When talking about Christmas movies, some titles always come to mind: Home Alone, Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life and many others. But among those, there is one that always stands out from the others, Die Hard. Yes, the famous action movie from 1988 directed by John McTiernan about a man who fights terrorists in a skyscraper. Every holiday season the movie’s popularity spikes up as well as the debate of it being a Christmas movie or not. So is it just an action movie from the late 80s with a bunch of explosions or is it more than meets the eye?
Die Hard’s influence on cinema is set in stone. Some critics consider it to be the peak of the action genre but one thing is for sure, its impact on pop culture was huge. It inspired many famous action movies that came out after. Arguably, Die Hard does not just qualify as a Christmas movie, but as a holiday classic. So, why can it be argued that besides having cool explosions, it is also a film that shares the holiday spirit?
First of all, the 1988 movie is actually about a man who comes home for the holidays. John McClane (Bruce Willis) is an NYPD detective who arrives in LA to reconcile with his wife and spend time with his kids. He meets her in the newly built Nakatomi Plaza during a Christmas party, but the building is hijacked by European terrorists led by the iconic villain Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman).
Like all people, McClane is not perfect. He is a cop who struggles with balancing work, life, and love. But like every good Christmas movie protagonist, he is good-natured. In crisis, all he wants is to make his purpose and relationships stronger, which in Die Hard is protecting his wife and kids from terrorists. On the other side, Hans Gruber is also an undeniable charmer, being an all-time great villain. But in the end, his greed led to his downfall, showing how the movie values family over greed; similar to every memorable Christmas movie.
Die Hard also brilliantly uses its Christmas setting. Unlike some movies that are set in the winter, but do not actively use it, this film does. The best example is when the lovable cop Al Powell is happily singing “Let it Snow” just before a body drops several stories onto his car. The movie constantly mixes the common Christmas holiday and action elements throughout its 132 minute runtime, showing some very fun scenes.
Lastly, like many loved holiday season movies, it is formulaic. Die Hard is ultimately about a hero’s journey, making the viewer cheer for him and in the end he wins. It sticks to a famous crowd-pleasing formula. But it does that in a very fun way while also introducing unique elements, making it a great viewing experience.
Die Hard is indeed a Christmas movie. Its plot and scenes just prove how the film shares the holiday spirit while also having a thrilling setting. Even the famous review site Rotten Tomatoes agrees. Die Hard is 11th in its top 100 Christmas movies of all time list. So be sure to tell your friends and family that the classic 80s action film is perfect to be watched this holiday season and to have fun with it!
