The answer to whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie is found in one scene

As anyone who has studied “Die Hard” knows, the film contains a rock-solid sense of structure, with its songwriting, blocking, dialogue and performances working in complete concert with each other to set up and offset every element introduced into the film. . As such, its initial titles, which extend from the beginning of the film to eight minutes into the film.They contain a large amount of information about the characters, spaces, situations and themes to follow. From a businessman (Robert Lesser) telling John McClane (Bruce Willis) to “close your fists with your toes” to overcome jet lag to the creation of the Nakatomi corporation and its Christmas party, the premiere of “Die Hard” is a real party. table preparer

Just as the titles begin to come to a close and the Nakatomi Building approaches, Argyle (De’voreaux White), the limo driver hired to transport McClane to the building, suggests playing some music. As the strains of Run-DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis” play over the limo’s sound system, McClane rolls his eyes. “Don’t you have Christmas music?” he complains, since it’s Christmas Eve. “This is Christmas music,” Argyle responds confidently. The rest of the titles follow an establishing shot of the limousine pulling up to the main entrance of Nakatomi Plaza as the song continues.

With this moment, McTiernan, writers Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza, and “Die Hard” itself are announcing their intentions and seeking to preemptively quell detractors. The choice of “Christmas in Hollis” is to demonstrate how this film will be energetic, irreverent, modern and even a little subversive, while still retaining a Christmas theme. In this way, Argyle could very well be speaking to the audience, insisting that “this IS a Christmas movie,” while the film deviates from the typical Christmas scenes of cold, snowy streets, family dinners in suburban homes, exchanging gifts, and soon. “Christmas in Hollis” even encapsulates this expanded definition of what Christmas is, with Run-DMC recounting their story of a Christmas celebration infused with East Coast black culture. With this scene, this dialogue, and this needle drop, “Die Hard” cements its status as an official Christmas movie from the start.