Is 'Die Hard' a Christmas Movie?

One of the best holiday traditions is the Christmas movie. Your work is done for the year and you're sitting among family.

The only thing to do now is pick what movie you want to watch.

Imagine this scenario. There’s a family. It’s Christmas time. Chestnuts are roasting over an open fire. Jack Frost has nipped their noses. They have decked the halls. It’s a regular Yuletide scene complete with a dog laying at their feet. Their stockings have been hung by the chimney with care, and they want to compete this picturesque holiday setting.

They need a movie.

Jack wants Frosty the Snowman. Jenny wants to watch a Miracle on 34th Street, because she’s a hipster phase and she wants everyone to be impressed by her film knowledge. Mom and Dad both argue for one of the stop motion animated classics.

But, there’s one movie they should be watching. Not only is it a Christmas movie, but it’s a pretty good one at that.

I know what you’re thinking.

Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie. It’s a hardcore, violent thriller, which means it’s the BEST kind of Christmas movie.

Everyone spends the entire month after Thanksgiving watching the same twenty movies over and over. You need a guy worming his way through air ducts and taking guys with a Beretta one by one.

It's called counter programming. It's the thing that will keep your holidays from getting stale. How many movies abut elves can you really watch? No, sit down and let Bruce Willis deliver some old school yule tide greetings. It's really perfect. Plus, you'll be the cool family. It's fun being the cool family.

But, you say, “the only reason you say that Die Hard is a Christmas movie is because it just happens to take place over the Christmas holidays.” Which would be the wrong take because then every Shane Black movie would be considered a Christmas movie.

One, I would answer the reason I’m saying this is that I’m a contrarian jerk. But, I’m also right. And I would argue that Die Hard is intrinsically a Christmas movie. How many movies have you seen on Lifetime and Hallmark where the overworked Dad finally learns the meaning of Christmas overcoming some major obstacle? That’s exactly what happens here. John McClane is a tired, put-upon cop and his marriage is on the rocks. But, when terrorists take over his wife’s Christmas, he does whatever he can to save her.

I know what you're thinking, but what about the children? Isn't little Jack too young to see such a violent movie?

Well, little Jack probably has a smart phone and has seen way crazier by this point.

Another objection would be that most Christmas movies have some kind of lesson. A dad learns not to work so much. A miser learns the spirit of Christmas. Family is super important. The best gift is love, all that stuff.

And I would argue that Die Hard does have a lesson. Hans Gruber learns not to mess with John McClane.

Actually all those other lessons work too. John McClane is an overworked dad. Hans Gruber is a rich guy who gets what he deserves. Plus, John and his wife were separated and they realize the meaning of family. Sure, the other movies show that it doesn't work out, but that's for another article.

Technically, John McClane should also count as a cinematic Santa Claus. He gives all the bad guys a rifle round for Christmas and he even says “Ho, Ho, Ho” when he drops the dead terrorist off in the elevator. He even sneaks around like St. Nicolas does. Heck, the ducts are basically a chimney.

I’m not saying that It’s A Wonderful Life or anything, but it's probably better than anything else you’re watching this season.

Watch it with your kids. They’ll love it.

Then, you can all sit down and watch Die Hard 2.