It is no question that Die Hard hits all the marks of a classic action film. It has a fantastic cast, including Alan Rickman's break-out role, a dynamite script, and non-stop bullets and explosions from start to finish. It sparked one of the most successful franchises in history and made Bruce Willis the go-to action star. At the same time, Die Hard also created a 30-year debate about whether or not it is a Christmas movie.
Although there are skeptics, if you look closely at the cinematic elements of Die Hard, it is undoubtedly a Christmas movie. The imagery, music, and themes all point to Christmas. The heart of the film is based around a family coming together for the holidays. Many have argued that Die Hard is just an action movie that happens to take place on Christmas Eve. They would be wrong. Both the screenwriter and director have clearly stated that Die Hard is most definitely a Christmas film. Here is why Die Hard is undoubtedly a classic Christmas movie.
Update December 5, 2023: In honor of the holiday season and Die Hard being re-released in theaters for the holiday season, this article has been updated by Samuel Cormier with more information.
Die Hard Features a Family Coming Together
Die Hard
- Release Date
- July 15, 1988
- Director
- John McTiernan
- Cast
- Bruce Willis , Bonnie Bedelia , Reginald VelJohnson , Paul Gleason , William Atherton , Hart Bochner
- Runtime
- 131
- Main Genre
- Action
- Writers
- Roderick Thorp , Jeb Stuart , Steven E. de Souza
- Tagline
- 40 stories of sheer adventure.
Like so many Hollywood screenplays, Die Hard is a story with vast origins that went through many changes before the final product. What many people may not know is that Die Hard was inspired by Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Initially, it was to take place over three days, but director John McTiernan envisioned Die Hard as a Shakespearean tale and decided that it would take place in one night. At the same time, McTiernan was convinced that the story of evil terrorists carrying out a violent heist was missing something. That something was heart. Thus, McTiernan decided to incorporate Christmas as a major part of the film to make Die Hard what it is today.
What separates Die Hard from many other action movies is a focus on interpersonal character dynamics. John McClane, played by Bruce Willis, is an NYPD detective who travels to L.A. to visit his family on Christmas Eve. His wife, Holly Genaro, played by Bonnie Bedelia, is a successful executive whom he has not seen in some time as they are separated following her move to LA for work and his not wanting to leave New York. John McClane is only able to park in the action of the film as he is visiting his wife's company Christmas party in an attempt at reconciliation.
Fortunately, there is no better way to get back the love of your life than to single-handedly rescue her and her entire office from a group of sadistic criminals. In the end, Holly (whose very name might remind some of Christmas) falls back into the arms of her husband, and the two live happily ever after (at least until the sequels). This may be thanks to the courage and charm of John McClane, but one could also argue it is thanks to the spirit of Christmas and family coming together for the holidays.
Die Hard is Filled with Christmas Iconography
Christmas is woven into the story of Die Hard by using the party as a way to bring a couple back together, but it is also featured throughout the film in aesthetics. A group of co-workers are having a lavish Christmas party in a Los Angeles skyscraper. These are all important plot points that would not exist if it wasn't for Christmas being the heart and soul of the film.
The audience sees holiday imagery from start to finish, including a snowfall of paper over McClane's head, or a dead terrorist wearing a Santa hat with "ho, ho, ho" written on his chest. Just looking at the scenery, one would have to say that Die Hard is undoubtedly a Christmas movie... with a few more bullets. Of course, a Christmas movie cannot be without music. Well, the outlandish soundtrack consists of holiday classics, including the Run-D.M.C. track "Christmas in Hollis" and ending with "Let It Snow".
The use of the Run-D.M.C. song "Christmas in Hollis" shows how much Die Hard is integrated as a Christmas movie. The film The Night Before, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anthony Mackie, is filled with callbacks to other Christmas classics like Home Alone, A Christmas Carol, and It's A Wonderful Life. One of the notable movies referenced in that lineup is Die Hard, from not only Hans Gruber being referenced but also the fact that the group's go-to karaoke song is "Christmas in Hollis", cementing Die Hard as an influential Christmas movie.
Cast and Crew Are Split
Director John McTiernan and screenwriter Steven E. de Souza have both stated that Die Hard is unquestionably a Christmas movie. Who better to take the word of than these two? From the early drafts of the script, McTiernan deserves credit for persistently incorporating Christmas motifs throughout the film to give it the charm and heart that makes Die Hard beloved by so many.
De Souza has been vocal in interviews and on X, formerly Twitter, that Die Hard hits every mark on the list to prove that it is a Christmas film. Unfortunately, John McClane himself has said otherwise. At the end of his Comedy Central Roast, Bruce Willis declared in epic fashion that "Die Hard is not a Christmas movie". Sadly, that's all the audience got from him on the subject.
A Fan Theory Advances that McClane Is Actually Santa Claus
A popular fan theory that has emerged is that John Mclaine is, in fact, Santa Claus. This comparison can be run throughout the whole movie. At the beginning, it is explained that John McClane is flying from New York (very cold in the winter) to Los Angeles (warmer); not on a sled carried by reindeers, but a plane is close enough. When stealthily chasing the terrorists, he moves through the vents, not unlike Santa down the chimney: children cannot see him delivering the presents! Toward the end of the movie, McClane is sent down the front of the building, attached by a fire hose, looking like Santa on his rope.
As previously mentioned, he even says ho-ho-ho, albeit through the intermediary of a threatening message hastily written on a bad guy's sweater. He also keeps a list of the naughty terrorists' names on his arm, which he crosses out when they have been taken care of. Although he does not know Hans Grueber's face, who hides with the hostages, he immediately knows that he is naughty. From a technical point of view, McClaine is also basking in red light whenever possible. Even if this is just fun imagery, it makes for a fun lens to view the movie. It also becomes more interesting considering the release of 2022's Violent Night, which saw David Harbour as a violent Santa Claus caught in a similar situation to John McClaine.
Die Hard Has Become a Christmas Movie By Tradition
Part of what makes a movie a "Christmas movie" is the mere fact that people watch it around Christmas time. It becoming part of a tradition makes it part of the holiday season. Even without all the holiday hallmarks in the movie, the sheer association with the holiday has made it part of the tradition.
There are plenty of Christmas songs that are not directly about Christmas: "Winter Wonderland", "Let It Snow", and "Sleigh Ride" are not explicitly about Christmas, but because they are tied to the holiday season due to certain signifiers, they have become Christmas songs, and the same is true with Die Hard. Die Hard has become part of people's annual holiday tradition, which makes it a Christmas movie.
The debate may never be officially settled. The simple fact that people still discuss the film to this day is all the proof needed to crown Die Hard as one of the best action movies ever. When diving deep into the film, it is undeniable that it would not exist without the spirit of Christmas.
Die Hard is streaming on Starz and is also playing in select theaters.
Check out our video regarding the 10 Best Christmas Movies with Incredible Casts.