IMBD

“Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” and “Home Alone” are undoubtedly some of the most iconic Christmas movies of all, and are easily recognizable as being a part of that holiday-centered genre. However, in 1988, unbeknownst to most people, the Christmas film landscape was changed forever by the release of “Die Hard”: a film that follows a New York police officer (John McClane) caught in the middle of a terrorist scheme while visiting his family in Los Angeles for the holidays.
Whether or not “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie is a fairly contentious topic, with many people citing that it is simply an action movie. However, the film’s setting offers plenty of evidence to the contrary. “Die Hard” takes place on Christmas Eve, gradually bleeding into the early hours of Christmas Day as John McClane remains trapped in Nakatomi Plaza.
Alongside the date of the film’s fictional events, the main conflict of the film begins at a company Christmas party, making way for flavorful dialogue and interactions later in the film. General Christmas paraphernalia, such as decorations and festive aesthetics, can also be seen throughout.
Additionally, McClane, upon successfully subduing one of the terrorists, dresses him in a Santa costume before taunting the remaining terrorists with the phrase “Ho Ho Ho”, and the antagonist and terror extraordinaire, Hans Gruber, gets in the holiday spirit when his plan begins to go South, saying: “It’s Christmas. It’s the time of miracles.”
Of course, these elements rely on the superficial rather than the intrinsic values of the film. Regardless of any religious significance given to the Christmas holiday, the one unifying factor is the gathering of those we care about. This factor is the driving force of the plot of “Die Hard” and its emotional payoff.
McClane’s wife, thematically named Holly, is at the center of his inner turmoil in the movie, influencing John’s decision to come to L.A. and persevere against the terrorists who greatly outnumber him. John simply wishes to spend Christmas with those he loves most: his soon-to-be ex-wife and mildly estranged children. McClain acts to rectify his past mistakes, further develop his relationship with family, and then revel in the rewards of taking those steps.
Following the climax of the film, McClain succeeds in all of these aspects, reconnecting with his family so they may enjoy the holiday together.
People everywhere travel across states, countries, maybe even continents to see one another and often overcome obstacles to share in a celebration on Christmas Day. This staple of Christmas is at the heart of “Die Hard’s” themes and messaging that, when tied with the consistent festive set-dressing, make it undoubtedly a Christmas movie.