The holiday season is here, which means it's time for everyone to buckle down and watch their favorite Christmas movies. However, even though many beloved holiday movies are meant to be watched with the whole family, some of them harbor content that is a little questionable. As kids, these seven movies may have seemed completely innocent, but as adults, they turn out to deal with much darker themes than people seem to realize.

A Christmas Story

Ralphie sits on the store Santa's lap in A Christmas Story

One of the most-aired movies during the holiday season, A Christmas Story is a classic film that is watched by families every holiday season. The movie, which follows a young boy who tries to navigate life during Christmastime, is relatable and funny and has a little something for everyone. However, while the film is intended for a general audience, some of its content is not as family-friendly as viewers may have realized.

The movie's central plot focuses on a nine-year-old who desperately wants a BB gun for Christmas, but can't get it because his mom keeps saying he'll shoot his eye out. By the end of the film, he gets his dream Christmas gift but ends up shooting off his own glasses. When this happens, little Ralphie wanders around distraught because he actually thinks he shot his own eye out. The fact that something as morbid as a child believing he just brutally maimed himself is family entertainment proves that not everything is as innocent as it may at first seem. This movie also features a fight where blood is drawn, vicious bullying and a distressing scene that's played for laughs where a child freezes his own tongue onto a pole.

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It's A Wonderful Life

A fantastical drama that is one of the most iconic Christmas tales ever brought to screen, It's A Wonderful Life is beloved by critics and audiences alike. The fact that this movie is watched annually by many families on Christmas would make many assume it is a very upbeat and cheerful film, and that could be said about the final act. However, the film deals with many themes that are actually upsetting to many viewers.

The movie's plot features a man who is contemplating suicide but is visited by a guardian angel that comes to show him how much he is needed. To makes matters worse, another major part of the plot involves a child accidentally being given a fatal overdose of prescription drugs.

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Home Alone

Featuring Macaulay Culkin in what is arguably his most memorable role, Home Alone depicts the journey of Kevin Mccallister after he is left home alone for the holidays when his family forgets him. Soon, Kevin finds himself having to defend his home from some devious intruders.

Home Alone may be a family favorite, but the movie's subject matter as a whole is disturbing. The movie literally follows a child being hunted by two criminals intent on doing him harm, and the only reason audiences aren't more disturbed is that they know deep down that Kevin will always win.

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Jack Frost

Charlie and Jack Frost in front of the Frost house

Jack Frost is considered a fantastical drama, but it was definitely marketed as a movie for kids. Starring Michael Keaton as the title character, the movie initially seems like a family comedy about a snowman who comes to life. However, the film is actually much closer to a tragedy than a comedy. Jack Frost follows a father who dies tragically in a car accident and comes back to life as a snowman to make amends with the son.

This movie's plot is much heavier than the average holiday movie, and this could be why the film was a critical and financial failure. Jack Frost tries to be fun and filled with holiday spirit, but the grim central plot can't be overshadowed. The film's premise is the kind of scenario that's usually presented in a hard-hitting drama, not a family Christmas movie.

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The Polar Express

The Polar Express may not be as blatantly dark as the rest of the movies on this list, but when looking between the lines, it plays like a completely different movie. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, who often puts a grim spin on his films, The Polar Express is notable for being a huge box office success and the first-ever film to be made fully with motion capture animation.

The movie tells the story of a young boy who runs away from his home in order to hitch a ride on a huge locomotive that's driven by a mysterious conductor. This may sound like the set-up to a nightmarish horror film, but this is actually one of the most successful family Christmas movies ever made. Another element that adds to the subtle eeriness is the fact that the motion capture didn't properly animate the eyes, causing the characters to look almost inhuman at certain angles.

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Jingle All The Way

Jingle All The Way was Arnold Schwarzenegger's attempt at appealing to a family audience. The movie tells the story of a father who just wants to make his son happy by getting him the action figure he's been dreaming of. Unfortunately, the doll's popularity is not going to make finding this gift easy.

This seemingly family-oriented comedy contains some sequences that may be a little too dark for most kids. Even though the film is humorous for the most part, the lengths these grown people go for presents is shocking. The most disturbing scene of this holiday classic is when one character threatens the police with a letter bomb in the process of trying to get a present.

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The Santa Clause

Tim Allen in The Santa Clause

A must-watch for most families during the holidays, The Santa Clause won over audiences in 1994 and went on to since two equally successful sequels. However, this movie is not the cute tale of jolly ol' Saint Nick that many remember it being.

The Santa Clause begins with Tim Allen's character accidentally killing Santa Claus. He then takes over the mystical figure's identity, delivering presents to kids everywhere and even convincing his family he is Santa. No matter how heartwarming The Santa Clause series is, at its core, it's about a case of stolen identity.

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