The annual debate on whether 'Die Hard' is a Christmas movie or not has finally been resolved. A new poll reveals only 38 per cent of UK public think the Bruce Willis actioner is a festive classic...
A New York cop wearing a white tanktop that unaccountably goes from mildly dirty to compltely filthy far too quickly takes down a bunch of vaguely European terrorists at a Christmas party in a Los Angeles skyscraper, while our unlikely hero attempts to mend the strained relationship with his estranged wife - as Vaughn Monroe croons “let it snow, let it snow, let it snow”.
A festive rush worthy of a double-bill with It’s A Wonderful Life, right?
Well, not for everyone, as the conversation around whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie has become as controversial as the presence of bread sauce during already heavy seasonal dinners.
Seriously, who thought liquid carbs was an idea worth materialising?
Every year, pop culture’s most heated holiday dispute rears its ugly head: Is the 1988 Bruce Willis classic a seasonally appropriate watch?
Both sides of the never-ending argument have their ardent defenders, and even Willis and Die Hard screenwriter Steven E. de Souza can't agree on the matter.
De Souza declared in 2017 that Die Hard is in fact a Christmas movie, but a year later, Willis made the bold statement that “Die Hard is not a Christmas movie, it’s a goddamn Bruce Willis movie.”
We know where we stand on the matter:
- Who cares? Watch what makes you happy and stop ruining the Christmas jumper competition.
- If we must weigh in, Die Hard is a Christmas movie, as the film starts on Christmas Eve, features holiday classics like ‘Let It Snow’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’, and John McClane’s wife is named Holly.
Holly, for Christ’s sake! What more proof do you need?
Plenty, as it turns out, as we find ourselves at odds with the UK. Indeed, the British public’s verdict is in, and according to them, Die Hard does not qualify as a Christmas movie.
The survey of 2,000 people by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) found that 44 per cent did not believe Die Hard to be a seasonal classic, while 38 per cent defended the film as a Yuletide favourite. The remaining 17 per cent were unsure. Cowards.
Elsewhere, and less controversially, the survey found that Home Alone was the UK’s clear holiday favourite, with one in five (20 per cent) voting for the 1990 comedy classic as their No.1 pick.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is far superior, but whatever.
Nearly one in 10 (9 per cent) chose the romantic comedy Love Actually (you can read our polarising thoughts about that one here), followed by the 1946 James Stewart classic It’s A Wonderful Life, which received 8 per cent of the vote. Elf (criminally) took fourth place with 7 per cent.
When it came to what makes the perfect Christmas film, a heartwarming story led the way (33 per cent), followed by family friendliness (15 per cent) and humour (13 per cent).
David Austin, chief executive of the BBFC, said the research showed that “heartwarming, family-friendly stories continue to sit at the heart of the nation’s Christmas viewing traditions”.
The research also revealed that 43 per cent believe it's acceptable to start watching Christmas movies from the beginning of December - with 13 per cent getting a head start by watching their Xmas favourites from the start of November. 8 per cent admitted enjoying Christmas movies all year round.
Meanwhile, just under a fifth (18 per cent) of respondents said going to the cinema over the Christmas period was a tradition for them and their family. Of those, a third (33 per cent) said they go before Christmas Eve, while 20 per cent preferred to go on Boxing Day.
So, what will you be watching during the holiday season, and is it yippie-ki-yay or yippie-ki-nay for Die Hard's credentials as a Christmas movie?
