The first Lethal Weapon opens with “Jingle Bell Rock” and introduces Mel Gibson by having him bust a cocaine deal at a Christmas tree farm and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” plays over the end credits but nobody ever talks about that being a Christmas movie, just Die Hard
Die Hard was solidified as the "I am very clever and not like the other girls" choice in the late 00's and its stuck. Its the christmas movie preference equivalent of getting a guitar out and playing "Wonderwall".
For a movie to be a Christmas movie, Christmas has to be a central element of the plot
And before anyone comments, no, a movie that just so happens to take place at a Christmas party does not count. Die Hard could happen during any kind of party with no meaningful change to the overall story.
He was going to her work Christmas party to ask her to come home for Christmas so they can try and be a family again. That screams Christmas movie. This one just happens to have explosions and German terrorists
The building is empty because it's night. The party could be any party. And John could be visiting his wife just to visit his wife. He didn't need a reason.
Christmas Eve explains why everyone is gone except the partygoers. Usually there's cleaners and late workers.
Corporate parties can happen anytime, but Christmas parties are a cultural staple. It’s the one occasion where executives and staff gather after hours in the office itself, making the hostage setup believable.
Early on, John explains to Argyle (the limo driver) that Holly moved to Los Angeles six months earlier for her career, while he stayed behind in New York. He’s only now flying out to see her and the kids because it’s Christmas, which gives him both the opportunity and the excuse to try to patch things up.
All three need the fact that it's Christmas to work.
Then any Christmas story that doesn’t literally have Santa Claus as a main character could be significantly reworked to not take place on Christmas. Why does Scrooge have to learn his lesson on Christmas and not on Easter?
Christmas is deeply associated with family, more than any other holiday, especially for that time and culture of America. Kids especially have a deep emotional connection with spending cozy time with their parents and siblings, etc. by the fire place, under the Christmas tree. But this kid ends up home alone on Christmas Eve of all nights. It's intentionally very surreal and definitely part of the emotional underlay of the movie, even if it's not "logically" necessary in terms of advancing the plot.
Die Hard doesn't have to be significantly reworked. That's the point. It could be a July 4th party and nothing else has to change.
Changing Home Alone to not be a Christmas movie would involve a ton of changes.
Although, I will take the opportunity to point out that It's a Wonderful Life also isn't a Christmas Movie. There's no mention of Christmas until the last 5 minutes and isn't relevant to the story.
Pretty much. People who have "Die Hard is a Xmas movie" as a personality trait seem to have a huge crossover with the "pineapple on pizza is a war crime" folks.
Die Hard has a lot more christmas movie tropes than you'd think, mainly the importance of family as a central theme, and a villain who embodies greed. It's essentially R-rated Home Alone when you think about it. The protagonist (Kevin McAllister/John McClane) singlehandedly fights off a robber (Wet Bandits/Hans Gruber) from inside the building they're robbing (McAllister house/Nakatomi Plaza) with nothing but their wits and the things they can find around the building, and they repair their relationship with their family in the process.
Die Hard has a lot more christmas movie tropes, mainly the importance of family as a central theme, and a villain who embodies greed. It's essentially R-rated Home Alone when you think about it. The protagonist (Kevin McAllister/John McClane) singlehandedly fights off a robber (Wet Bandits/Hans Gruber) from inside the building they're robbing (McAllister house/Nakatomi Plaza) with nothing but their wits and the things they can find around the building, and they repair their relationship with their family in the process.
It's considered a Christmas movie in Poland because it was aired at that time and was one of the only western things available in early post-communism era. That's where the whole thing stems from.
If Die Hard is a christmas movie, then so is John Waters' Female Trouble. I mean the plot kicks off when Dawn doesn't get the cha-cha heels she wanted specifically for christmas.
This is one where you can tell just by the headline that it probably has almost zero substance, and the writer stretched one or two jeers into an entire piece.
I agreed with him about it. The movie would make just as much sense any other time of year. It just happened to really place at Christmas time.
And most importantly, if you can fully appreciate a movie in July, it's not a Christmas movie.
To answer if a movie is an X movie, take X out of the movie. If it remains largely unchanged, then it is not an X movie, it is a movie with X trappings.
People are still doing the “is die hard a Christmas movie” bullshit? I thought that aged out like a decade ago? People still think people will see them as edgy by saying this?
I actually kinda agree with you on that to some extent.
While I personally couldn't fully appreciate It's a Wonderful Life if I watch it any time of the year other than Christmas, it's actually surprising when you think about it how little of it takes place during Christmas.
