# The best Christmas movie ever: "Die Hard" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2017, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827 "2017-12-07T20:15:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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 8, 2017, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/21 "2017-12-08T01:12:11Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Because if you tell me I can only watch one on Christmas, I’ll pick Die Hard. Well, if you tell me I can only watch one movie on Christmas, it will be 12 showings of A Christmas Story on TBS and 12 showings of A Christmas Story on TNT. Also, in case anyone wasn’t aware, Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/22 "2017-12-08T01:35:05Z")
What you fail to realize is that _Die Hard_ is, in fact, an unacknowledged sequel to _A Christmas Story_. Although the identities of the participants have been changed to protect the innocent, Ralphie grows up to become none other than ‘John McClane’, a NYPD officer with a gift for creative profanity leaned from his father and an affection for his H&K MP-5 submachine gun which he enjoys getting off spectacular hip shots. The experience in the Nakatomi building is in effect reliving his childhood experience unfettered by adult supervision, defeating the bully, removing clothing that he finds constricting, and shooting all manner of objects and people, as well as finally telling authority figures that they “just got buttfucked on national television”. And so, _Die Hard_ is Ralphie’s ultimate Christmas dream come true. Unless, of course, you subscribe to the notion that it is all jst a fantasy playing out in his imagination. But I see no reason to engage in errant speculation. The conventional interpretation is quite sufficient. Stranger ---
**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 8, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/23 "2017-12-08T01:47:11Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > removing clothing that he finds constricting I would agree but for this. I can’t see the parallels between Ralphie and McClane with regard to removing clothing that he finds constricting. ---
**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 8, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/24 "2017-12-08T02:01:59Z")
No. It’s the best rom/com ever. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/25 "2017-12-08T02:21:37Z")
You can watch _Die Hard_ at Christmas as often as you like, but it’s not a Christmas movie. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/26 "2017-12-08T02:36:57Z")
In a weird way wasn’t Die Hard actually kind of a sequel to an old Frank Sinatra movie? I think Sinatra was actually offered the role first. I’m very happy he turned it down. ---
**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 8, 2017, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/27 "2017-12-08T02:42:29Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > Bad Santa? _Bad Santa??_ :smack: > > Bad Santa is nothing more than a heist flick-comedy that just happens to be set during the Christmas Holidays. > > Now I don’t know that I’d say that _Die Hard_ is _THE_ Christmas Movie, but I think that the OP makes a compelling case. > > You…you’re just talkin’ Crazy Talk. _Bad Santa!_ :rolleyes: > > 😉 If you don’t think Bad Santa is the best Christmas movie ever, then there is something about you that thinks Bad Santa is not the best Christmas movie ever! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/28 "2017-12-08T03:02:44Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I would agree but for this. I can’t see the parallels between Ralphie and McClane with regard to removing clothing that he finds constricting. Oh, I guess that was his beother that was bundled so much that he couldn’t put his arms down. Nonetheless, it made such an impression on Ralphie/McClane that his first instinct upon gerting to the office is to take off his shirt and walk around barefoot. “Son of a bitch, it works!” Also, the scene where Ralphie finally beats up his tormentor is essentially shot for shot of McClane beating Karl. If there were a chain hoist in that backyard Farkus would have been hanging from it. > [@GuanoLad](#): > > You can watch _Die Hard_ at Christmas as often as you like, but it’s not a Christmas movie. You can keep saying this as if it will be true with repetition, but _Die Hard_ has every essential element of a Christmas movie: coming together of family to resolve conflict, a lost faith regained, the giving and opening of presents, a Christmas miracle, and even snow. [McClane to Ellis: “You missed some.”] Pray tell, how is this not a Christmas movie? Stranger ---
**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 8, 2017, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/29 "2017-12-08T03:07:49Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Oh, I guess that was his beother that was bundled so much that he couldn’t put his arms down. Nonetheless, it made such an impression on Ralphie/McClane that his first instinct upon gerting to the office is to take off his shirt and walk around barefoot. “Son of a bitch, it works!” Nah, that seems stretching. He was barefoot because of what a guy on his plane told him, not because of some long-standing memory of his brother laying on the ground like a slug because it was his only defense. ---
**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 8, 2017, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/30 "2017-12-08T11:57:40Z")
Die Hard is most defiantly a Christmas movie. There’s even an [illustrated book](https://www.amazon.com/Die-Hard-Christmas-Illustrated-Holiday/dp/1608879763/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1512734038&sr=8-2&keywords=die+hard+christmas) to prove it. I don’t know if it’s the best Christmas movie, but it’s got to be close. The only other movie that could be a better Christmas movie is Scrooge with Albert Finney. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/31 "2017-12-08T12:19:29Z")
\*Die Hard \*is easily as much of a Christmas Movie as _It’s a Wonderful Life_. And if George Bailey had gone after Mr. Potter the way John McClane went after Hans Gruber, the latter would have been much improved. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/32 "2017-12-08T16:45:06Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > It’s just not Christmas until Hans Gruber falls off the Nakatomi Plaza. “I hope that’s not a hostage.” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/33 "2017-12-08T17:13:35Z")
_Bad Santa_, _Die Hard_, and _A Christmas Story_ are the only xmas movies I own. I watch them every xmas. ---
**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 8, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/34 "2017-12-08T18:38:51Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > _Bad Santa_, _Die Hard_, and _A Christmas Story_ are the only xmas movies I own. I watch them every xmas. So you are saying you own two Christmas movies and also Die Hard? [runs] ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/35 "2017-12-08T19:37:34Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Nah, that seems stretching. He was barefoot because of what a guy on his plane told him, not because of some long-standing memory of his brother laying on the ground like a slug because it was his only defense. He also removes his jacket and shirt despite the fact that he is at a professional office function. Clearly, a man who does not like to be burdened with excess clothing. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/36 "2017-12-08T19:43:13Z")
_Die Hard_ would be exactly the same movie if it were set during any other holiday, or none at all. So, no. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/37 "2017-12-08T19:58:15Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > _Die Hard_ is the definitive Christmas action movie, with _Kiss Kiss Bang Bang_ and _The Long Kiss Goodnight_ ranking a close second and third respectively. But KISS Versus the Phantom of the Park beats both of those to be the best Kiss movie of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/38 "2017-12-08T20:18:43Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > \*Die Hard \*is easily as much of a Christmas Movie as _It’s a Wonderful Life_. And if George Bailey had gone after Mr. Potter the way John McClane went after Hans Gruber, the latter would have been much improved. Hard to picture George Bailey running on broken glass though. ---
**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 8, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/39 "2017-12-08T20:20:35Z")
Nope, actually “KISS saves Santa” is the best Kiss movie of all time. Actually, the best Christmas movie too! WINNER! ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2017, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827/40 "2017-12-08T20:21:52Z")
Have you seen this tribute to the best Christmas movie ever? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OTyw6cq86kY/hqdefault.jpg "Die Hard - Music Video - NEW 4th Verse!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTyw6cq86kY) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-christmas-movie-ever-die-hard/803827.md?page=3)