(Photo : Rich Fury/Getty Images)
For fans of action movies, Christmas is traditionally celebrated by watching Die Hard. After 34 years since it was released, the debate still lingers: Is it really a Christmas film or a film set on Christmas?
There are many ways people celebrate Christmas: by attending parties, exchanging gifts, and holding reunions. For some, the Yuletide is not complete without watching one of the greatest, if not the greatest, action movies of all time: 'Die Hard.'
'Die Hard,' a 1988 R-rated, witty, and explosive action masterwork by John McTiernan, is a timeless classic. Many consider it the pinnacle of the action film category.
It constantly ranks among the most entertaining films of all time because of its appeal, which resonates with many people. It broke the stereotype of the action hero in movies in the 1980s dominated by muscular and seemingly invincible protagonists.
The hero in 'Die Hard' is John McClane (portrayed by Bruce Willis), a New York policeman. He was not like Commando or Rambo (characters popularized by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone) in terms of physique and strength. He lacks the incredible level of coolness that superspy James Bond possesses.
John McClane looks more like a regular guy, a professional who defied the norms and barely survived. 'Die Hard' is a movie about a mere mortal beating adversaries through determination, skills, and a good sense of humor.
For the first time, 'Die Hard' puts forward the idea that maybe American audiences like to see their action hero get a bit dirty, wounded, and knocked around before he triumphs at the end of the day, according to Maxim.
What Makes Die Hard a Christmas Movie?
'Die Hard' is a touching film about spending Christmas with family, but it has bullets flying instead of gifts and reindeer.
According to Parade, 'Die Hard' was inspired by the book, which may come as a surprise to you. Roderick Thorp's Nothing Lasts Forever, a sequel to The Detective (turned into a somewhat successful movie starring Frank Sinatra in 1968), follows a retired private detective who reconnects with his estranged daughter and grandkids in a Los Angeles skyscraper during a business Christmas party. German terrorists take over the celebration, forcing the old cop to defend his life and family.
Some fans of 'Die Hard' argue that the action flick qualifies as a Christmas movie because it has allusions to Christmas--21 of them, including noel performances, Santa hats, Christmas trees, "ho-ho-hos," and "Christmas in Hollis" song by Run DMC, according to an article from Men's Health.
And the events in 'Die Hard' span almost twelve hours before Christmas.
But Is 'Die Hard' Really a Christmas Movie?
John McTiernan, the creator of 'Die Hard,' released a 12-minute video via the American Film Institute back in December 2020, in which he admitted that they did not intend it to be a Christmas film.
"But the joy that came from it is what turned it into a Christmas movie," he remarked.
McTiernan called the picture primarily "a terrorist movie," and he added that it conveys the "harsh face of authority coming in to set things right again."
'Die Hard' co-writer Steven E. de Souza weighed in on the controversy on Twitter in 2017. A fan asked him about his thoughts on the long-standing debate over whether 'Die Hard' is a Christmas movie or not.
De Souza's answer was: "Yes, because the studio rejected the Purim draft." He even added the hashtag "#DieHardIsAChristmasMovie."
The movie's hero, Bruce Willis, expressed his take on the 'Die Hard' debate with Entertainment Weekly in 2018. Far Out reported that the actor put an end to arguments by declaring that "Die Hard is not a Christmas movie! It's a goddamn Bruce Willis movie!"
So there you have it, from John McClane himself. "Yipee Ki-Yay."
Related Article: Christmas Stress: How To Look After Your Mental Health During Busy Holiday Season?
