| By John Finnegan
Every year, as the holiday season rolls around, movie lovers find themselves in a familiar argument: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? This age-old debate fuels heated discussions in pubs, on social media, and among friends. Once, my response to this question was simple: What even defines a Christmas movie?
For me, Christmas movies were always about the ones you enjoyed watching with family during the festive season. In my house growing up, our "Christmas movies" were anything but traditional. We’d pop on Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, or even The Terminator after dinner on Christmas night. These may not fit the typical definition of a Christmas film, but they became a tradition in our household.
Nowadays, though, I’ve developed a more rigorous way to decide what qualifies as a Christmas movie. To me, a film must meet three key criteria:
Is the Christmas holiday integral to the plot?
Does the protagonist’s journey embody the "Christmas spirit"?
Is it stylistically appropriate for the holiday?
Let’s unpack these concepts and see how Die Hard measures up.
1. Is the Christmas Holiday Integral to the Plot?
In storytelling, the setting—both time and place—plays a crucial role. A great Christmas movie incorporates the holiday into the very fabric of its narrative. If the story can be transplanted to another season or setting without losing its meaning, then Christmas isn’t truly integral.
Take Die Hard. The entire plot hinges on the Christmas holiday. John McClane travels to Los Angeles to reconnect with his family during the holidays. The terrorists’ plan revolves around the Christmas party at Nakatomi Plaza, where all the hostages are conveniently gathered. Without the Christmas setting, the story would unravel. Sure, this could be transplanted to another time of year where another celebration could be taking place, but would John McClane be flying into town to see his family at that time? By this standard alone, Die Hard firmly qualifies as a Christmas movie.
2. Does the Protagonist’s Journey Embody the "Christmas Spirit"?
This is more abstract but equally important. Christmas films often carry themes of redemption, generosity, family, and hope. Even when these themes are subverted, like in Bad Santa, they’re still present.
In Die Hard, John McClane’s journey centres on repairing his relationship with his estranged wife and protecting innocent people. Much like George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life or Kevin McCallister in Home Alone, McClane’s arc is about rediscovering what truly matters: family. His heroics aren’t just about saving hostages; they’re about reuniting with his wife and earning a second chance at happiness. That’s as Christmassy as it gets.
3. Is It Stylistically Appropriate for the Holiday?
Style matters. Christmas movies are often visually and aurally tied to the holiday season. Think twinkling lights, snow-covered landscapes, festive music, and decorated trees. If your movie looks and sounds like The Silence of the Lambs, it’s probably not delivering on the holiday spirit.
Die Hard absolutely leans into its Christmas setting. From establishing shots of Christmas trees to a soundtrack peppered with festive tunes like “Let It Snow” and “Ode to Joy”, the film constantly reminds you of the season. Yes, it gets dark and violent, but that’s part of its charm—it’s a gritty Christmas movie with a heart.
Comparing Die Hard to Other Christmas Classics
Some might argue that Die Hard doesn’t "feel" like a Christmas movie compared to classics like Home Alone or It’s a Wonderful Life. But consider the parallels. In Home Alone, Kevin’s story is about defending his home and finding his way back to his family. Similarly, McClane fights to protect the hostages and reconcile with his wife. Both films rely on the Christmas season to heighten their emotional stakes and bring their characters together.
Interestingly, Die Hard may even outshine other supposed Christmas movies like Love Actually in terms of embodying the holiday spirit. (But that’s a debate for another blog post!)
Why Die Hard Deserves the Christmas Movie Title
At the end of the day, Die Hard checks all the boxes. Christmas is essential to its plot, its themes align with the season’s spirit of redemption and family, and it’s visually and aurally tied to the holiday. Sure, it’s not a traditional Christmas tale, but that’s what makes it so enduring. It’s a story of hope, perseverance, and love—wrapped in the unconventional package of an action thriller.
So, next time the debate comes up, you can confidently argue that Die Hard isn’t just a Christmas movie—it’s one of the best.
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