Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie? Why the Action Film Starring Bruce Willis Is Still a Fan Favorite During the Holidays

As a seasoned movie star on vacation, Peter Billingsley is not without his own opinion when it comes to whether or not to Die a man is a Christmas movie.

In the episode from 2023 A cinematic Christmas journey podcast, actor — who famously starred in the A Christmas story (1983) and appeared in other holiday hits, such as Dwarf (2003) and Four Christmases (2008) – and co-host Steve Byrne talked about it all Die a man with help cinematographer Jan de Bont.

“You know Jan de Bont’s work – he directed Twister and Speed,” Billingsley tells PEOPLE. “I saw some of his quotes that he didn’t believe Die a man was a Christmas movie. He said, ‘I just don’t see it.’ So I said, ‘Would you mind if I try to convince you why this is a Christmas movie?’ I know you made it. I know you’ve lived with it for a very long time, since 1988.’ He said, ‘Okay.’ ”

Read Billingsley’s reasons why below Die a man should have existed in the holiday movie canon.

Why would you Die a man qualify as a Christmas movie?

Bruce Willis in ‘Die Hard’, 1988. 20th Century Studios

Although Die a man released in theaters during the summer of 1988, the film — about an NYPD detective (played by Bruce Willis) who gets caught up in a terrorist takeover of a Los Angeles skyscraper — takes place on Christmas Eve.

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“I mean what was sold [de Bont] I said, ‘That relationship between John McClane and his estranged wife, they’re broken, but in the end, they learn to forgive each other. There’s hope, there’s joy, and they’re going to go and have a great Christmas morning with their kids,” says Billingsley.

“Not to mention that there are Christmas songs, and in them it is snowing. In my opinion, it’s a Christmas movie,” he adds.

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If you consider the director and the star Die a man Christmas movie?

Jan de Bont, John McTiernan and Bruce Willis on the set of 'Die Hard', 1988.

Jan de Bont, John McTiernan and Bruce Willis on the set of Die Hard, 1988.

20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock

Die a man director John McTiernan agrees with fans and critics who categorize Die a man as a holiday movie. “We didn’t intend for it to be a Christmas movie, but the joy that came out of it is what made it a Christmas movie,” he told the American Film Institute in 2020.

However, during the 2018 Comedy Central Roasting Bruce Willisthe star has finally made his contribution Die a man debate 30 years after the film’s release. “I did this roast for one reason and one reason only, to settle something once and for all,” Willis said. “Now please listen carefully: Die a man not a christmas movie! It’s a bloody Bruce Willis movie.”

Did Peter Billingsley encourage Jan de Bont to Die a man as a holiday classic?

Bruce Willis in Die Hard, 1988

Bruce Willis in Die Hard, 1988.

Cinematheque/Shutterstock

Despite Willis’ opinion, Billingsley convinced de Bont otherwise.

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“I passed my benchmark,” Billingsley tells PEOPLE. — And he said: ‘I never thought of it that way.’ He said, ‘Now you’ve convinced me it’s a Christmas movie.’ And I said: ‘Yes!’ So I was able to change the director’s mind, which was cool.”

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Source: HIS Education

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