"Bond literally shagging Christmas" is a sentence I never thought I'd hear but my life is now better for it

Halle Berry had a deleted line in Die Another Day: "Do you know how Christmas trees are grown? The same way all trees are"

My personal Christmas Bond film is "Tomorrow Never Dies". That's because I first saw it at a cinema in, of all places, Ankara, Turkey, on Christmas Day 1997 and then went to a party immediately afterwards. But, as a Brit of a certain age, I do indeed see all the Bond films as Christmas films that are best enjoyed with a six pack of lager and a tin of Quality Street.

" I thought Christmas only comes once a year." --James Bond

License to Kill is a Halloween film considering how gory it gets for a James Bond film. And the poster for it is absolutely terrifying.

Love how you matched turtlenecks with Blofeld for this vid. I would argue that Octopussy is an Easter film!

Obviously OHMSS is the only real Christmas Bond film….. But strangely enough I actually look at every single film since Goldeneye as Christmas movies! The reason is that after License to Kill got beat up at The Box Office in the Summer of 1989, the franchise tended to stay away from the Summer blockbuster battleground. So after that hiatus for a few years Goldeneye came out in November and was a huge hit - so thereafter we got a new Bond film every few years around Thanksgiving-so I always saw them throughout the Holidays! Even now - though No Time To Die came out in October - I just purchased it on 4K digital a few days ago - so here we are with another Bond film at Christmas time!

Licence To Kill is the perfect feel good cheery Christmas movie 😁😁😁🎄⚰️

There are enough movies to do sort of a Bond advent calendar - one adventure per evening during December with "OHMSS" on Christmas Day itself.

I never realized how much Bond equates to Christmas until now. Marathons on TNT. Brosnan movies onward being winter debuts. Amount of time playing 007 video games during holiday breaks (N64 especially). Thanks for the vid!

Another instance of Christmastime in Bond is Thunderball, as the Junkanoo festival is traditionally held in The Bahamas on Boxing Day. Working backwards, this means Bond gets to The Bahamas on Christmas Eve, finds Domino and Largo, and is invited to lunch on Sunday. The next day, Bond and the gang meet at Pinder's place where Bond gets his gadgets from Q, before investigating the Disco Volante that night. The day after that, Sunday, Bond goes for lunch at Palmera, after which is the Junkanoo festival, implying that day is Boxing Day. And wouldn't you know, Boxing Day in 1965 was on a Sunday! So we have an instance of a Bond film literally taking place on Christmas Day, so Q is very much giving Bond some Christmas gifts - rude that Bond didn't get him anything! Except... It's not as clear-cut as that, because Thunderball is very inconsistent with it's date. A blackboard in the background of the RAF briefing scene just before Angelo hijacks the Vulcan gives a date of "2.65" which would imply a date of February 1965. However, later on in the MI6 briefing scene, a piece of intelligence (a photo of the Derval siblings together) in Bond's dossier is dated "19.9.65" which contradicts that last point (and that's the piece of evidence that points to Domino being in Nassau). Later on, around the 1hr28 mark, it cuts back to London where a big board on the wall gives the date as "27 May". So is Thunderball a Christmas movie? It seems it is, but only if one accepts that there's some time-travel shenanigans going on and that the fabric of space-time is falling apart around Bond. No wonder Q's Geiger-counter watch turns into a camera!

Skyfall is definitely a Christmas film for me, I first saw it on TV at Christmas when I was staying with my grandparents. I had a really bad cold at the time, but I remember my Granny pumping me full of Ovaltine and biscuits. And I felt SO much better. Every time I watch it I get the same warm feeling. Great vid BTW!

For some reason, Cheryl Crow’s “Tomorrow Never Dies” sounds like a Christmas song to me.

I'm surprised you didn't mention the biggest Christmas tie-in for Moonraker. The monastery where Bond meets M and Q in South America was shot at a monastery dedicated to Saint Nick!

