«Die Hard» is the story of a man who just wants to get home for Christmas.
Getty Chairman & CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment Jim Gianopulos and actor Bruce Willis attend the Twentieth Century Fox Celebrates 25 Years Of «Die Hard» event at Fox Studio Lot on January 31, 2013 in Century City, California. It’s that time of year for hunkering down to watch a Christmas film with the family – and to hold the annual debate over whether or not Die Hard actually counts as one. This debate has now become, in some film history circles, as big a question as to the meaning of “Rosebud” in Citizen Kane or whether Han Solo or Greedo shot first in Star Wars. It’s even important enough to warrant a poll from YouGov, which concluded that Die Hard is not a Christmas film. The arguments around the “Christmassiness” of the 1988 movie revolve around three themes: creative, commercial and cultural. The creative argument is based on the intentions of those involved in making the film. As both director John McTiernan and writer Steven De Souza have confirmed that Die Hard is a Christmas movie, then the creative case would seem very much in favour.
