Yes, Die Hard is a Holiday Movie!

I thought I would have a little fun with this article and make sure my stance is clear: Die Hard is a Holiday Movie! Let’s explore this perspective as well as why some may disagree. This debate has created a great deal of commercialization around the movie for an expansive number of products that reinforce it as a Christmas movie. That is where the Marketing viewpoint on the topic will come to life.

I will recap the storyline for those who may be less familiar with the movie (but shame on you). On Christmas Eve, NY police officer John McClain (Bruce Willis) flies into LA to visit his estranged wife, who has been living in LA with their kids. He meets her at her company’s Holiday party where they are celebrating some recent successes. During the party, a group of heavily armed terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) takes over not only the party but seizes the entire building, ‘Nakatomi Plaza.’ They show they are serious by killing the head of the company, and everyone is terrified. John is able to sneak away and is determined to save his wife and everyone he can.

First of all, I recognize this is not a traditional holiday movie by any means. There are machine guns, and people die. However, there is the epic good versus evil storyline, and the good guy is the underdog who isn’t receiving needed support outside, so you want to cheer on the sarcastic ‘cowboy’ John McClain throughout.   

Setting & Themes: My first overall point on a holiday movie is the overall setting. As mentioned, Christmas Eve. Though I always questioned a company who has a work party on that day, so be it. John is bringing presents to his kids, including a ridiculously large teddy bear, and the beginning scene with opening credits includes the song ‘Christmas in Hollis’ by Run-D.M.C. Again, it is not traditional, but a holiday/Christmas song all the same. Additionally, the closing scene includes the holiday classic holiday hit “Let it Snow.” This packages the movie in the holiday theme from beginning to end.

Script: Throughout the movie, the dialog references the holidays. This includes the fact that the holiday party takes place on Christmas Eve, John's visit for the holidays as well as the gifts etc. Lines written out referring to ‘Ho, ho, ho.’ For those that are very familiar with the movie, I won’t ruin it for you my recapping all the context on that reference.

Commercialization: The debate itself has led to the creation of a number of products, as I referred to above. These products originally focused on specialty gift stores and those featuring shirts with more unique designs during the holiday season. Now you can visit Amazon and scroll through hundreds of options like shirts, ornaments, mugs, and the like. I recently found they even have a Nakatomi Plaza advent calendar! Thirty-six years later and you can buy a current advent calendar based on this movie, it certainly reinforces its popularity overall. The availability and, therefore, demand of these products show the continued marketability of this holiday movie.

The Counter Argument: For those who disagree and feel Die Hard is not a Christmas movie, the primary focus seems to be that it is not a traditional storyline. It is an action adventure movie with violence. In most holiday movies, a lesson is learned, and the leading character becomes a better person or recognizes the need to value what they have, or a little of both. This movie is about saving the day against all odds.

In conclusion, the debate will continue and maintain a strong momentum of this movie classic, whether it is an action-based classic or holiday classic, or in my view, both. I just really hope they never try to do a reboot. I hope you all those who read this accept that this blog is meant in fun and not meant to isolate any that do or do not celebrate Christmas, just intended as a little more light hearted around the holidays.

I welcome your thoughts. Or as McClain says “Welcome to the party!”