Knowing how beloved holiday films are, every network and streamer loves delivering early Christmas gifts with an array of new offerings each year. At this point, with so many stories being told over the decades, any story is going to be a new story. You just need a fresh set of performers to bring the holiday joy. This year, Netflix’s big Christmas film is Jingle Bell Heist.

In the latest entry to the holiday rom-com list, Jingle Bell Heist follows strangers Sophie Arbus (Olivia Holt) and Nick O’Connor (Connor Swindells) as they join up to rob one of London’s most famous department stores, both to seek revenge on the owner and overcome financial difficulties, and in the process accidentally fall in love. With a holly jolly backdrop, this caper comedy is likely to get you to search out more holiday rom-coms with a crime involved. We’re here to stuff your stockings with ten great options that will bring holiday cheer, with some major thrills on the side.

1

‘Holiday Heist’ (2019)

At some point, we’ll reach the threshold of holiday adjectives and descriptors that can be used before we run out of Christmas heist film titles. Until then, let’s discuss the 2019 film titled Holiday Heist. In this romantic holiday tale, Devin (Tobias Truvillion) has recently been released from prison and gets a job at a struggling family-owned jewelry store, but it’s only to scope out his next robbery. Unfortunately, he winds up falling for the owner’s daughter, Jade Holiday (Chaley Rose). Devin does everything he can to save the store, the Holiday family, and his newfound love.

Nothing screams holiday romance like almost robbing a jewelry store, but its premise served as a cute BET holiday film. A cute story with a twist, Holiday Heist is a perfect stocking stuffer that is a little bit darker than some other holiday films, but still light enough to keep the romance ahead of the crime caper.

2

‘Reindeer Games’ (2000)

Let’s minimize the sickly sweet for a moment for a high-stakes action thriller, Reindeer Games. The new millennium film follows Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck), an ex-convict who assumes his deceased cellmate’s identity just to meet up with his pen pal, Ashley Mercer (Charlize Theron). However, Rudy is soon forced into a casino heist by Ashley’s violent brother, Gabriel “Monster” Mercer (Gary Sinise), who believes Rudy has inside knowledge of the casino from Nick’s past work. Rudy must bluff his way through the robbery, targeting a casino in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, pretending to be Nick to avoid being killed while also trying to survive the complicated and dangerous heist.

A gritty Hollywood blockbuster, Reindeer Games is a twisty holiday thriller that packs a punch. With a snowy setting, the action is hot here. Becoming a Christmas cult classic, it’s quite fun to go back in time and see Affleck and Theron in their earlier careers in this fast-paced thriller. While it’s much more violent than Jingle Bell Heist, it is a heist movie nevertheless.

3

‘The Santa Stakeout’ (2021)

Nothing is better than spending your holidays on a stakeout! As long as you’re having fun along the way. In Hallmark’s The Santa Stakeout, after a string of heists taking place during high-profile holiday parties around town, police detective Tanya Morris (Tamera Mowry-Housley) is reluctantly partnered with fellow detective Ryan Anderson (Paul Campbell) to solve a recent string of heists. Posing undercover as newlyweds moving into the vacant house next to Mr. Miller (Joe Pantoliano), the jovial chair of the community’s Christmas committee… and the prime suspect in the case. As they partake in the holiday happenings to keep up appearances and crack the case, their cover story as a couple in love starts to become reality.

If you’re looking for a sickly sweet heist movie that is unafraid of being unabashedly silly, this one’s for you. Mowry-Housley and Campbell have impeccable chemistry. Obviously, it’s a Hallmark holiday film, so we knew they would get together, but the dynamic is undeniable. Now, be warned, they did it for their job, but morality is out the window. But hey, it’s all for a little Christmas love!

4
‘Catch Me If You Claus’ (2023)

A film that’s destined to get you into the Christmas spirit, ‘Operation Christmas Drop’ finds its charm through its leads. Graham and Ludwig have delightful chemistry. Plus, the always fantastic Virginia Madsen adds some oomph as Congresswoman Bradford. Certainly not a groundbreaking film,‘Operation Christmas Drop’‘s success is thanks in part to its unique story which sets it apart from other romantic films for the holidays.