# 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:** 15
**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 28, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/282 "2019-11-28T16:32:35Z")
You know Christmas is coming when _DH I_ and _II_ start showing. Same with _Lethal Weapon_. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/283 "2019-11-28T17:30:11Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > You know Christmas is coming when _DH I_ and _II_ start showing. Same with _Lethal Weapon_. Anyone who plays Die Hard before Thanksgiving has my utmost contempt. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2019, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/284 "2019-11-28T18:45:33Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > Anyone who plays Die Hard before Thanksgiving has my utmost contempt. Like 20th Century Fox? Original release date - July 18. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/285 "2019-11-28T19:31:30Z")
Well, it will be, on December 1st when Christmas season begins. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/286 "2019-11-28T21:24:52Z")
Die Hard was not originally a Christmas movie. It didn’t become one until AD 321 when the Emporer Constantine changed its date to coincide with the Sol Invictus festival. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/287 "2019-11-28T21:41:41Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Like 20th Century Fox? Original release date - July 18. Precisely! I mentioned that back in post #84, but there is no limit to my ability for contempt or hypocrisy. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/288 "2019-11-28T22:03:52Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > As has become a personal tradition I am resurrecting this thread for another season. Yippie Kai Ay! I pretty sure you’ll find that the proper quote is “[Yippie Kayak other buckets](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkzQKmnZyKs)!” ---
**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:** [November 29, 2019, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/289 "2019-11-29T04:16:43Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I’m glad to be in the national majority on this issue of vital importance, even if I’m in the Doper minority. Still true. Bruce has it right. ---
**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:** [November 29, 2019, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/290 "2019-11-29T11:44:10Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Still true. Bruce has it right. And as I’ve said before, the director has stated that it was intended to be a Christmas movie. So now who’s more important, Bruce or the director? ---
**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:** [November 30, 2019, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/291 "2019-11-30T05:34:29Z")
Well, Bruce, of course. Duh. He’s _Bruce_. I mean, _c’mon_, man! ---
**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 1, 2019, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/292 "2019-12-01T05:43:27Z")
It’s been well established in this thread that Bruce has gone a bit dotty. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2019, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/293 "2019-12-03T04:40:20Z")
heh, heh, case closed [https://insighteditions.com/product/a-die-hard-christmas/](https://insighteditions.com/product/a-die-hard-christmas/) ---
**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 3, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/294 "2019-12-03T12:26:44Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > heh, heh, case closed > > [https://insighteditions.com/product/a-die-hard-christmas/](https://insighteditions.com/product/a-die-hard-christmas/) I bought that last year. It’s pretty good. ---
**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 6, 2019, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/295 "2019-12-06T02:54:31Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > heh, heh, case closed > > [https://insighteditions.com/product/a-die-hard-christmas/](https://insighteditions.com/product/a-die-hard-christmas/) Amen. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/296 "2019-12-06T22:35:33Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > Anyone who plays Die Hard before Thanksgiving has my utmost contempt. ☹ I watch it all year round as it is not only my favorite Christmas movie, but my favorite movie in general. ---
**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 9, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/297 "2019-12-09T14:35:26Z")
Saw “Lethal Weapon” over the weekend. Set during Christmas. Has Christmas carols playing during the entire film. NOT a Christmas movie. Same as “Die Hard” NOT a Christmas movie. ---
**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 9, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/298 "2019-12-09T22:21:13Z")
The Economist just published [an article with this very question](https://www.economist.com/prospero/2019/12/06/is-die-hard-a-christmas-film). Free registration required to view content. The writer doesn’t take a position but makes arguments that for the most part appear in various places in this thread. ---
**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 19, 2019, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/299 "2019-12-19T05:15:52Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > ☹ > > I watch it all year round as it is not only my favorite Christmas movie, but my favorite movie in general. Hey, sorry about that. My aim was at television stations trying to jump the gun by inundating us with sweet holiday movies like _Die Hard_ or _Lethal Weapon_ just so they can sell us commercial products like perfume, diamonds or good will to all. Individuals can always watch what they want when they want. or so I hear. For instance, \*Groundhog Day \*could be played on a loop year round by a single person, and often may be. The real problem is when should a television station show _Nightmare Before Christmas_? Is it a Christmas movie? Is it a Halloween movie? I guess it’s right in the middle. That makes it one of the few Thanksgiving movies. ---
**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, 2019, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/300 "2019-12-28T04:29:24Z")
I tried to post this on Christmas Day, but the Board was down. In honor of Christmas, one of the cable channels here, the Paramount Network, showed _Die Hard_ all day right up to midnight. Just the first one, over and over all day and night. The wife was a little put out, as she pointed out that the second one is also for Christmas, so they should have shown that one too. But in the promotional commercials, the network asserted that saying _Die Hard_ was not a Christmas movie was un-American. I heartily agree. I don’t know what sort of sick commie bastard would think _Die Hard_ is not a Christmas movie, but those of us who love freedom know it is. ---
**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 28, 2019, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/301 "2019-12-28T05:13:05Z")
You can look forward to a machine-gun duel with Bruce Willis, then. And may God have mercy on your soul, for he will have none. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283.md?page=16)