# 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:** 13
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/241 "2018-11-29T21:50:25Z")
Yippie Kai Yay, Mr. Falcon! ---
**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:** [November 30, 2018, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/242 "2018-11-30T04:32:02Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Very few Christmas movies really rely on Christmas; switch some words here and there and you could have the same movie. > > Christmas movies about about the Christmas SPIRIT - family, generosity, charity, a sense of wonder, the eternal conflict between work and home, holiday stress, good cheer. Some throw in modern concerns, like consumerism. > > Die Hard has all those things. It’s the perfect Christmas movie. > [@Slash1972](#): > > Don’t forget guns and explosions. And a topless lady! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/243 "2018-12-06T01:48:26Z")
I’ll make one more argument for the Christmasity of Die Hard: McClane’s wife’s name is “Holly”. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/244 "2018-12-06T06:12:45Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I’ll make one more argument for the Christmasity of Die Hard: > > McClane’s wife’s name is “Holly”. Just like in that other well-known Christmas movie!: [Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054698/) ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/245 "2018-12-06T14:21:02Z")
I would buy that this is a Christmas movie if instead of “Yippie Kai Yay” he said “Ho Ho Ho, motherfucker”. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/246 "2018-12-06T14:26:25Z")
No, it’s a movie about a crime being committed during the Christmas season. A “Christmas Movie” is Christmas centered. The theme relates directly to Christmas in one way or the other. “Die Hard” doesn’t satisfy that requirement. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/247 "2018-12-06T14:54:44Z")
It was a summer release. If it was intended to be a Christmas Movie™, why did they release it in July? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/248 "2018-12-06T15:13:49Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I would buy that this is a Christmas movie if instead of “Yippie Kai Yay” he said “Ho Ho Ho, motherfucker”. Like “Now I have a machine gun, ho ho ho”? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/249 "2018-12-06T15:16:21Z")
> [@Charlie\_Tan](#): > > It was a summer release. > If it was intended to be a Christmas Movie™, why did they release it in July? Not a sufficient proof: _Holiday Inn_ was released in August. _Miracle on 34th Street_ was released in June. _White Christmas_ was released in October. _Lethal Weapon_\* was released in March. \*If _Die Hard_ is a “Christmas movie” so is LW. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/250 "2018-12-06T16:44:03Z")
Ten fun facts about one of the greatest non-Christmas action movies of all time: [10 Fun Facts About 'Die Hard!' | Geeks](https://geeks.media/10-fun-facts-about-die-hard) ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/251 "2018-12-06T17:31:55Z")
Point ten is incorrect, the movie was called “Jungla de Cristal” only in Spain (and I suppose an few other countries afflicted with horrible title translation), fortunately in Argentina and other countries it was called “Duro de matar” (Hard to kill). ---
**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 6, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/252 "2018-12-06T19:23:32Z")
I had voted “Yes” before, but I’ve changed my mind. It’s set against the backdrop of the Christmas season, but that’s about it. Same with Love Actually, which could be set at any other time of year and be unaffected. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/253 "2018-12-06T20:04:42Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Same with Love Actually, which could be set at any other time of year and be unaffected. Bill Nighy’s plotline completely revolves around Christmas. The key to the Alan Rickman/Emma Thompson story is a Christmas gift. And of course, the finale at the Christmas play. ---
**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 7, 2018, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/254 "2018-12-07T04:02:45Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Point ten is incorrect, the movie was called “Jungla de Cristal” only in Spain (and I suppose an few other countries afflicted with horrible title translation), fortunately in Argentina and other countries it was called “Duro de matar” (Hard to kill). Side note: That makes me think of how the title of Willis’ _The Sixth Sense_ was rendered when it appeared in China. Spoiler alert: _He’s a Ghost_ ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/255 "2018-12-07T17:23:06Z")
On the Bruce Willis Roast on Comedy Central (July 2018), Bruce Almighty himself said emphatically, “Die Hard is NOT a f\*\*\*ing Christmas movie.” Personally, I am in the camp that says, “although it _takes place_ at Christmas, it is not _about_ Christmas, so it is _not_ a Christmas movie.” Based on the poll results at this moment, we both are in the minority. ---
**Author:** ![PaperBlob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@PaperBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaperBlob)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/256 "2018-12-07T17:40:30Z")
This will resolve nothing, but here goes anyway: > **[No, ‘Die Hard’ Isn’t a Christmas Movie, Most People Say](https://morningconsult.com/2018/12/04/no-die-hard-isnt-christmas-movie-most-people-say/)** > > A Morning Consult/Hollywood Reporter survey found one-quarter of the population said the film, which was released in July 1988 but is set during the holiday season, is a Christmas movie; 62 percent disagreed. ETA: I voted no. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/257 "2018-12-07T17:44:53Z")
I’m glad to be in the national majority on this issue of vital importance, even if I’m in the Doper minority. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/258 "2018-12-07T20:38:04Z")
> [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > On the Bruce Willis Roast on Comedy Central (July 2018), Bruce Almighty himself said emphatically, “Die Hard is NOT a f\*\*\*ing Christmas movie.” He’s wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/259 "2018-12-08T03:07:06Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > He’s wrong. Dare you to tell him that when he’s got a machine gun, ho ho ho. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/260 "2018-12-08T03:35:49Z")
> [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > Personally, I am in the camp that says, “although it _takes place_ at Christmas, it is not _about_ Christmas, so it is _not_ a Christmas movie.” Is _It’s A Wonderful Life_ about Christmas? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283.md?page=14)