Summary

• Bruce Willis firmly declares that Die Hard is not a Christmas movie, stating it is a "god-damn Bruce Willis movie" instead.
• Director John McTiernan believes it is up to the audience to decide whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie.
• Reginald VelJohnson, who played Sergeant Al Powell, is okay with Die Hard being considered a Christmas movie as long as audiences enjoy it.

More than 35 years after the premiere of Die Hard, the debate over whether it is a Christmas movie is still going strong. Some fans believe that it is the perfect film to watch during the holiday season, while others prefer more heartfelt and less bloody flicks like It's a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, or other stereotypical classic Christmas movies. Die Hard, released on July 15, 1988, and directed by John McTiernan, introduced the world to New York City Police Department Detective John McClane, played by Bruce Willis. Not only is the character one of Willis's most iconic roles, but he is also one of the most popular action heroes.

Following the first film's success, 20th Century Fox ordered a sequel, and then another one, and so on. Ultimately, the studio produced five Die Hard movies featuring Willis's John McClane — Die Hard, Die Hard 2, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Live Free or Die Hard, and A Good Day to Die Hard. However, the first film is undoubtedly the most successful since many critics regard it as one of the best action movies ever made. But the debate over whether Die Hard is a Christmas flick is ongoing, and thankfully, the cast and crew have addressed this hot topic and given their opinion on the matter.

Bruce Willis Says Die Hard Is Not A Christmas Movie

Bruce Willis, Detective John McClane himself, has gone on record to debunk the idea that Die Hard is a Christmas movie. The actor did not have much to say about the matter other than a short and succinct statement at a Comedy Central roast in July 2018, where he was the star and in the hot seat. But when he got a chance to speak at the end of the show, Willis said, "I did this roast for one reason and for one reason only — to settle something once and for all. Now, please listen very carefully. Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. It's a god-damn Bruce Willis movie. So, Yippee Ki Yay to all of you motherf***ers!"

According to the leading man in the Die Hard franchise, the first installment should not be considered a must-watch film during the holiday season. His comments could have been just for show and to get a rise out of the audience at the Comedy Central roast, but Willis's opinion on the controversial debate seems concrete. If John McClane himself does not believe that Die Hard is a Christmas movie, then that might settle the argument once and for all. However, other of the cast and crew of the action film have had differing opinions on the topic.

John McTiernan Says Die Hard's Christmas Debate Is Up To Audiences

John McTiernan directed Die Hard and Die Hard with a Vengeance, so obviously, he has a viewpoint on the Christmas movie debate. However, the filmmaker's opinion is that he does not have an opinion, and he believes that audiences can interpret whether the 1988 action film is a must-watch during the holiday season or not. During a 2022 interview with The Empire Film Podcast, McTiernan discussed the Christmas movie argument with the hosts and relayed his thoughts on the matter. The director said:

"It's not for us to say, it's people. It's for the audience to say. If the audience decides they want to make it a Christmas movie, it's a Christmas movie. It turns out that way. It wasn't intended as a Christmas movie, or the fact that it was deliberately built around Christmas, but not intended to be a Christmas movie. But the fact that it was a Christmas movie had a lot to do with, you know, because it's actually, from a distance, politically very strident, and the only reason that survived was that the people in the studio who would have stopped that were deceived because they thought it was just an action movie about a Christmas party that goes wrong."

It seems as though McTiernan is determined to remain neutral on the hot debate surrounding his critically acclaimed action film. And to be honest, the director's statement makes sense. There will never be a concrete answer over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie. The only thing that matters is how audiences perceive it, and every viewer walks away from a film with varying opinions, and the 1988 action flick is no different.

Some are adamant that Die Hard is a holiday film due to it taking place on Christmas Eve and containing elements of the holiday woven throughout the background and story. Whatever the case, McTiernan did not approach Die Hard with the intention that it would be a holiday classic. But once it premiered, how people interpreted it was out of his hands.

Reginald VelJohnson Is Okay With Die Hard Being A Christmas Movie

Reginald VelJohnson, who played Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant Al Powell in the 1988 action film, has also addressed the Die Hard Christmas movie debate. The actor's opinion on the matter aligns more closely with director John McTiernan's than his former costar Bruce Willis's since he did not give a solid answer on whether the film should be considered a holiday flick. Instead, VelJohnson also believes that fans can come up with their own interpretations of the first movie in the Die Hard franchise, even if he did not think of it as a Christmas project during filming. He told ComicBook.com:

"When I was filming the film Die Hard, I didn't even think about it being a Christmas movie. I knew that there was a Christmas theme that was going on in the movie, but it wasn't a major focus of the movie. And I never really realized that it was going to be a Christmas movie until the audience told me that it was. And when the audience said that it was a Christmas movie. I said, 'Yes and hell yes. It's a Christmas movie, whatever you want to do. As long as you see the movie, I'm fine with it.' But now that it's become a Christmas theme movie, I'm fine with it. They showed it every Christmas and that's fine with me. I'm okay with it."

VelJohnson, who reprised his role as Sergeant Al Powell in Die Hard 2, is okay with some audiences thinking that the first film is a Christmas flick. Although it is not a typical holiday movie, it is set around the festive season. Plus, maybe the fact that Die Hard does not fall in line with stereotypical Christmas films, like Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Santa Clause, and so on, is the reason why many believe it is a must-watch during December. No matter what, though, VelJohnson will not declare that Die Hard is or is not a Christmas movie, just like McTiernan.

Writer Steven E. de Souza Says Die Hard Is A Christmas Movie

The final person associated with Die Hard to give their thoughts on whether the 1988 action film is a Christmas movie is Steven E. de Souza, who co-wrote it with Jeb Stuart. The writer took to Twitter (now known as X) on December 24, 2017, to settle the debate once and for all. CNN anchor Jake Tapper asked de Souza, "I'm sure you've 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." The writer answered, "Yes because the studio rejected the Purim draft #DieHardIsAChristmasMovie."

So, at the end of the day, even the Die Hard cast and crew have conflicting opinions over whether it is a Christmas movie. Regardless, those who believe it is will watch it during the holiday season, and those who think it isn't will not be tuning in to celebrate the holidays. The Die Hard Christmas film debate will likely live on for many years to come.

Die Hard is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, or Vudu.

Sources: Comedy Central, The Empire Film Podcast, ComicBook.com, Twitter