Unraveling the Christmas Movie Controversy - "Die Hard" Edition
Setting the Stage
In an Instagram post on December 6th, Al shared a photo credited to Dylan, showing the holiday movie selection available as in-flight entertainment. The "holiday" section included classic Christmas movies like "A Christmas Story" and "Elf," along with the unexpected addition of "Die Hard." This sparked a heated discussion among viewers.Al wrote in the caption, "This morning, @dylandreyernbc sent proof from her @delta setback entertainment system, that shows the Bruce Willis classic, Die Hard, is, in fact, a Christmas Holiday movie! What say you? Is Die Hard a Christmas movie." This simple post set off a wave of comments and opinions.
The Divided Opinions
Predictably, Al's question led to a diverse range of responses in the comment section. One Instagram user initially thought it wasn't a Christmas movie when it first came out but now believes it is, stating, "Die Hard brings the holiday vibes!" However, another user strongly disagreed, writing, "It was originally released in the month of JULY…that’s not a Christmas movie!!" Another pointed out that the movie takes place at a Christmas party, while another countered by saying, "Set during Christmas, but not a ‘Christmas’ movie."Interestingly, one commenter mentioned that the movie's star, Bruce Willis, has his own opinion on the matter. He declared, "Bruce Willis said it himself, that it is NOT a Christmas movie, it’s a Bruce Willis movie!" This added another layer of complexity to the debate.
The Roast Revelation
Willis, who portrayed John McClane in the 1988 classic, revealed his stance on the debate during the "Roast of Bruce Willis" in July 2018. At that time, he explained his motivation for participating in the roast as wanting to settle the issue once and for all. He firmly declared, "Now please, listen very carefully. ‘Die Hard’ is not a Christmas movie! It’s a g–damn Bruce Willis movie."This statement by Willis added fuel to the fire and further divided opinions among fans. In the decades since the action film premiered, many have shared their views on whether or not to include it in the Christmas category.
Other Perspectives
Reginald VelJohnson, who played Al Powell in the movie, hasn't explicitly stated his side of the argument. But in November 2018, he told TODAY that he's fine with it being considered a holiday film. He explained, "When we did it, we weren’t thinking of it as a Christmas movie. I’m totally fine with it being one, though!"Even Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, seemingly shared her opinion in December 2023. She shared an Instagram story while watching "Die Hard" on TV and simply wrote, "Us too." This small gesture added another dimension to the ongoing debate.