Is “Die Hard” considered a Christmas movie?
The debate of whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie not continues,
Anna Frederick, Class of 2021, states how her family watches Die Hard every year.
Juniors, Isabel Rojas (Right), and Avery Matthews (Left) state how they have both seen Die Hard and enjoy the plot.
There are certain things that everyone who has seen the movie Die Hard can agree on. It was released in 1988, it stars Bruce Willis and features Alan Rickman as the main villain and, it’s a rated R movie with no shortage of action. But every year, one question returns to cause immense controversy amongst fans of the thriller: is it a Christmas movie?
Die Hard’s storyline follows John McClane (Bruce Willis), a policeman from New York City, through a holiday party at the company of his estranged wife, Holly Gennaro (Bonnie Bedelia). The situation escalates quickly as the building and its occupants are taken hostage by a band of terrorists. Chief among them is the internationally feared Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), a man dead set on stealing millions of dollars from the company. McClane soon finds himself to be the only one with a fighting chance of saving the hostages.
Notable Christmas-related scenes include a somewhat grisly 
one in which a dead man, propped up on a chair, wears a santa hat. Words are written on his sweater, with the phrase “ho-ho-ho” included at the bottom. Although it makes for a fairly macabre picture, it is nonetheless a reference to Christmas. This, along with other allusions to the holiday, has assured a portion of Die Hard’s audience that it is a classic Christmas movie.
Others disagree, arguing that the movie, not being fundamentally about Christmas, doesn’t count. Its profane catchphrase, often shortened to “yippee-ki-yay” in conversation with younger audience members, also has nothing to do with the holiday. Those who hold the belief that Die Hard is just like any other action movie often cite Bruce Willis himself as someone who shares their opinion.
To uphold the other side of the debate, people clap back by pointing to Time’s report that the movie’s screenwriter tweeted that Die Hard is, indeed, a Christmas movie. The argument goes on and on and on, occasionally delving deep into what a movie has to be in order to qualify as a Christmas movie. Many people involved in it are firm in their belief, whatever it may be. There are no signs that the dispute will truly be settled anytime soon.
What do you think? Check out the infographic at the bottom of the page to let your opinion be heard!
