celebration of the Christmas spirit in unconventional ways, merging action and crime, like ‘Jingle Bell Heist’ does.
4. Reindeer Games (2000)
‘Reindeer Games,’ directed by John Frankenheimer, chronicles the adventures of Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck), who poses as his recently killed cellmate, Nick (James Frain). He does so to meet Nick’s lover, Ashley (Charlize Theron). However, the situation goes out of control for the protagonist when he is forcibly recruited by Ashley’s criminal brother, Gabriel (Gary Sinise), to execute a casino robbery on Christmas Eve, using Nick’s presumed knowledge. This sends Rudy on a dangerous path of survival in the action thriller film. Like ‘Jingle Bell Heist,’ it deals with Christmas-themed heists, unexpected challenges, and the redemptive arc of the main character.
3. Operation Christmas Drop (2020)
Netflix’s ‘Operation Christmas Drop’ centers on Congressional aide Erica Miller (Kat Graham) and US Air Force Captain Andrew Jantz (Alexander Ludwig). The former is sent by her boss to the latter’s air force base, just to find valid reasons to close it down by defunding it and stopping a humanitarian mission called “Operation Christmas Drop.” However, when the main characters find themselves drawn to each other, they develop romantic feelings that threaten to sabotage both their objectives. Directed by Martin Wood, the Christmas romantic comedy film bears resemblance to ‘Jingle Bell Heist’ as it focuses on love during the Christmas season, featuring thrilling sequences and protagonists facing difficult choices.
2. Bad Santa (2003)
‘Bad Santa,’ directed by Terry Zwigoff, centers on Willie Soke (Billy Bob Thornton), who uses a Santa disguise to execute robberies. His partner is Marcus Skidmore (Tony Cox), who poses as an elf. Their plan to rob a mall suffers when a child, Thurman Merman (Brett Kelly), forms an unexpected emotional attachment with Willie, complicating the mission at hand. As the thieves enter a realm of dilemma, they may learn the true meaning of Christmas and the value of friendship. The comedy crime film is a poignant navigation of the morality of crime and the essence of the festive seasons, on the lines of ‘Jingle Bell Heist.’ Both stories feature characters engaged in theft who must also contend with the complexities of love and humanity.
1. Holiday Heist (2019)
In ‘Holiday Heist,’ Devin (Tobias Truvillion), a man recently released from prison, begins working at a struggling, family-owned jewelry store after impressing the owner with his knowledge and charm. He takes up the job to rob it, but when planning a potential heist, he falls for Jade Holiday (Chaley Rose), the owner’s daughter. He is now faced with a choice between his past life of crime and a new beginning with Jade. He must ultimately do everything possible to save the Holiday family, their store, and his potential relationship. As love and crime intertwine in difficult ways, it is up to Devin to make a difficult choice. Helmed by Roger M. Bobb, the romantic crime-drama film features love, theft, and Christmas in ways similar to ‘Jingle Bell Heist.’ The character motivations and the visual styles of the films also connect them on a greater level.
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