Movies at Christmas: There has been much discussion in recent years over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not due to its yuletide setting. While that has been covered enough elsewhere, I will instead be looking at other movies that use Christmas as a festive backdrop. Check out my previous articles on Batman Returns and Iron Man 3.

You’re looking for the perfect family movie to watch at Christmas but cannot decide what to pick. We’ve all been there but don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. I’m going to suggest that the Christmas movie to bring your family closer this year is none other than Rocky IV. Why? Because on Christmas Day 1985, Rocky Balboa defeated Ivan Drago on Russian soil and brought about the end of the Cold War.

If you’ve never seen Rocky IV and that sounds absolutely ridiculous, that’s because it is. This is where Sylvester Stallone basically forgot to make a Rocky film: no running up the steps, no iconic theme song and no Philadelphia for the majority of the movie either. Instead, he made a far-fetched 1980’s action movie filled to the brim with emotions that can only be summed up by cheesy rock songs. While it would be easy to mock Rocky IV, it has many fans and is still one of the most entertaining Rocky movies.

This is the main reason that Rocky IV should become your annual post Christmas dinner movie. The realism of the previous movies is completely dropped with the end result being a film that is definitely easy on the brain cells. There is also very little plot with the first third setting up the death of Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) at the hands of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). What follows is an onslaught of OTT training montages amidst snowy Russia but there is a definite charm to Rocky IV whether you like to admit it or not.

One of the main reasons that Rocky IV has so many fans is the fantastic final fight between Rocky and Drago. Stallone spends the entire movie building up to this and it is easily one of the most bruising bouts in the series. Yes, the logic behind the Russian crowd turning against their own champion to support Rocky is pretty stupid but this is not a movie you take seriously. This is a film where you just accept that the hero has to become one with nature to defeat the evil, steroid using villain. In other words, it is pure escapism for the whole family.

Move over Die Hard, the petition to make Rocky IV a Christmas movie starts here.

Disclaimer Notice: Any thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely my own. Any images (copyrighted or otherwise) have been used according to Creative Commons and if needed, have been referenced to the best of my knowledge.

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