A legend once said, "Die Hard is not a Christmas movie! It’s a goddamn Bruce Willis movie.” That legend is Bruce Willis himself.
The second bit is true, though but many would argue about the first one. The film may not have a festive theme but it entirely unfolds on Christmas Eve, rolling in the Yuletide spirit in its plot.
Die Hard, released in July 1988, has stood the test of time as an action film over the decades and it has become a norm for cinemaholics to keep it in their holiday roster. Nevertheless, there have been contradictions, too, over the evergreen entertainer's crebility as a Christmas flick. Maybe there aren't many visual cues, but it does have easter eggs to call it one.
A major reason why many feel the film does not qualify as a Christmas flick is because it opened in the Summer season. Then again, many others have rated it among the greatest Christmas movies of all time with films such as It's a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, and Edward Scissorhands that are, notably, not about Christmas either, but aptly utilise the festive spirit to carry the story forward.
Why Die Hard isn't really a Christmas Flick?
The Bruce Willis film didn't scream Christmas initially but the debate holds a potential to tear the internet apart. There was even a survey conducted by YouGov once to settle the debate. Half of the netizens who took the poll don't think it qualifies as a Christmas flick while 31 per cent do. The rest are still scratching their heads.
The plot takes place on a Christmas Eve, and that's about it. Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is at Nakatomi Plaza, Los Angeles, for his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), who is at an office Christmas party in the building. The antagonist Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) takes control of the highrise and holds everyone in the party hostage.
Die Hard was never about Christmas. It was always an action-packed drama about McClane's reconciliation with his wife. The couple is estranged primarily owing to their careers in different cities — he is a New York cop and she is a top executive in L.A , and could have been logically defined as a festive flick if it had the rom-com vibes of say, The Holiday. Instead, the focus is more on high-octane sequences and thrills, and showcasing Willis as the quintessential action star of the era.
But the easter eggs cannot be ignored
Although Die Hard isn't exactly a Christmas film, there was always the idea to incorporate the festival into the storyline. Lloyd Levin of 20th Century Fox gave the film's co-screenplay writer, Jeb Stuart, the creative freedom as long as he stuck to a 'Christmas-in-Los-Angeles setting.' And that is why we see the Christmas touch all through.
Viewers might have noticed the music of the film has vibes of the festival. Winter wonderland, Let it snow, and Ode to joy are some songs in the film's soundtrack that celebrate the season's spirit. Then there is the scene where McClane sends a 'Santa' down the elevator with a warning to the villains that he has a gun now. Pretty cool.
The film is set on Christmas Eve, so we can see Yuletide decoration in the background every now and then. Interestingly, the film's other screenwriter, Steven E. de Souza, predicted Die Hard would be played a lot at this time of the year. He wasn't wrong.
Die Hard is still is an action classic today. Holiday or no holiday, one can watch the film anytime. If you are still undecided, here's a reason to watch: The bad guy is Professor Snape!
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