# 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:** 31
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/602 "2024-12-03T19:42:59Z")
No. In my opinion, “Christmas stories” are ones that whole families could watch. Which is not the same thing, at all. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/603 "2024-12-03T20:19:00Z")
The quintessential Christmas movie, _Miracle on 34th Street_ has at its heart the spirit of Christmas spreading among the masses, including a large corporate entity which expects to make a tidy profit off it (NOTE: I consider commercialization of Christmas fully in the American spirit of the holiday). The spirit of Christmas is not at the heart of _Die Hard_. Rather, it’s Bruce Willis being a wiseass while wasting some loser criminals. Christmas is only part of the setting, some of the set decoration and a few related one-liners. The Christmas spirit doesn’t spread among the masses and those expecting to profit off it fail. That’s not a Christmas movie kind of story or ethos. ---
**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 3, 2024, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/604 "2024-12-03T20:54:54Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > The quintessential Christmas movie, _Miracle on 34th Street_ HI JACK! In the original film, Fred Gaily, after successfully proving that Kris was the one, true Santa, finds the house that Susie has been dreaming of. He and Doris think it is just a coincidence, until Fred sees a cane, a cane just like the one Kris had, sitting in the house. He gets a worried looks and says, " [_doubtfully_] Maybe… And… maybe I didn’t do such a wonderful thing after all." I never get that line. What does he mean? If Kris _was_ indeed the one, true, Santa, then he did a good thing! ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/605 "2024-12-04T13:46:29Z")
I don’t think that “wonderful” was intended to mean “good.” Rather, that he was musing about whether his successful defense/argument had been that miraculous. More along the lines of a defense attorney admitting that it was easy to get his client off because his client was actually innocent. ---
**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 4, 2024, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/606 "2024-12-04T14:18:44Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Rather, that he was musing about whether his successful defense/argument had been that miraculous. That makes sense! Now back to our Die Hard is/is not a Christmas movie discussion. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/607 "2024-12-04T14:24:54Z")
But…have we considered that John’s success in escaping from the bad guys just MIGHT not be due simply to his own abilities? Might there be some other entity working or interceding on his behalf? I don’t think this aspect of “Miracle at the Nakatomi Tower” has been fully explored yet. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2024, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/608 "2024-12-04T14:26:18Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > just MIGHT not be due simply to his own abilities? Might there be some other entity working or interceding on his behalf? I mean, what are the chances? Two bullets left, two bad guys left? That’s _some_ kind of Christmas Miracle! ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/609 "2024-12-04T14:28:22Z")
True dat! It does seem to me that there are an awful lot of Christmas miracles going on. ---
**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 8, 2024, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/610 "2024-12-08T23:51:32Z")
This isn’t original to me; I saw it on Facebook. “Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie because it occurs on Christmas, it’s a Christmas movie because it’s about a social obligation with a family member that you didn’t want to participate in but spirals more and more into an unending nightmare” Cracked me up! 😂 ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/611 "2024-12-09T00:59:03Z")
[![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS7pBJcSyPWYydT2UF484pV_bsfcJJesBW6QA&s) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS7pBJcSyPWYydT2UF484pV_bsfcJJesBW6QA&s) ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/612 "2024-12-09T01:01:09Z")
> [@Mars\_Horizon](#): > > This isn’t original to me; I saw it on Facebook. “Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie because it occurs on Christmas, it’s a Christmas movie because it’s about a social obligation with a family member that you didn’t want to participate in but spirals more and more into an unending nightmare” > > Cracked me up! 😂 Bonds of kindship triumph over material considerations. Estranged relationship made whole during a gathering. Alcohol related party shenanigans at the uptight office. Somehow a few have decided schmaltz is the only way to make a Christmas film. We don’t even notice the sappy exchange about a kid getting shot in the middle of an action film between two strangers over the open air waves during a hostage and terrorist incident. ---
**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 10, 2024, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/613 "2024-12-10T21:24:15Z")
Case closed [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mujG8imhdGU/maxresdefault.jpg "Keira Knightley Prefers Die Hard Over Love Actually for Holiday Films, Talks Spy Show Black Doves") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mujG8imhdGU&t=170/) ---
**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 10, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/614 "2024-12-10T21:30:43Z")
For Holiday films I prefer Rudolph over Love Actually. I have a lot of problems with that film. Maybe it needs it’s own thread, like Rudolph. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/615 "2025-12-12T12:20:04Z")
Tis the season to resurrect this thread. Yippie kai yay and a Ho Ho Ho to y’all! ---
**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 13, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/616 "2025-12-13T20:03:09Z")
Submitted for your approval, if Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie, neither is Home Alone. [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/reel/1385681776479786) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/617 "2025-12-13T20:12:19Z")
Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/618 "2025-12-13T20:28:10Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > Submitted for your approval, if Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie, neither is Home Alone. Home Alone gets closer, but it is not a true Christmas Movie. Nor is “Its a Wonderful Life”. All three are SET around Christmas, there are Xmas trees, musci etc, but none are about Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/619 "2025-12-13T22:39:41Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Nor is “Its a Wonderful Life”. A big part of why I stay on this message board is that I get to read opinions that I at first strongly disagree with, but — on reflection — I realize the poster has an interesting point. This is not one of those times. ---
**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 14, 2025, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/620 "2025-12-14T00:32:42Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Home Alone gets closer, but it is not a true Christmas Movie. Nor is “Its a Wonderful Life”. All three are SET around Christmas, there are Xmas trees, musci etc, but none are about Christmas. Home Alone is **totally** about Christmas. People forget that the whole “setting traps to stop the burglars” is only like 20 minutes out of the movie. You cut that out, and it’s about a family split apart at Christmas trying to get back together. If it’s not a Christmas movie, I don’t know what is. ---
**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 14, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283/621 "2025-12-14T02:00:15Z")
And the Kevin-meets-the-scary-old-man storyline is totally Christmas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-die-hard-a-christmas-movie/675283.md?page=32)