Die Hard is a Christmas Movie * 5 Reasons Why

Die Hard, the blockbuster action movie that changed the game of all action movies, came out 35 years ago! 1988 feels like just yesterday for this Gen Xer. I have watched this movie a lot in the last three and a half decades since I saw it in the movie theater when it came out. But it is the holidays, and yes, this counts as a Christmas movie, and here are some reasons why.

I recommend the Netflix series: The Movies That Made Us – Episode 4 of Season 1. It covers the movie Die Hard, and it is fascinating. I enjoy hearing about the work and dedication that goes into making a movie, especially one we take for granted as a classic, or a cult favorite.

But now for the reasons why I know that Die Hard is a Christmas movie, I don’t give two shits what the naysayers say about it not being a Christmas movie. They don’t know anything, those people probably really like the Hallmark Christmas channel. Hard pass.

Reason #1 – The company Christmas Party

Happy holidays to the mystique of the corporate Christmas party. Especially this ill-fated affair held on Christmas Eve. I think of the sad sack security team working late because the Nakatomi group is still partying hard on the 30th floor.

I think of Holly and the phone call to her kids where she tells the nanny that she knows she is going to be home late. Nothing screams corporate America than the single mother sacrificing her personal time on the altar of business and financial success.

I also think of the cop called to respond to the scene, the tactical response group, and eventually the military and FBI guys who show up on this holiday for what they think is a terrorist situation. That is the reality of the holidays for the blue-collar folk. There is no guaranteed holiday off. No champagne, no appetizers. Just the likelihood that you’ll still be working while everyone else is home safe in their beds.

I recently attended my company holiday party, which we held on company grounds for the first time. It was giving Die Hard vibes, but sadly, the night did not end with explosions and a body count.

It was as expected, somewhat awkward, weird, and nice all the same time. The food was decent, people complained about the quality of the drinks, and the bigwigs made their obligatory speeches which should have been emails.

Reason #2 – Spirit of Consumerism

There’s been arguments that this movie is an indictment of feminism. Other arguments claim that it supports feminism by portraying McClane as a prehistoric dinosaur stuck in the past. It’s a non-argument. Who cares? What it does do rather well is play out the anti-consumerism excess that is anti-average man.

The average Joe is represented by John McClane.

There is a small scene at the beginning when John shows up at the Christmas party and he is bombarded by the overbearing cocaine-sniffing Ellis and Holly’s boss Mr Takage. Ellis makes a point of showing his claim on Holly’s success by gifting her a Rolex watch.

Rolex was in the late eighties the height of watch luxury. The name still means expensive, even though there is a whole watch culture now. But to anyone alive in 1988, a Rolex meant you had it made.

The end scene where the watch is the lynchpin that ends the life of Hans Gruber, and his greedy quest for riches, has been theorized to represent the triumph of the Everyman vs the greed of the rich man.

I am sure that losing that piece previously gifted by the greedy Ellis fulfilled McClane’s need to reclaim the territory of his estranged wife. Men ?.

Reason #3 – Stress of the Holiday Season

Elvis sang about a Blue Christmas. He was onto something. Studies have shown that the holidays can impact people in negative ways psychologically and emotionally. can bring on strong feelings of depression. It can strain interpersonal relationships and cause financial strain, emotional stress, feelings of isolation, and generally be a complete bummer.

John McClane is having a no-good winter because he is coming to a city he doesn’t know to visit his estranged wife and children and is bombarded with people and situations making him question his life choices.

The flight attendant on the plane gives him a look as he is deplaning. He probably is wondering if his marriage is worth preserving. Then the conversation in the limo where he is offered some arranged company if things don’t work out with the wife at this party. Another reminder that this situation is probably his fault as the limo driver laughs at his predicament.

Within minutes of being in the same room together, John and Holly are hitting unpause on an argument that has been pending for six months.

He is probably regretting his decision to get on the plane in the first place.

Reason #4 – Santa

If a movie needs an appearance from jolly ol’ Santa, we get one, with enhancements. Sure it might be a dead body, but aren’t most Santas emotionally dead on the inside as they labor through the season and the expectations of society that expect to be given everything they want despite being headliners on the naughty list?

It’s the ho-ho-holiday season.

Reason #5 – Christmas Music

Die Hard has a Christmas movie soundtrack. In the limo, the driver Argyle plays the classic “Christmas in Hollis” by Run DMC. It is Christmas music, it is amazing, and not once has something in this vein been replicated with such finesse. This rap song deserves to be on more playlists during the holidays.

The movie closes out with the song “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” by Vaughn Monroe.

Singing about letting it snow after spending Christmas Eve in the sunny town of Los Angeles, is rather comical. The weather in LA is not frightful (at least not that evening). The tone is ironic and at the end, isn’t it ironic that he shows up at a party where he felt out of place, and ended up being the right man at the wrong place at the wrong time? It’s the story of his life!

Die Hard will forever be a Christmas movie. If you don’t think so, you are wrong. Come at me.