I Don't Care What Macaulay Culkin Says... Die Hard is a Christmas Movie!

In Mythical Kitchen's most recent episode of “Last Meals”, Macaulay Culkin, star of Home Alone, stated that he doesn't think Die Hard is a “Christmas” movie but a movie “based around Christmas”. He went on to say "if it was also St. Patrick's Day, it would still be – it would work. But you couldn't do like Memorial Day Home Alone. It doesn't work that way". 

Of all the people to know what constitutes a Christmas film, it would be Kevin McCallister. He's up there with Holiday icons such as Buddy the Elf, the Grinch and Rudolph. However, he is wrong. Die Hard is very much a Christmas film and it can't be done without that setting of Christmas. 

Before anyone points at me and goes, “it's nostalgia blurring your opinion up”, the first time I saw Die Hard was last year and it was clear to me when watching it that it was clearly a Christmas film. Hell, the film would not be the same or work as well. We even see that in the sequels where the holiday season is completely taken out of the premise and lacks substance. Now if Macaulay Culkin said, “I don't think Die Hard 2 is a Christmas movie”, I wouldn't be writing this. Die Hard 2 works within his argument. It's based around Christmas but could take place at any large scale traveling holiday since it takes place at an airport. 

The reason John McClane is at the plaza is for his estranged wife's office holiday party. What other holiday would celebrated with an office party? Not St. Patrick's, that's for sure. In addition to the party, there are holiday decorations and items that help McClane's success in the film. When McClane “surrenders” to Gruber, he tricks him with his hands free until he pulls out his pistol that was taped to his back by wrapping paper in the hallway. What? Would that be there for someone's birthday? As a person who works at an office? No. 

It also makes sense for McClane to crash his ex-wife's Christmas to try to win her back. More people think positively around the holiday season and try to reconnect with family. The argument could be made that he could do it for Valentines Day. But then, that misses the point that it's not just getting with wife back, it's his children too.  

The music of the film works not only because it goes well with the scenes and actions but Christmas music is beautifully intertwined together. To put it into terms that Culkin could understand, it's like if John William's “Setting Up the Traps” in Home Alone, didn't include variations of "Star of Bethlehem" and "Carol of the Bells". It wouldn't fit as well and set the scene.

And many films have tried to recreate Die Hard, such as Skyscraper and White House Down, without the holidays in mind and lacked character because of it. As stated earlier, other Die Hard films have failed to even recreate it even with the most recent sequel taking place on July 4th. It's the constant contrast of an action film being during the “most wonderful time of the year”. 

Overall, as a huge Home Alone fan in my house, I respect “the Godfather of Christmas”'s (his words, not mine) opinion however, there is a lack of examination why Die Hard works and that includes the backdrop of it being a Christmas movie. 

(I will fight you on the moon, Mr. Culkin, you flithy animal (joking))