# 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:** 19
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/362 "2020-12-07T20:00:47Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Isn’t Christmas supposed to be about “fellowship of man” and “good will on earth”? > **Santa:** > (from inside the bag) Haven’t you heard of peace on Earth and goodwill toward men? > > **Lock, Shock & Barrel:** > NO! (Burst out laughing.) – From the Nighgmare Before Christmas, a Halloween movie that is a Christmas one too… 🤔 . . 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/363 "2020-12-07T20:06:09Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > core plot of promoting good will amongst family Die Hard ends with a man and his wife reconciling on Christmas. Lethal Weapon ends with a man deciding not to kill himself after finding a good friend who cares for him, and tells said friend at a family Christmas Party. Sounds good will promoting to me. ---
**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 7, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/364 "2020-12-07T21:24:04Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I’d argue Die Hard is just as Christmasy, if not more so, than White Christmas. Other than the song being featured twice, that move is barely about Christmas. I believe you’ve mistaken _White Christmas_ for its predecessor, _Holiday Inn_. ---
**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 7, 2020, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/365 "2020-12-07T21:33:58Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > I believe you’ve mistaken _White Christmas_ for its predecessor, _Holiday Inn_ . Nah, I’m talking about White Christmas. It’s technically set around Christmas, but the plot really has nothing to do about Christmas. ---
**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 7, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/366 "2020-12-07T21:43:56Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > It’s technically set around Christmas, but the plot really has nothing to do about Christmas. Except for the opening sequence being on Christmas Eve in Europe, 1944, and the closing reuniting the same troops from the opening on Christmas Eve ten years later. Where the four stars pair up and get engaged. “Fellowship of men”, “good will on Earth”, and all that. ---
**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 13, 2020, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/367 "2020-12-13T06:57:51Z")
Some of you Scrooges are no doubt also mistakenly going to assert _Groundhog Day_ is not a Groundhog Day movie. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2020, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/368 "2020-12-13T09:58:10Z")
It’s not then, is it? Any movie about someone living the same day over and over again could take place on any day. The movie just happens to take place on Groundhog Day, it’s not really about Groundhog Day and how long winter will last. ---
**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 13, 2020, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/369 "2020-12-13T13:56:04Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Some of you Scrooges are no doubt also mistakenly going to assert _Groundhog Day_ is not a Groundhog Day movie. Proof it isn’t: You can change the day, and use the same idea. See “12:01”. Which came first, actually. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/370 "2020-12-13T16:36:02Z")
Just because the idea can be explored with other days doesn’t take away from the details that make Groundhog Day a Groundhog Day movie. Yes, the choice to make Phil a weather man and have the movie centered on Groundhog day is immaterial to one core idea for the movie. It serves as a way to place him and his crew in an unfamiliar town with unfamiliar people. But having made that choice the movie leans into it and fully embraces the Groundhog Day spirit and shows how Phil eventually realizes, through the magic of Groundhog Day, how to be a better person. I watch it every Groundhog Day before the ritual Groundhog meal. ---
**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 13, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/371 "2020-12-13T18:16:05Z")
> [@naita](#): > > the Groundhog Day spirit You’re funny! I’m LOLing out loud! ---
**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 13, 2020, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/372 "2020-12-13T21:20:34Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Proof it isn’t: You can change the day, and use the same idea. See “12:01”. Which came first, actually. Now we’re really bordering on blasphemy. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2020, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/373 "2020-12-13T21:28:42Z")
Is Batman Returns 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 13, 2020, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/374 "2020-12-13T21:34:16Z")
Let’s see how many include an annual viewing part of their Christmas ritual. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/375 "2020-12-16T20:17:56Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Isn’t Christmas supposed to be about “fellowship of man” and “good will on earth”? > So I woulda thought that a “Christmas Movie” needs a combination of being set during the holiday season and having the core plot of promoting good will amongst family etc etc - > Or the very obvious ones about elves and santa The original saying is, “Peace on Earth to men of good will,” which has a totally different meaning and one much more applicable to Die Hard. See, men (and women) of good will were having a peaceful Christmas party, when bad men of ill will showed up and ruined Christmas. So John McLane showed up, as if sent by God to restore peace at Christmas. He did this by alternately shooting and blowing up the men of ill will, so that the Christmas peace could be re-established. Ho-Ho-Ho! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/376 "2020-12-17T01:29:33Z")
I saw this mentioned on The Hollywood Reporter website; John McTiernan, the film’s director, addresses the controversy. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qiOgpkNaR_E/maxresdefault.jpg "Why DIE HARD Is A Christmas Movie | Director John McTiernan Explains") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiOgpkNaR_E) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/377 "2020-12-17T14:44:17Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Die Hard ends with a man and his wife reconciling on Christmas. > > Lethal Weapon ends with a man deciding not to kill himself after finding a good friend who cares for him, and tells said friend at a family Christmas Party. > > Sounds good will promoting to me. I’d say it takes more than the ending. How you get there is important too. But as a complete aside, would Die Hard still be considered a Christmas movie if the couple reconciles on Christmas just as the bad guys are about to mow them down? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/378 "2020-12-17T14:56:34Z")
I mean he saves good people from the bad people. Granted it’s far more violent than say Home Alone, but similar premise 😉 . As for the tragic reconciliation ending… that’d be really interesting. If done well I’d love it (though I tend to really like movies that have the balls to do an ending like that). Do Christmas movies require a happy ending? Would A Christmas Carol be a Christmas story if Scrooge comes to his reconciliation as he’s dying of a heart attack? ---
**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 17, 2020, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/379 "2020-12-17T17:31:48Z")
As Bruce Willis said, it’s _still_ not a Christmas movie. ---
**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 17, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/380 "2020-12-17T17:50:09Z")
Reginald VelJohnson says it _is_ a Christmas movie, even though – in his opinion – it didn’t start out as one. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/381 "2020-12-17T19:32:01Z")
I am envisioning a story that occurs one day when a Scrooge like character on Christmas Eve has a dream where he watches Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, and for some strange reason Ground Hog Day, and wakes up in the morning with a new understanding of Christmas movies. And then has the same dream every night until he gains a new understanding of the spirit and magic of Groundhog Day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283.md?page=20)