While the Christmas horror movie is currently in the spotlight with the success of “Terrifer 3,” we must not overlook the classic Christmas action movie. One of the most renowned examples is John McTiernan's 1988 masterpiece “Die Hard.” Whether you consider “Die Hard” a Christmas movie is up to you (it is, by the way), as it is set on Christmas Eve. After “Die Hard,” many other action films found ways to set their stories during the festive season. Even “Die Hard 2” was set during Christmas, although the franchise later abandoned this theme.

Netflix's “Carry-On”: A New Holiday Action-Thriller

Set on Christmas Eve at LAX

This week, Netflix is set to release “Carry-On,” an action-thriller that takes place at LAX on Christmas Eve. Director Jaume Collet-Serra, known for his highly entertaining junk food movies like “Orphan” and “The Shallows,” takes a break from his high-concept thrillers to dip into the world of Dwayne Johnson blockbusters with “Jungle Cruise” and “Black Adam.” With “Carry-On,” he seems to be returning to his roots.In “Carry-On,” TSA officer Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) reports for duty on Christmas Eve with a heavy burden on his mind. His girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson), who also works at LAX, has just informed him that she is pregnant. Ethan desires to be a father but is stuck as a lowly TSA employee with no promotions in three years. He hopes to advance in his career and earn more money by monitoring the thousands of travelers passing through the airport on Christmas Eve.However, it is the worst time to do so as a highly skilled criminal mastermind (played by Jason Bateman) has a plan to smuggle a mysterious and potentially deadly object through security. Ethan finds himself with a tiny earpiece, ordered by the Traveler to follow specific rules and not flag the device. If he fails, Nora will be in danger. He must find a way to save the day without alerting anyone, as the consequences are deadly.

Jason Bateman as a Surprising Villain

The setup of “Carry-On” is quite silly, but that's part of its charm. Collet-Serra knows how to embrace the silliness while maintaining intensity. The action in the movie is solid and fun, and Egerton shines as a compelling hero. He even competes with Tom Cruise as he runs frantically across the airport, sprinting like a madman against the clock.Jason Bateman's performance as the villain is a pleasant surprise. While he doesn't often play bad guys, he is exceptionally good at it here. His character is thoroughly evil in a down-to-earth and no-nonsense way, making him all the more disturbing. He shows no mercy in achieving his goals.Adding to the Christmas element, the film opens with Bruce Springsteen's live cover of “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” and closes with Darlene Love's “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” widely regarded as one of the greatest Christmas songs. There is also a one-take action scene in a speeding car set to Wham!'s “Last Christmas,” adding to the overall entertainment value.“Carry-On” is streaming on Netflix starting December 13, 2024, providing a satisfying holiday action fix until you can rewatch “Die Hard” again.