Meanwhile, in the world of literary Bond, the John Gardner book Win, Lose or Die takes place partly at Christmas. Mr Gardner graces us with the following passage: “M had gone on a spending spree, most of the purchases being extravagant playthings for the grandchildren. At Christmas, M seemed to turn into the reformed Scrooge - in fact, part of the Quarterdeck Christmas ritual was a reading from Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. […] In spite of his crusty, sharp manner, and weather-beaten features, Christmas usually brought out a drop of sentiment in M.” It seems he’s lightened up quite considerably since Fleming’s OHMSS then. To be fair, there is afterwards a well-written passage where Bond describes his best Christmas memory to that book’s leading lady, and it’s the last one he had with his parents before they died the week after. We never really see Bond discussing his parents, so it’s interesting to see.

Love this list. Whenever people talk about how Die Hard is their favorite Christmas movie, I always say mine is OHMSS. Another classic that people sometimes forget is a Christmas movie is The Thin Man (1934).

i don't know why but the living daylights does seem kinda like a christmas movie mabey because i did watch it on christmas so i associate it with that christmas feeling so really it just makes living daylights even better which is all fine to me since the living daylights is one of my favourites

I always felt Majesties and For Your Eyes Only were the two which always felt like Christmas to me. The way those Skis are parked on top of that rust coloured Lotus was always magical to me.

To counter your point about Spectre, the opening takes place during the Day of the Dead celebration at the start of November so it’s not set during the Christmas season…unless you’re one of those people who starts playing Christmas songs on the 1st November.

In the 80's an Xmas Bond movie was a big event & advertised heavily. In the UK. Moonraker was first shown in the UK over Xmas. Getting a huge audience.

Loved your 'sack' joke with OHMSS lmao, great video Calvin!

If you’re from the United States, then you might remember the 15 Days of 007 marathons on TBS in the 90’s and early 00’s, which would air in December. Those marathons made me a Bond fan, so all the films have been Christmas movies for me since I was fifteen. Shoot, I’ve even put the tree up while watching For Your Eyes Only! This was great, Calvin. Thanks and Merry Christmas.

I remember a December 1986 airing of FOR YOUR EYES ONLY on the ABC Sunday Night Movie that used a rendition of "Jingle Bells" as the background music to their intro promo for the film. Certainly made EYES ONLY feel like a Christmas movie. Wish I still had my VHS recording of that airing.

The first time I ever saw Goldfinger (My favorite Bond movie) was Christmas of 2003. Spike TV in the US used to have Bond marathons during Thanksgiving and Christmas. I always associate Bond with Christmas as a result

A MASSIVE thank you to everyone in the Bond community for helping Calvin researching awesome videos like this! 👏

I’ve always referenced "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" as the James Bond film where he essentially saves Christmas and which taking things from a biblical point of view, this is one of the densest 007 films that is about is about having faith (which also adds to the rather Anti-Cinderella like vibe to the film), acting on that faith, miracles, family, and to be honest love, then it is the 007 film that gets the meaning of Christmas for similar to “Die Hard”. While unlike “Die Hard” not all the film is set during Christmas, the holiday seasons certainly plays many thematic, plot wise or motif like reasons to the picture like James Bond finding love/considering starting a new family especially as he is meeting his soon-to-be father-in-law and studying family history. But there are plenty of Christmas like motifs that further the rather romanticised like feel of the films Christmas feel like spending time in the snowy Alps and gathering around the Christmas tree while being subjected to hypnotism, both which are pretty essential parts to Blofeld’s plans similar to Gruber in “Die Hard”, I say that qualifies this film as a Christmas film. Yet unlike “Die Hard”, it has a very sad ending which as many 007 fans point out further enforces the idea that the life Bond has chosen is one where he can never truly be happy in a way a man in his position of fighting for Queen and Country can never truly have in a way so guy who works at a warehouse can never truly have which almost makes it a similar Christmas like story to that of the episode of “Angel” that is also set during Christmas. "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is just as much of a Christmas film as "Die Hard". It certainly has a lot themes that are related to Christmas (which taking things from a biblical point of view is about having faith, acting on that faith, miracles, family, and to be honest love) "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" really does have all of this. For example, in the middle of the film, Bond has faith the guards will be too preoccupied to even notice him in the middle of a chase, but Tracy showing up to rescue him from capture or certain death is what you can see as a miracle. And even in the beginning the two weeks leave scene we all know it is Moneypenny being Moneypenny but thematically couldn't one argue she is acting on faith as well the faith that Bond in 2 weeks will find Blofeld or get it out of his system. I can even be said that there is faith that if Bond does find Blofeld, M will allow him to continue his investigations. Sure we as the audience know ultimately Bond will find Blofeld, but M and Moneypenny don't know that. As well as Christmas being somewhat integral to the plot, I mean Blofeld sending girls home on Christmas break with a virus in hand many customs agents wouldn't think twice about it. I mean sure nowadays they would, but in 1969 I have to think Christmas played into Blofeld's hands and was the safest and smartest way to smuggle the vials of poison out to the different countries. The film even has Blofeld saying "Merry Christmas OO7" and even has a Christmas song ("Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?"). Plus the film takes place during Christmas Time and features tons of snow.

