You’re wrong if you think Die Hard isn’t a Christmas film – it is | Films | Entertainment
Christmas is just around the corner and snuggling up to watch festive movies is becoming a highlight of many people’s evenings. Of course, everyone has their own favorites, from classics like It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street and White Christmas to more modern hits like Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually and more.
Every year, the question arises as to whether the 1988 hit Die Hard is even a Christmas movie. Everyone has their own opinion on the matter, and the debate is almost as traditional as Christmas dinner.
In a survey by the British Board of Film Classification, 44% of people believe the film is not a Christmas movie, while 38% believe so and 17% are unsure, but I don’t understand why this is still a point of debate.
Although Bruce Willis claimed in 2018 that this wasn’t a Christmas movie, I – respectfully but emphatically – disagree. The film begins on Christmas Eve (er, hello?) with Willis’s jaded New York City Police Department (NYPD) Detective John McClane landing at Los Angeles’ LAX airport in hopes of reconnecting and reconciling with his estranged wife, Holly.
He goes to the Christmas party (I say it again…hello?) held at Nakatomi Plaza and an awkward reunion ensues.
Soon the building is taken over by German ex-radical Hans Gruber and his team, but McClane manages to evade capture and begins eliminating the criminals as panic mounts.
At one point, McClane is able to conceal the gun by taping it to his back using Christmas tape. After killing one of the terrorists, he takes his gun and writes on his sweater: “I have a machine gun now, ho-ho-ho.”
Who is famous for saying “ho-ho-ho”? That’s right, Santa Claus. In what other context than a festive setting would quoting Santa Claus make sense?
Die Hard is a Christmas movie. With all due respect, the majority of the British public and Bruce Willis, but you are wrong to say otherwise.
What actually makes something a Christmas movie? When it was published? Of course not, because not every movie released in November or December is suddenly classified as a Christmas movie.
The horror sequel Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is set to be released this month, and it’s not a Christmas movie, right?
What about when the movie is shot? I think this is the most important factor; For a movie to be a Christmas movie, the majority of its plot must take place during Christmas time. For example, Love Actually begins with a countdown to Christmas, and each character’s story is followed as the big day approaches.
By contrast, the first Sex and the City movie spans almost a year and includes a few festive scenes, but it’s not a Christmas movie. However, Die Hard takes place on Christmas Eve. The entire plot takes place at a Christmas party; There is a hero, there is action, there is comedy and there is a romantic finale; What could be more Christmassy than that?
One person on Reddit agreed: “This is clearly a Christmas movie. Gruber planned his heist to take place on Christmas Eve to take advantage of the chaos of the holiday.”
“Plus, if it wasn’t Christmas time, there wouldn’t be that cheerful roll of Christmas wrapping tape just sitting there waiting to save the day.”
I watch Die Hard with my family every year and it pairs perfectly with other festival favorites. Hell, John McClane might be the adult version of Home Alone’s Kevin McCallister.
I think it’s time we put this debate aside; It’s almost as boring as whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza (who cares? Just eat whatever you want and stop talking about it).
This is not a warm approach. This is a Christmas movie and it’s time for everyone to accept that and move on.
