23 December 2021, 13:41 | Updated: 26 July 2022, 16:05 The seasonal debate over the Bruce Willis classic continues, with the nation's film buffs being asked for their opinion. Which side are you on? One of the biggest arguments at Christmas isn’t over what to watch on TV or whether sprouts are a good thing or not. Oh no - it’s more important than that. It’s a tough one. Despite being a taught
action thriller featuring a sardonic hero and one of cinema’s greatest villains, the story is definitely set in late December. Detective John McClane (played by a be-vested Bruce Willis) heads to LA on Christmas Eve to meet with his estranged wife and terrorist-led mayhem ensues, courtesy of Alan Rickman as arch baddie Hans Gruber. Willis is even listening to Christmas In Hollis by Run DMC at the beginning, but any festive
fun is quickly sidelined by the action and the running about. So, is it officially a Christmas movie? READ MORE: Are these Christmas movies... or not?Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?
According to a YouGov poll, 47% of people who have seen Die Hard say it is NOT a Christmas movie, while 44% of people insist it is!
Men and women disagree, with half of men (50%) who have seen Die Hard think it's a Christmas movie compared to just over a third of women (37%), who have watched the film.
Is Die Hard A Christmas Movie?
Yes: 44%
No: 47%
Don't Know: 9%
READ MORE 20th Century Fox seem to think it IS, and they've re-edited the movie's trailer into "The Greatest Christmas Story Ever Told"...!
Some point out that Die Hard was released in July in the US (February in the UK), but the Prince Charles Cinema in London regularly add the movie to their annual selection of Christmas films.
Bruce Willis is faced with a problem in Die Hard (1988). Picture: Disney+/PressAsked on Twitter whether Die Hard actually should be included in your festive viewing marathon, Steven E. deSouza, who actually co-wrote the thing replied: “Yes, because the studio rejected the Purim draft #DieHardIsAChristmasMovie.”
@StevenEdeSouza I’m sure you e weighed in on it before, but I’ve never heard you or Jeb Stuart offer your take on whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) December 24, 2017
READ MORE: Will Ferrell turned down $29 million to star in Elf sequel
(Purim, of course, is the Jewish holiday that takes place in around February/March.)
However, during his Comedy Central roast in July 2018, Willis himself announced: “Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. It’s a god damn Bruce Willis movie!”
James King, Sky's film critic says: “Die Hard is a Christmas movie now but it didn’t start out as one. Back in 1988 when it was released in the summer, I don’t think anyone thought it was a festive film. Sure it had a seasonal setting but it was hardly warm and cuddly.”
He added, “But over time the fans have embraced its Christmas background and reinterpreted it as a yuletide classic. That’s what’s great about brilliant films: they don’t just have to be one thing”.
Bruce Willis ponders the eternal Die Hard question. Picture: Atlaspix / Alamy Stock PhotoHold the front page, because in 2019, the Hollywood Reporter had research company Morning Consult conduct a survey to get to the bottom of the matter. The results were:
Morning Consult asks Is Die Hard A Christmas Movie. Picture: Graphic: MorningConsult.comIs Die Hard A Christmas Movie?
Yes: 25%
No: 62%
Dont Know: 13%
So, the American people have spoken. Are they right?
Luckily, the entire Die Hard franchise is available to stream on Disney+ from Friday 3 December so people can decide for themselves...