# 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:** 14
**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 8, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/261 "2018-12-08T16:43:02Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Is _It’s A Wonderful Life_ about Christmas? The movie’s events occur on Christmas Eve and so it is widely considered to be a Christmas movie, but I am a contrarian on this one and do not agree it is a Christmas movie. It could have taken place any time, changing nary a line of the script. ---
**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 9, 2018, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/262 "2018-12-09T21:31:12Z")
> [@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.” > > 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. As was already pointed out upthread, this was because Willis has obviously turned senile in his old age. I am pleased that most Dopers have the common sense to see the truth. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/263 "2018-12-10T01:30:19Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > You can say the exact same thing about \*\*Home Alone Hmmm…can’t agree with this one. Christmas _is_ integral to the storyline (that’s why the family is on vacation, why the crooks are breaking into all the houses, why the mom gets help getting home, etc). There’s also the sub-plot that while the kid is having fun living on his own, he eventually comes to the realization that, crappy as they seem sometimes, having your family with you on Christmas is really important. Christmas movie. ---
**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 24, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/264 "2018-12-24T17:08:45Z")
As further proof of the righteous consideration of _Die Hard_ being a Christmas movie, the local CBS affiliate’s morning show today had all four hosts tell their favorite Christmas movie, followed by a clip of the selection. One chose _Die Hard_ as his favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Erudite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Ancient\_Erudite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Erudite)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/265 "2018-12-24T17:32:31Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > 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’. If you asked me when the movie came out, I’d say no. Now I say yes, because of the way the word is today. Ho ho ho, now I have a machine gun. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/266 "2018-12-24T20:31:19Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I’ll make one more argument for the Christmasity of Die Hard: > > McClane’s wife’s name is “Holly”. This, THIS, may have convinced me… But wait, then why isn’t Die Hard’s name ‘Chris Christmas’ or “John McCringle” at the least? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/267 "2018-12-24T23:15:16Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > As further proof of the righteous consideration of _Die Hard_ being a Christmas movie, the local CBS affiliate’s morning show today had all four hosts tell their favorite Christmas movie, followed by a clip of the selection. One chose _Die Hard_ as his favorite. Did the other three hosts immediate beat that guy down for his ridiculous choice? ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2018, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/268 "2018-12-25T04:18:44Z")
A fun read… [Using data to determine if Die Hard is a Christmas movie](https://stephenfollows.com/using-data-to-determine-if-die-hard-is-a-christmas-movie/) The conclusion? > [@](#): > > Although the studio did not intend it to be a Christmas movie, some of the film’s key creators did. Either way, it’s certainly fair to say that Die Hard is regarded as a Christmas movie in popular culture. > > Like it or not, the association between Die Hard and Christmas is fast increasing and in years to come its Christmassyness will be beyond question. ---
**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 25, 2018, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/269 "2018-12-25T06:37:38Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Tell it to Harkins theaters. Die Hard is their Tuesday Night Classic movie on Dec 25. Oops. Harkins is no longer showing Die Hard Tuesday. No word is given as to why. It just isn’t in the lineup any longer. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2018, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/271 "2018-12-25T12:37:34Z")
reported for spam ---
**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 25, 2018, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/272 "2018-12-25T14:22:31Z")
All Die Hard, all day on IFC. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/273 "2018-12-25T15:41:31Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > 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. Well, our votes then even out. I voted “No” before, but I’ve changed my mind to “Yes.” ---
**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 25, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/274 "2018-12-25T21:37:54Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > As further proof of the righteous consideration of _Die Hard_ being a Christmas movie, the local CBS affiliate’s morning show today had all four hosts tell their favorite Christmas movie, followed by a clip of the selection. One chose _Die Hard_ as his favorite. > [@Slash1972](#): > > Did the other three hosts immediate beat that guy down for his ridiculous choice? No, they praised him in admiration, and rightly so. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/275 "2018-12-26T04:29:56Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Did the other three hosts immediate beat that guy down for his ridiculous choice? It just kills you that you’re wrong about this, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/276 "2018-12-26T14:16:30Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It just kills you that you’re wrong about this, doesn’t it? Nah. I’m with Bruce Willis. You know, the STAR of the movie? Way better side to be on than the completely wrong one 🙂 ---
**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 27, 2018, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/277 "2018-12-27T04:12:57Z")
Willis’ dementia has already been pointed out in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/278 "2018-12-27T15:35:59Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Willis’ dementia has already been pointed out in this thread. Personal attacks against someone who is right when you are wrong is a well-known phenomena 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/279 "2018-12-27T17:11:14Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Nah. I’m with Bruce Willis. You know, the STAR of the movie? Way better side to be on than the completely wrong one 🙂 [At least half of the screenplay team disagrees.](https://blog.finaldraft.com/steven-e-de-souza-die-hard-is-a-christmas-movie) ---
**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 28, 2018, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/280 "2018-12-28T03:35:58Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [At least half of the screenplay team disagrees.](https://blog.finaldraft.com/steven-e-de-souza-die-hard-is-a-christmas-movie) And just to point out, “at least” means “probably most if not all.” ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/281 "2019-11-28T13:52:11Z")
As has become a personal tradition I am resurrecting this thread for another season. Yippie Kai Ay! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283.md?page=15)