Emma Heming Willis has weighed in on a seasonal argument that refuses to die hard. Is the beloved 1988 Bruce Willis action classic Die Hard a Christmas movie? Well, according to the real-life wife of John McClane himself, it most certainly is a film that should have a place on your festive play list.
There has been no movie’s genre status that has been debated as much as Die Hard. From wars of words on social media to arguments around the dinner table, everyone has an opinion on whether the movie that really put Bruce Willis on the map almost 40 years ago should be essential viewing as the holiday season approaches. Heming Willis appeared at the End Well 2025 conference recently, and while speaking to People, she shared her stance on where Die Hard sits in the pantheon of Christmas movies. She said:
“I think it’s important to put Die Hard on because it’s a Christmas movie. Bruce loved Christmas and we love celebrating it with him. There is still joy. It just looks different.”
Continuing, the model-turned-actress went on to share how life changes dramatically when you have someone in your family with any form of dementia, but you learn to adapt. She added:
“You have to learn and adapt and make new memories, bring in the same traditions that you had before. Life goes on. It just goes on. Dementia is hard, but there is still joy in it. I think it’s important that we don’t paint such a negative picture around dementia.”
‘Die Hard’s Status as a Christmas Film Is…Complicated
There are some movies that find a place on everyone’s Christmas movie list without any need to explain why. The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, Home Alone, The Grinch, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Elf…and so on. However, no one can add Die Hard to that list without someone taking issue with it.
Die Hard is a movie about terrorists taking over the Nakatomi Plaza and being systematically taken out in a hail of bullets and explosions by the bloody-vested John McClane. Oh, and Alan Rickman is thrown off the building at the end – spoilers. All very festive and just the kind of thing you want to sit down and watch with the kids to make them feel all cheery and festive.
However, the film is set on Christmas Eve, it features a Christmas party, several Santa hats, and it ends with the song “Let It Snow.” Whatever takes place during the movie, these are undeniable facts that place the movie’s events right on Christmas, and just like movies such as Krampus, Silent Night, Deadly Night, Violent Night, and Gremlins, there is no way to avoid classifying Die Hard as a Christmas movie.
Of course, anyone who remembers Bruce Willis’ Comedy Roast a few years ago will recall Willis himself telling everyone that Die Hard is “not a Christmas movie. It’s a Bruce Willis movie.” Sorry Bruce, it seems that even your wife disagrees. And not only is Die Hard a Christmas movie, but with a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, it is a damn good one too.
- Release Date
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July 15, 1988
- Runtime
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132 minutes
- Writers
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Jeb Stuart, Steven E. de Souza
- Producers
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Joel Silver