There are certain movies I love to watch during Christmastime that I must admit are not necessarily "Christmas movies." For something to be categorized as "A Christmas Movie," I tend to think it must be something one would ONLY watch this time of year. For instance, I can't imagine watching "A Christmas Carol" or "Home Alone" in August. Whereas I can watch a 007 movie ANY time of year. Having said that, I have always associated 007 with Christmastime. Perhaps because they are often released in November? I dunno. But I definitely get in the mood for Bond as soon as the weather turns cold. My 3 favorites in the "Bond by the fireplace" category are: On Her Majesty's Secret Service For Your Eyes Only (purely for the Cortina scenes) The Living Daylights AND... Moonraker... Simply because it feels like the kind of adventure my inner 9-year-old would have pretended to go on. Every Christmas somebody in my family received a gift in a box that was big enough for me to sit inside. I'd imagine it was a car, a boat, a rocket, etc. and go save the world.

Skyfall always felt like the type you'd catch on TV over Christmas, and probably in large part thanks to what you mentioned, but also maybe because I always see Skyfall as the "celebratory" Bond film and always feels like it's more of a special occasion film than most of them?

Calvin, this is my favorite video you've ever made! Personally, I've always considered OMSS a Christmas film and frequently watch it in December. I think I will tonight! Many of the others (particularly DN, FRWL, GF, GE and TWINE) I associate with Thanksgiving, as an American channel used to run a Bond marathon all Thanksgiving week and I that was the first time I saw many of them. I've tried to continue that tradition by watching a few during Thanksgiving week. I've never made the Christmas/Ben Whishaw's Q connection but I kinda love it! Happy Christmas, Calvin! I hope your eggnog is shaken, not stirred!

OHMSS should be the most memorable James Bond 007 movie ever, and I'm surprised that George Lazenby never has to worry about Blofeld ruining this most wonderful time of the year, unless you count how many of his guards at Piz Gloria would be prepared to sabotage Bond in any certain way. By the way, DAD was one you missed.

I remember being a little bit watching Bond marathons with my dad on Christmas breaks. Good bonding times.

If Christmas movies are defined by a family-themed story, every Fast and Furious movie would be a christmas movie, lol For me it would probably be OHMSS. But this year, I will be watching NTTD because I already know I'm gonna get the blu ray as a gift 😍

When I was young (still during the Roger Moore years) TBS would run a week long Bond marathon that they referred to as “The 007 Days of Christmas”. It’s where I actually first saw the Connery films as home video didn’t exist yet and premium cable would occasionally run one or two but you had to check listings and make sure you were home to watch. We are so spoiled these days! 🤣

Another enjoyable video Calvin. Arguably all Bond movies can have a connection for us all at Christmas, whether watched in the past as part of the festive TV schedule, at the cinema over the festive period or as a Christmas gift of DVD, BluRay etc. For me the standout is of course OHMSS as it is truly the only Bond film where Christmas is not just part of the setting but also part of the actual plot. The ladies of the clinic getting their extra special 'Blofeld' gifts 🎁 I love this movie anyway but as part of my Christmas tradition for many years, I always watch it every Christmas eve, with a good single malt whisky. Its only then I truly feel in the festive spirit!

