What makes a movie a Christmas Movie? Personally, I think what makes a Christmas movie is that it must be set during the Christmas season, feature strong Christmas visuals, include some Christmas traditions, and feature some festive Christmas songs. But it also must have some Christmas themes, such as family, generosity, hope, faith, and miracles. The plot should also be dependent on the holiday or timed around the holiday. Many people debate on whether the setting of Die Hard makes it a Christmas movie or not. The film does have scenes having the holiday spirit, but with a focus on action and crime.
My friend Bella shared her opinion on the movie on how the movie should be classified as a Christmas movie. “Die Hard should definitively be classified as a Christmas movie because its core narrative is fundamentally interwoven with the holiday. The entire thriller is set on Christmas Eve, with the central conflict erupting during a corporate Christmas party at Nakatomi Plaza. Furthermore, the film’s driving force aligns perfectly with classic holiday themes, John McClane’s sole motivation is the reconciliation and saving of his estranged family, particularly his wife, Holly, fulfilling the essential Christmas narrative of redemption and togetherness. Crucially, the plot is dependent on the holiday, as the minimal staff and low security typical of Christmas Eve are precisely what Hans Gruber’s crew exploits for their heist. Therefore, by satisfying the criteria of setting, plot necessity, and thematic focus on family and reunion, Die Hard transcends its action genre to earn its place as a genuine Christmas classic.”
Overall, in my opinion, Die Hard does meet the necessities for it to be a Christmas movie. It is set at a Christmas Eve party and has festive Christmas music. Although its primary genre is action, the core conflict is driven by a man trying to reconcile with his family during the holidays, making the theme of “reunion” central to its narrative success. Overall, this foundational holiday goal elevates the movie above a standard action thriller and firmly places it within the standards of Christmas films.
