# Is "Die Hard" a Christmas Movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [December 2, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283 "2013-12-02T14:48:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/1 "2013-12-02T14:48:36Z")
Yes or No? Discuss. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/2 "2013-12-02T14:52:56Z")
The working premise is the attack on the building is during a Christmas party and that John is heading out to meet his wife at that time of year. Otherwise, it has nothing to do with Christmas, so my answer is ‘no’. ---
**Author:** ![minionkat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@minionkat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minionkat)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/3 "2013-12-02T15:02:40Z")
It’s my Dad’s favourite Christmas movie. He watches it every year. It has nothing to do with Christmas, but I watch _The Hunt for Red October_ every year while I wrap presents. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/4 "2013-12-02T15:15:04Z")
Does it speak of Santa? no Does it speak of Jesus? no Does it speak of family gathered together? not really Does it speak of any significance of the day itself? not really So, no. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/5 "2013-12-02T15:25:32Z")
It’s not only a Christmas movie, it’s one of the GREATEST Christmas movies ever. “Now\*\*\* I\*\*\* have a machine gun. Ho Ho Ho!” ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/6 "2013-12-02T15:29:26Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Does it speak of Santa? no > Does it speak of Jesus? no > Does it speak of family gathered together? not really > Does it speak of any significance of the day itself? not really > > So, no. I believe “Jesus” and possibly “Christ” are heard in the dialogue. Anyway, it’s a Christmas movie in the same way that The Great Escape is. What’s the classic Christmas movie that really has nothing to do with Christmas, yet is still considered one? Oh great, my brain will hurt for hours due to this! ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/7 "2013-12-02T15:30:06Z")
Abso-frickin-lutely ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/8 "2013-12-02T15:31:26Z")
It is most certainly a Christmas movie, although they could have done a little better job tying that in. No, it isn’t _about_ Christmas like most in the category, but that makes it even better as an antidote to the seasonal smaltz. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/9 "2013-12-02T15:32:41Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > What’s the classic Christmas movie that really has nothing to do with Christmas, yet is still considered one? The Sound of Music? It’s a movie that (a) takes place at Christmas and (b) is often played at Christmas. That makes it a Christmas movie, even if it’s not a Christmas-y movie. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/10 "2013-12-02T15:34:39Z")
christmas party happy ending is a christmas movie. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/11 "2013-12-02T15:36:51Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > It’s not only a Christmas movie, it’s one of the GREATEST Christmas movies ever. > > “Now\*\*\* I\*\*\* have a machine gun. Ho Ho Ho!” Yippee-ki-yay, mother fucker it is. It’s got Christmas music, a big old Christmas party, presents, and explosions, what more could a guy ask for? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/12 "2013-12-02T15:38:11Z")
Very much so. One of the wife’s favorites. (Mine too.) (The second one is a Christmas movie too.) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/13 "2013-12-02T15:42:38Z")
Of course it’s a Christmas movie. It’s just a lot of it is metaphorical. Hans Gruber is the greedy kid who has been naughty rather than nice, John McClain is Santa Claus, dropping presents of high explosives down the chimney, and the cop and limo driver are his elves. Obvious, really. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/14 "2013-12-02T15:55:33Z")
Like a good action sequence don’t belong in Christmas?/Crow Of course it’s a Christmas movie. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/15 "2013-12-02T15:56:12Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Of course it’s a Christmas movie. It’s just a lot of it is metaphorical. > > Hans Gruber is the greedy kid who has been naughty rather than nice, John McClain is Santa Claus, dropping presents of high explosives down the chimney, and the cop and limo driver are his elves. Obvious, really. 😉 Wait, wait, wait, so who are the FBI agents?!? > [@minionkat](#): > > It has nothing to do with Christmas, but I watch _The Hunt for Red October_ every year while I wrap presents. How did that tradition start? It actually sounds kind of relaxing. As for the thread I was originally going to say ‘no’ but now I’m going to say ‘yes’, in the same way that Gremlins is a Christmas movie. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/16 "2013-12-02T16:01:49Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > Wait, wait, wait, so who are the FBI agents?!? The secular left, who’s always trying to destroy Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/17 "2013-12-02T16:02:11Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > The Sound of Music? > > It’s a movie that (a) takes place at Christmas and (b) is often played at Christmas. That makes it a Christmas movie, even if it’s not a Christmas-y movie. That sounds correct! ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/18 "2013-12-02T16:10:03Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > The secular left, who’s always trying to destroy Christmas. :smack: I see, its all so clear now! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/19 "2013-12-02T16:11:16Z")
It’s not just a Christmas movie, it’s my wife’s _favorite_ Christmas movie. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/20 "2013-12-02T16:17:46Z")
Silly you. Of course it is a Christmas movie as well as _Die Hard 2_, _Lethal Weapon 1_, _The Long Kiss Goodnight_ and _Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283.md?page=2)