Tomorrow Never Dies (with Michelle Yeoh shoutout for Dr. Lisa). In any case there was a fire at the main cinema so the small local theatre was showing first run movies where I got to see TND with family over the holiday break. The town is small and it was snowing so the scene was reminiscent of OHMSS. It will be interesting to see if the Craig era films become gather the family around the telly holiday favorites?

The movies Thunderball and You Only Live Twice tend to remind me of the holidays when I was a kid and my passion for the series beginning when I was in fourth grade. These would be the movies I would see on Spike TV back to back. After church we used to gather at my great aunt Genevieve’s house and she would have the channel on. The last half hour of Thunderball would be on and then You Only Live Twice followed. This was also the year I got the first special edition dvd gift set that included Dr No, Goldfinger, Golden Gun, Spy Who Loved Me, License to Kill, GoldenEye, and Tomorrow Never Dies. Though none of the movies are Christmas movies, they certainly remind me of Christmas 2002.

"Do you know how Christmas trees are grown" needs to be playing in every shop at Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas, Calvin and thank you for your continuing work, which helped keep my morale up during the last two years. Always appreciated seeing the notification of a new video from you.

Thank you Calvin for another year of supreme Bond content. Looking quite brill in that Moore/Craig polo neck & I love the backdrop! You are a Christmas Gift yourself 🎁

I think A View to a Kill is a Christmas film. - They're listening Tchaikovsky - In the end there's Walken in the air

Another fabulous video Calvin. I hope that not only you, but you and yours, are keeping well.

Not enough Christmas references. The most negative thing Calvin has ever said about Moonraker. 😂

This video was amazing! Merry Christmas Calvin!

"The Spy Who Loved Me" is my Christmas movie when it was showed on ITV during the late 80's, it was the film that got me into Bond. Always loved that line from Roger in "Moonraker". As always a great, funny video. Happy Christmas Calvin!

I've been thinking of this topic for a while now. Glad to see Calvin made a video of it!

Nearly at 50k subs! I’ve been watching since 30k and it’s awesome to see your growth

Happy Christmas Calvin!!! Best wishes to you and yours! I cannot wait to get me one of those posters! I've been watching his Etsy store like a hawk for months lol.

The Christmas dinner Bond attends with M and the other MI6 officials in the book OHMSS is one of my favorite chapters in any Bond novel if not my absolute favorite. I wished they’d included it in the movie but at that point they needed to start moving towards the finale and have Bond and Marc-Ange Draco rescue Tracy from Blofeld ASAP. In the book, it made total sense but since in the movie Tracy had been kidnapped by Blofeld so there was way more urgency; why would Bond go to Christmas dinner at M's house and need to get briefed on Blofeld's plan when his fiance is in mortal danger? On a related note, “Do you know how Christmas trees are grown?” has become a staple in my house around Christmas time haha. And I watch OHMSS at least once every December. Great video! I always forget that TWINE was set in November and December. Bond quite literally says it's Christmas at the end of the movie. 🤦‍♂️😂

There is definitely James Bond novels set around Christmas Novels: On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Win, Lose or Die by John Gardner Double or Die by Charlie Higson Strike Lightning by Steve Cole.

Calvin.... This might.. er well, I mean I hope this doesn't sound weird... Ha ha..... But it's awesome how I feel like I've gotten to know you so much by being a fan of your videos since I discovered your channel in 2018. You have grown a lot. And also, as a fellow bond fan, you kinda feel like family by now brother. Thank you a million for the great James Bond channel that you run for all of us to enjoy.

