Christmas is pretty much, by definition, not a very sexy holiday. Yes, there's mistletoe and late night cuddles, but at its religious core, Christmas celebrates the night a virgin gave birth in a stable. Not exactly the sexiest of stories. Luckily, most Hollywood Christmas films tend to ignore the biblical origins of the holiday and go straight for the sex factor. Sexy Christmas movies are as much a staple in Hollywood as Christmas is in American culture. Does this give you unrealistic expectations for how sexy Christmas will be? Maybe, but who cares when you can watch Cameron Diaz falling in love with Jude Law in The Holiday or drool over Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard and Harold Perrineau dancing in The Best Man Holiday. Keeping the "spirit" of the holiday in mind, here are nine of the sexiest Christmas movies to get you in the mood this holiday season.
And while Christmas movies tend not to be overly sexy — there's no Christmas movie equivalent to Fifty Shades of Grey — they do have some sexy elements. To ensure you get your ideal sexy from the movies listed below, every film is rated for your convenience.
1. The Holiday
Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet exchange houses over the holidays in this Nancy Meyers comedy. It's not the sexiest of films, but it does include a fling with an attractive Jude Law and plenty of Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet goodness.
Sexiness Level: Mild
2. This Christmas
Idirs Elba, Columbus Short, Lauren London, Jessica Stroup, Mekhi Phifer, Regina King — these are just a few of the mega-sexy stars that appear in This Christmas. Need I say more?
Sexiness Level: Moderate
3. Serendipity
Sexy John Cusack meets sexy Kate Beckinsale in this tale of love and fate. Like The Holiday, Serendipity is more romantic than sexy, but that romance sure is hot.
Sexiness Level: Mild
4. The Santa Clause
Yes, I am aware that The Santa Clause is a family film, but its sexiness has been widely accepted for two very important reasons. One: Tim Allen pre-Santa transformation is one fine man (there, I said it). And, two: Bernard the Elf, who inspired the sexual awakening of many a young viewers.
Sexiness Level: Mild
5. Die Hard
John McClane, and star Bruce Willis, became a hero after taking down German terrorist Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) in this Christmas action flick. It's sexy because it contains these four things: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bruce Willis in a tank top, and Alan Rickman rocking evil facial hair. That is all.
Sexiness Level: Hot
6. Bad Santa
Looking at Billy Bob Thorton in Bad Santa, "sexy" is just about the last word you'd associate with the film, but then Lauren Graham arrived, and for a few, glorious scenes, she brought the sexy with her.
Sexiness Level: Moderate
7. The Best Man Holiday
When watching The Best Man Holiday, there will be laughs, there will be tears, and there will be sexy. I mean, I think this Magic Mike-like GIF speaks for itself. (Can I also get a Taye Diggs dance for Christmas?)
Sexiness Level: Hot
8. I'll Be Home For Christmas
I'll Be Home For Christmas might be rated PG, but there is no rating that could lessen the sexy of peak Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
Sexiness Level: Moderate
9. Bridget Jones' Diary
Bridget Jones' Diary is basically about every straight woman's sexual fantasy: being stuck in a love triangle with Colin Firth and Hugh Grant.
Sexiness Level: Hot
May your Christmas be full of fun, family, and sexy movies (maybe not in that order).
Images: Universal Pictures; Giphy (7); thebestmanmovie/tumblr; elizabethmitchell/tumblr