Here it is, the single greatest Christmas movie of all time — no joke, no doubt, no question, it’s Die Hard. And before any quibbling begins, can we agree, in general, that it’s a good movie? Seriously. Step back from the Christmas assertion for just a moment and consider the film as a whole. Die Hard is a classic.
Die Hard ranks 39th on AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Thrills list. Die Hard turned Bruce Willis from a television star into an A-list movie star. Die Hard spawned three sequels (look for Live Free or Die Hard in summer 2007). Die Hard spawned countless imitators and wannabes. And, Die Hard takes place during Christmas.
Sure, it’s not a “traditional” Christmas movie. But it takes place during Christmas, has Christmas carols, and follows a number of standard tropes of Christmas films.
First, let’s look at John McClane (Bruce Willis’s character) and who he is. To start with, there’s his name, John McClane. In Irish the prefix “Mc” means “son of,” making him John son of Clane, or J son of C, or, to shorten it further, JC. McClane is therefore a stand-in for Jesus Christ, something the “son of” portion only aids in, as he, Jesus, is the son of God.
And, certainly, McClane is a Christ-like figure. Where do we find him at the beginning of the movie? In an airplane, returning to Earth. It’s as though he were descending from the Heavens, being sent, as it were, by God back to Earth. And, in Die Hard, it’s on Christmas that John McClane is reborn.
Additionally, this night also represents McClane’s walk in the wilderness, which was a crucially important time in the life of Jesus. Nakatomi Plaza (the building the movie takes place in) is a perfect stand-in for the wilderness, and it is only after McClane leaves Nakatomi, exiting the wilderness, that he is a changed man. McClane has faced his nightmarish opposite in the form of Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). Gruber is everything that McClane is not; he is the anti-McClane, much as the Devil is often referred to as the anti-Christ. McClane, like Jesus, has been tempted, and has passed his trials.
Putting aside this blatant analogy, the plot of the film as a whole is unquestionably Christmas movie-themed. Outside of their ornamentation, Christmas movies are all notable for having several common tropes. Often there is a love story element to these movies (It’s A Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol serve as two perfect examples); these love stories always have the couple overcome their difficulties to be stronger in the end. Check. McClane and his wife are estranged when the film starts, but by the end are together again.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
DH is a very good movie.
The Christ analogy is very interesting. I can see what you are saying, but what is the sacrifice he makes? Haven't seen the movie in a while.
2 - TV and Film Guy
He gives himself up to Hans at the end of the movie, knowing Hans is going to try to kill him. He has an ace up his sleeve, but so did Jesus.
3 - Lisa McKay
"Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker."
Thanks. You've helped me solve the dilemma of what to print on my Christmas cards this year.
4 - TV and Film Guy
I think everyone would appreciate that much more than "you'll shoot your eye out."
5 - RJ Elliott
Great article! A bit of a stretch, but I'm with ya...
6 - handyguy
Very good addition to the holiday list. I agree that Die Hard is a great movie...too bad the sequels are so inferior. It has fantastic photography by Jan de Bont [Hunt for Red October, Basic Instinct, and director of Speed and Twister] and direction by John McTiernan [Red October also].
Willis, de Bont, and McTiernan have all hit career snags since. Maybe there's a curse?
7 - Mat Brewster
I love it. Bruce Willis as Jesus. So would you say he was baptizing in blood?
8 - Phillip Winn
The analogy is more than a little stretch, but I agree with you overall. Over the summer I re-watched Die Hard and realized at the time that it was far more of a Christmas movie than I had remembered.
I'd call it one of the top ten best Christmas movies ever, no problem. Maybe even top five.
Great article!
9 - Phillip Winn
Mat, Jesus never baptized anybody. He was Himself baptized, by John "The Baptist," and He instructed His followers to baptize others, but that's it. Weird, eh?
10 - TV and Film Guy
And here I thought that everyone would yell at me again rather than being amused or agreeing in principle. Not that I think I'm wrong with my argument, I'm just pleasantly surprised.
11 - Baronius
Guy, you're undervaluing the importance of Lethal Weapon. Released a year earlier, it explored similar themes of good versus evil, and personal sacrifice. It spawned at least as many low-quality sequels. And it featured a shootout at a Christmas tree lot. I think it meets your standards for a classic Christmas film.
12 - Brandon Valentine
Die Hard is a cinematic gem. In terms of films that "take place during Christmas," it is - without a doubt - the shining star atop the tree.
13 - DJ
DH has been my favorite Christmas movie for many years. It would not be Christmas without the annual viewing of this great movie. How about the resurrection scene, when John is shown bloody and backlit with radiant light as he confronts Hans who is holding Holly hostage? I believe her response on seeing him appear is "Jesus."
14 - Dean
All I can remember is that classic Christmas line:
"Now I have a machine-gun. Ho, Ho, Ho."
15 - mike new jersey
I've been watching die hard every christmas eve for 5 years. this has become a big tradition. there is nothing wrong with this movie.
16 - Dave
Well I'm a year late on finding this, a friend forwarded it to me when we were discussing Christmas movies. We have been watching Die Hard on Christmas Eve since it first came out on VHS in the early 1990s. Personally I think Josh is reading to much into it what Hollywood screen writer thinks about JC unless it is to slam. DH is just a great action movie, No. 2 forgot the humor except for Dennis Franze, No. 3 forgot Christmas, and No.4 just forgot. Sorry Bruce.
17 - Mad Holman
But you are all really underrating lethal weapon about christmas,in die hard that christmas were more important,john was speaking about it,yet lethal weapon must be close behind in these terms it still had this bloody action on christmas and its classic!!!