Ohmss is definitely a Christmas film and I personally would count twine too. Was just thinking though is there a case for Die another Day as well? Lol. It of course has the setting of Iceland, but the London scenes also look chilly and wintery. Lol plus it is about family in a way as it has the whole story with colonel and general moon? 🤣

I remember The Spy Who Loved Me premiering on TV one Christmas. So it's a Christmassy one for me!

Another great video! Look forward to seeing your no time to die dvd release video 🙂 i have only watched it once in cinema so looking forward to my 2nd viewing this xmas!! 🙂🎄

Happy Christmas, Calvin! Wonderful video! OHMSS tops my list, but after viewing your video, I'm tempted to add at least two to the list (TLD, TWINE).

I had no idea that there were so many references to Christmas in the films! I seem to learn something on each of your videos, Calvin, so thanks and…Merry Christmas!

Christmas must be Q's favorite holiday. I lol'd at your several your comments about Q, Ben Whishaw's contract, and the elf comment.

That's it, we need a bond Christmas special where the villain wants to ruin Christmas and only bond can stop them, with the aid of Sherif J W Pepper, Mrs Bell and Double taking pigeon.

Intro: blurry shot of Christmas tree slowly coming into focus. Very OHMSS.... Nice.

Most Bond films have a Xmas vibe right from the start - 2 snowballs chasing each other across the screen

Great video. Keep up the good work.

Bond films were a staple of my childhood Bank Holidays usually on Boxing Day. Now I watch Goldfinger every Christmas day whilst making dinner

Merry Christmas, Calvin.🎄🎄🎄🎄🎅🎅🎅🎅🎁🎁🎁🎁

Have a Merry Christmas Mr.Dyson

Watching this paired with some crown and ginger ale 🥃 this was amazing and hilarious! Great work Calvin! I will watch all the “GREEN” balls seals of approval during the Christmas break. I agree I own 4 pieces of Sean’s work and I seriously enjoy it all

Great work on this, Calvin, very creative. I could see FYEO as an x-mas film with the beautiful winter scenery, an annoying person you have to be around (Bibi), and shopping in the village but I can't recall if there's any specific decor seen.

For me, 'For Your Eyes Only' has always been a new years movie. Here in north America, sports wise, Hockey is big on new years day. it's the one day of year where NHL teams play each other outdoors. The hockey dudes trying to kill Bond and the figure skating really add to those vibes.

Great vid Calvin! Thoroughly entertaining. Agree with your list, and love the ratger unexpected santa/bond comparison 😂

Where can I sign the petition for Calvin to wear a turtle neck sweater in more Bond videos?!?!? It's a classic bond look after all 😁

You always cheer me up Calvin. Another fab video. I want Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown on TOTP this year ! Have an excellent Christmas I hope Q brings you everything you wanted.

I have to hand it to you Calvin. I saw this thumbnail and thought, oh God, these Bond creators are reaching for content with subjects like this-yet it was thoroughly entertaining.

The intro song to your video can easily blend with the James Bond theme song. Cheers! 🤗

Back in 1999 ITV showed all (including Never say never again) Bond movies in that summer and its my birthday in December so it was great to finish the year after watching all the movies and the latest Bond movie the world is not enough as my first Bond in the cinema, a great Christmas present indeed :) . Keep up the great video's man and I liked how you put TLD faintly in the back ground. I cant wait for the review :)

Speaking of ‘Do You Know How Christmas Trees are Grown?’, I had the 2012 2-Disc Best of Bond 50 Years, 50 Tracks compilation on CD - on Disc 1 it had all the main themes (in film order) while Disc 2 had a compilation of other soundtrack pieces, also in film order. However, it seems when picking the Disc 2 tracks they decided that any song with lyrics took priority. So the order went ‘Capsule in Space’ from YOLT, then Christmas Trees, then ‘Bond Smells a Rat’ from DAF. To say it didn’t gel with the surrounding songs is an understatement, and it was always jarring going from a big brassy Barry track to a jolly Christmas Carol then back to a big brassy Barry track, and so the skip button was always pressed. It’s also a shame because there are some John Barry pieces from OHMSS that are far more worthy of the spot, such as ‘Try’ or ‘Over and Out’.

