Die Hard The Best Christmas Movie of All Time

By Ash Parker

Every year on Christmas Day, after opening presents, my family gathers in the living room to watch Die Hard. That’s because we are on the right side of the decades old debate: is Die Hard a Christmas movie? The answer, obviously, is yes. Not only that, but it is the best one of all time. It has everything a good Christmas movie needs: familial themes, holiday spirit, and a festive soundtrack. Also, it takes place during a Christmas party!

“But it’s an action film,” some may protest. “It has too much violence and brutality!” And to that I say, so what? Hey, the guy in It’s A Wonderful Life spends almost the entire movie about to kill himself. Christmastime can get dark. I see it as breaking the mold. Plus, both these movies have happy endings.

Now, I’ll admit that Christmas isn’t essential to the story, but it’s there. (I was going to make an argument about Home Alone here, but I just found out that’s a whole debate in and of itself.) Not only is it there, but it is fully embraced! If that isn’t enough, how about John McClane and his wife Holly reconciling? Or him befriending the local police officer, Sergeant Al Powell? Doesn’t the presence of family, friends, and overall togetherness contribute to its Christmas-ness?

How about the Christmas imagery, catchphrases, and music featured in the film? Does that mean nothing?

Well, apparently not to Bruce Willis who claimed Die Hard is not a Christmas movie in a 2018 Comedy Central skit. However, I’ll trust the writer’s and director’s words over the leading actor. #DieHardIsAChristmasMovie