The holiday season is upon us, and Marvel Cinematic Universe fans have a surprising amount of options to get them in the festive mood. While MCU movies and shows are typically designed to be enjoyed all year round, there have been a few that have taken place around the Christmas season, and even some that fully embrace the yuletide fun.
As people begin to enjoy a lot of their favorite classic Christmas movies and shows, these adventures in the Marvel universe fit into this time of year just as easily. They feature some of the most beloved MCU heroes as well as some supporting players getting to take center stage. From the brief glimpses of the holidays to full-on celebrations, these MCU projects make it feel a little more like Christmas.
Iron Man 3 (2013)
Iron Man 3 marked the first time Jon Favreau stepped away from directing the franchise, and saw Shane Black stepping in. While Black was taking over a very established trilogy, he was also confident enough to include a trademark of his own movies, with a Christmas setting. Black had established this tradition in his previous action movies, like Lethal Weapon and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
Iron Man 3 sees Tony Stark taking on the mysterious Mandarin with some fun twists along the way. While the sunny Los Angeles setting might not seem very Christmas-like, the movie does lean into the holiday season effectively, including Stark using exploding Christmas bulbs and delivering the perfect Shane Black line: "It's Christmas. Take 'em to church."
Hawkeye (2021)
After being one of the founding members of the Avengers, Hawkeye finally got his own solo adventure with this Disney Plus MCU show. The series also introduced the wonderful new character of Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), an aspiring hero looking to follow in Clint Barton's footsteps. However, amid all of this, it is also a charming and fun Christmas story.
The entire series takes place in the days leading up to the holiday, with Clint trying to deal with a decidedly grounded threat before going home to enjoy Christmas with his family. Along with capturing the feel of New York City during that time of year, including an action sequence by the Rockefeller tree, each episode is loaded with Christmas music.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Spider-Man: No Way Home remains the most successful MCU multiverse story, serving as a celebration of the character of Spider-Man. With all the fun of seeing fan-favorite Spider-Man characters reuniting on the big screen, it makes sense that some fans might have missed the fact that it is set during the lead-up to Christmas.
There are sparse decorations throughout the movie, a mention of a holiday party at the Sanctum Sanctorum, and other fun vibes that let you know what time of the year it is. It all leads to the final scene of the movie as Spider-Man goes for a swing around the city as the snow falls, swinging by the iconic Rockefeller Christmas tree.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
Before James Gunn left for the DCU, he helped say goodbye to the MCU by delivering their first-ever Christmas special. Taking place before the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is a hilarious festive ride that follows Mantis and Drax as they venture to Earth for the first time to find the perfect Christmas present for Peter Quill.
The special wonderfully captures the irreverent humor of the Guardians while also feeling like an homage to Christmas specials of the past. It is not a hugely impactful title in the whole of the MCU, but it proves there are stories of all kinds to tell within this expansive universe. It also features a great cameo from a rare actor who gets to play themselves in the MCU.
"What If... Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?" (What If...? season 2 - 2023)
What If...? is the MCU animated series that perhaps had more potential than was ever realized. It deals with all of the stories that could have been out in the vast Marvel multiverse, making it so anything was possible in these episodes. It was also the perfect show to explore other types of adventures, like this fun and silly Christmas adventure.
After playing a supporting role in the MCU for so long, Happy Hogan gets to step into the hero role in this story, in which he is forced to save the day when Justin Hammer attacks Avengers Tower on Christmas Eve. Paying wonderful homage to the beloved Christmas movie, Die Hard, "What If... Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?" is a perfect holiday treat that doesn't take itself too seriously.