9:32 12:17 I love this garland covering Dominic Greene and Blofeld heads (and i love that Christmas Jones poster behind you)

“World’s”, “Living”, Skyfall”, and “Spectre” are stretches. The only one is “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. The films are often released in cinema here in the states in late November.

Not sure why but this video was hilarious Calvin 😂

I love the parallel you drew between Skyfall and Home Alone. So perfect! Also, I am willing to believe that Q is actually an elf in disguise ;)

Calvin, seeing you and your posts are so uplifting. OHMSS in my opinion is a Christmas film; possibly the World is not Enough

For Your Eyes Only was the film that instantly hit my mind on seeing the subject matter

Loved this video! Especially the comparison to Santa lol!

Nice tree and Christmas poster. Honestly apart from OHMSS… there really isn’t a Christmas Bond film. Bond has always been a series for anytime of the year. However I always either watch Goldeneye, TND, TLD or the first four Craig films during the feative season. However this year I might give them a miss, and just stick to the Craig’s (I bet I’ve watched the others once throughout the year)

'The coming of our favourite Christmas icon' - I just love Calvin's little eyebrow raise

For me personally around every Christmas I’ll play through nightfire, agent under fire and everything or nothing it’s my own little personal tradition lol

Great vid, man! Gonna watch OHMSS tonight, seeing as NTTD strengthened my appreciation for it. Also, The Living Daylights review?

Calvin, i absolutely love the Bond themes and cues in the background of your videos. P.S. Xmas for me was always seeing a Bond film on ITV either on the day itself or Boxing Day, but my favourite Xmas film must be Batman Returns because as an 8 year old i had a little crush on Michelle Pfieffer.

The more times a film is shown by BBC or ITV (or Channel 4 at a stretch) over Christmas, the more of a Christmas film it is.

Why not treat yourself to a Dyson this Christmas. It's small, handy, and you can push it around the house. The detachable hose comes in handy for all kinds of stubborn stains, and what is more, utterly reliable - picking up crumbs, wine, corn snacks, even those fluffy bits of lint behind the couch. Go on, have yourself a merry Christmas this year with Dyson.

Ever since 12 days ago, I have just watched "Die Hard" first time and now I consider as one of the best Action/Adventure Movie, even including best Christmas movie too. 😅 I could say that 007 World Is Not Enough movie is count as an Christmas movie.

"Both men like a tipple, both men visit you in the middle of the night to empty their..." ROFLOL

Our Christmas movies growing up were 'The Great Escape' and 'Where Eagles Dare'

Love that you've got the same classic London Underground London Zoo poster as me! A man with good taste!

I remember growing up here in America, on SpikeTv they’d have bond marathons on both Christmas and Thanksgiving. So to me, in a way, they’re all X-Mas movies.

quamtum of solace is the perfect movie to have in the background when you are occupied with something else, especially during christmas

Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year

Your audacity has won me over. I truly love this video and approve of all your choices.

Movies that have him skiing in snowy areas, like On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Spy Who Loved Me, The World is Not Enough, Spectre, and so on.

Licence to Kill because of that scene where Sanchez dresses as Father Christmas.

2:46 hahahahaha if only that was true :). Empire magazine back in 2001 said they feel Moonraker is a Christmas movie. It's certainly the best family fun friendly movie of them all. Oh and great on the pic comparison there man 10:05 :)

@Calvin Dyson: For a time, my dad and I would watch On Her Majesty's Secret Service in December since the story is set at Christmastime and it served as a nice break from the typical Christmas movie fare. Despite its long running time, we did enjoy screening regularly for a few Christmases before changes in our lives changed how are free time during the month of December is spent. Another connection to James Bond, is that a good portion of my collection has come as Christmas presents. From Ian Fleming's novels to Corgi diecast cars, to magazines, soundtracks and even the films themselves on VHS back in the day.

The word is not enough is the most Christmas Bond film, because of the beautiful Chistmas Jones