I think the main difference is that the most important part of It's a Wonderful Life is very strongly Christmas oriented even though the rest of the movie isn't.
Disagree, one line easily changed to St. Patrick's day. "Now I have a machine gun. Talk about luck of the irish." Maybe a slightly weaker joke, but the movie and even the line barely changes, keeps the same energy, and can be delivered the same. That is why it isn't a Christmas movie. A Christmas movie CANT happen if it isn't Christmas time. It cant exist. He could've flown to LA any time to reconnect with his family. Offices have parties all the time at night when the building is empty, or even have night events like fundraisers/ networking, etc.
Yes, lines would slightly change and the framework would differ slightly, but the movie is intact and functions exactly the same. A Christmas movie doesn't if Christmas is removed
So he made a comment about the movie, not Christmas.
Apparently.
That's a click-baity headline if there ever was one
Gotta word it as vaguely as possible for clicks
I hate that.
Christmas is not a Die Hard movie
The first Lethal Weapon opens with “Jingle Bell Rock” and introduces Mel Gibson by having him bust a cocaine deal at a Christmas tree farm and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” plays over the end credits but nobody ever talks about that being a Christmas movie, just Die Hard
Die Hard was solidified as the "I am very clever and not like the other girls" choice in the late 00's and its stuck. Its the christmas movie preference equivalent of getting a guitar out and playing "Wonderwall".
THANK YOU
For a movie to be a Christmas movie, Christmas has to be a central element of the plot
And before anyone comments, no, a movie that just so happens to take place at a Christmas party does not count. Die Hard could happen during any kind of party with no meaningful change to the overall story.
He was going to her work Christmas party to ask her to come home for Christmas so they can try and be a family again. That screams Christmas movie. This one just happens to have explosions and German terrorists
The Christmas party explains why the building is empty, why the party is happening and why McClane is visiting his estranged wife though.
The building is empty because it's night. The party could be any party. And John could be visiting his wife just to visit his wife. He didn't need a reason.
Christmas Eve explains why everyone is gone except the partygoers. Usually there's cleaners and late workers.
Corporate parties can happen anytime, but Christmas parties are a cultural staple. It’s the one occasion where executives and staff gather after hours in the office itself, making the hostage setup believable.
Early on, John explains to Argyle (the limo driver) that Holly moved to Los Angeles six months earlier for her career, while he stayed behind in New York. He’s only now flying out to see her and the kids because it’s Christmas, which gives him both the opportunity and the excuse to try to patch things up.
All three need the fact that it's Christmas to work.
This could easily happen on Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, a lot of offices even had Good Friday off.
Do you have a lot of office parties on those days? Office Christmas parties are pretty common. Good Friday office parties, not so much.
Then any Christmas story that doesn’t literally have Santa Claus as a main character could be significantly reworked to not take place on Christmas. Why does Scrooge have to learn his lesson on Christmas and not on Easter?
Home alone isn’t a Christmas movie it could take place any holiday where rich people travel.
Christmas is deeply associated with family, more than any other holiday, especially for that time and culture of America. Kids especially have a deep emotional connection with spending cozy time with their parents and siblings, etc. by the fire place, under the Christmas tree. But this kid ends up home alone on Christmas Eve of all nights. It's intentionally very surreal and definitely part of the emotional underlay of the movie, even if it's not "logically" necessary in terms of advancing the plot.
Die Hard doesn't have to be significantly reworked. That's the point. It could be a July 4th party and nothing else has to change.
Changing Home Alone to not be a Christmas movie would involve a ton of changes.
Although, I will take the opportunity to point out that It's a Wonderful Life also isn't a Christmas Movie. There's no mention of Christmas until the last 5 minutes and isn't relevant to the story.
Home Alone could by any family vacation where a kid is left at home. It doesn't require a ton of changes.
Come on man, the plot has to be semi-realistic
sorry, but you are wrong.
"It's Christmas Eve, it's a time of a miracles" - Hans Gruber
Agreed. Also, Home Alone could take place during a long weekend.
The plot would not happen if he wasn't invited to the Christmas party and the staff staying after hours for a Christmas party
You obviously don’t k ow die hard, or are being intentionally obtuse.
i feel like this comment enjoys pumpkin spice lattes
Using obtuse as an insult on Reddit is the equivalent of getting a guitar out and playing "Wonderwall".
Pretty much. People who have "Die Hard is a Xmas movie" as a personality trait seem to have a huge crossover with the "pineapple on pizza is a war crime" folks.
Dude, stop attacking me.
"Die Hard is a Christmas Movie" is one of those Le Epic Bacon reddit opinions that has been beaten to absolute death
Yesh, exactly. The most tedious people hhave that opinion.
So...super cool?
It’s a Friends reference
Die Hard has a lot more christmas movie tropes than you'd think, mainly the importance of family as a central theme, and a villain who embodies greed. It's essentially R-rated Home Alone when you think about it. The protagonist (Kevin McAllister/John McClane) singlehandedly fights off a robber (Wet Bandits/Hans Gruber) from inside the building they're robbing (McAllister house/Nakatomi Plaza) with nothing but their wits and the things they can find around the building, and they repair their relationship with their family in the process.
Die Hard has a lot more christmas movie tropes, mainly the importance of family as a central theme, and a villain who embodies greed. It's essentially R-rated Home Alone when you think about it. The protagonist (Kevin McAllister/John McClane) singlehandedly fights off a robber (Wet Bandits/Hans Gruber) from inside the building they're robbing (McAllister house/Nakatomi Plaza) with nothing but their wits and the things they can find around the building, and they repair their relationship with their family in the process.
That's why they kept leaving him at home
Kevin!!
Buzz is the most honest person in the movie. He sees Kevin for the little shit he really is
Ok well maybe his uncle too
Meh, the whole “is it a Christmas movie” debate is just to give people something silly to talk about.
Anyone that actually remembers or judges anyone else’s opinion after the conversation is over doesn’t get the point.
It's considered a Christmas movie in Poland because it was aired at that time and was one of the only western things available in early post-communism era. That's where the whole thing stems from.
I think First Blood is a Christmas movie, too.
People have different taste and opinions . Shocking.
Die hard is as much a Christmas movie as Batman Returns.
If Die Hard is a christmas movie, then so is John Waters' Female Trouble. I mean the plot kicks off when Dawn doesn't get the cha-cha heels she wanted specifically for christmas.
Boo!!!!!
NOT a Christmas movie.
If he'd said "Ho ho ho, motherfucker," I might be inclined to agree.
Writing "Now I Have A Machine Gun Ho-Ho-Ho" on a shirt is not good enough?
Okay, but actually, I kinda wish he had done that now.
It came out in June
So did miracle on 34th street
This is one where you can tell just by the headline that it probably has almost zero substance, and the writer stretched one or two jeers into an entire piece.
Batman Returns is the better Christmas movie.
I agreed with him about it. The movie would make just as much sense any other time of year. It just happened to really place at Christmas time.
And most importantly, if you can fully appreciate a movie in July, it's not a Christmas movie.
Hoke Alone isn’t a Christmas movie. It’s just Ferris Buelers day off; with booby traps.
Insert "he's out of line, but he's right" meme here.
Thank you.
Also, I don't care about what the clickbait wants me to But you didn't do that.
MacCulkin is just jealous he didn’t get a machine gun in his movie
To answer if a movie is an X movie, take X out of the movie. If it remains largely unchanged, then it is not an X movie, it is a movie with X trappings.
So did Bruce Willis, who starred in the fucking movie
People are still doing the “is die hard a Christmas movie” bullshit? I thought that aged out like a decade ago? People still think people will see them as edgy by saying this?
People get too worked up over this topic
If Die Hard isn't a Christmas movie, than neither is It's A Wonderful Life.
I actually kinda agree with you on that to some extent.
While I personally couldn't fully appreciate It's a Wonderful Life if I watch it any time of the year other than Christmas, it's actually surprising when you think about it how little of it takes place during Christmas.
I think the main difference is that the most important part of It's a Wonderful Life is very strongly Christmas oriented even though the rest of the movie isn't.
"Now I have a machine gun. Ho Ho Ho."
That alone needed Christmas for the scene to work.
It's a christmas movie.
Disagree, one line easily changed to St. Patrick's day. "Now I have a machine gun. Talk about luck of the irish." Maybe a slightly weaker joke, but the movie and even the line barely changes, keeps the same energy, and can be delivered the same. That is why it isn't a Christmas movie. A Christmas movie CANT happen if it isn't Christmas time. It cant exist. He could've flown to LA any time to reconnect with his family. Offices have parties all the time at night when the building is empty, or even have night events like fundraisers/ networking, etc.
Yes, lines would slightly change and the framework would differ slightly, but the movie is intact and functions exactly the same. A Christmas movie doesn't if Christmas is removed
I respect his opinion even though it’s wrong.
Yippee ki yay motherfuckers