Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Your movies and TV digest from the team at GamesRadar+

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Christmas Movies

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Bruce Willis (finally) ends the debate once and for all…

News
By Bradley Russell
Published 16 July 2018

The most infuriating question in movie history has an answer - and you might not like it

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

It’s been 30 years since John McClane took the Nakatomi Plaza by storm and rescued his family and a bunch of hostages from the clutches of Hans Gruber. But it’s not the yippee-ki-yay or even Bruce Willis crawling through vents that people remember. No, it’s the fact that it was set during the Christmas holiday. Ever since, debate has raged eternal about whether it’s a Christmas movie (it totally is). Bruce Willis, though, has put his foot down and given us the definitive answer. Is it a Christmas movie? Let’s find out…

During his own comedy roast, Bruce Willis capped things off by confirmed that Die Hard is (drumroll, please) NOT a Christmas movie.

Bruce Willis closes his roast with: “#DieHard is not a Christmas movie!” pic.twitter.com/RygUTr3TJb15 July 2018

I mean, he’s wrong, but what are you gonna do? It’s set on Christmas Eve for Christ sake! You could’ve set it at any other time of the year (especially as it was, weirdly, released in July) and it’d still work just as well. Someone chose Christmas for a reason – and I want to find out who. But Bruce hath spoken.

Latest Videos FromGamesRadar+
Watch full video here:
  • Bruce Willis is wrong. Die Hard is a Christmas movie and I'll prove it to you

Still, at least the ‘it’s an action movie, not a Christmas movie’ truthers will have something to cling to for the next 30 years until they roll Bruce Willis out again to tell everyone it’s actually a Christmas movie. For realises.

Now I put it to you, the people: is Die Hard a Christmas movie? This is the final definitive statement before we close the book on the most nonsensical debate in movie history. Vote in our poll below:

You may like
  • David Harbour as Santa Claus in Violent Night 2 Violent Night 2 trailer breakdown: director and producer on de-powering Santa and weaponizing Christmas decorations
  • Guy Pierce in Memento Christopher Nolan reveals why he will never explain any of his movie endings
  • Mission Impossible movies in order: Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt during Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning. Tom Cruise know he's "intense" to work with: "Trust me, the rumors are true"

Oh, and while we’re here? Gremlins? It’s a Christmas movie. Deal with it.

Now, make your choice: best action movies or best Christmas movies. Die Hard may or may not be on both of these lists. Pick carefully.

Your movies and TV digest from the team at GamesRadar+

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we’ve got you covered.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Bradley Russell
Bradley Russell
Social Links Navigation
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

Read more
David Harbour as Santa Claus in Violent Night 2
Action Movies Violent Night 2 trailer breakdown: director and producer on de-powering Santa and weaponizing Christmas decorations
 
 
Guy Pierce in Memento
Drama Movies Christopher Nolan reveals why he will never explain any of his movie endings
 
 
Mission Impossible movies in order: Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt during Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning.
Comedy Movies Tom Cruise know he's "intense" to work with: "Trust me, the rumors are true"
 
 
Zack Snyder
DC Movies Zack Snyder says he never wanted to make "amusement park" superhero movies like Marvel
 
 
Austin Abrams as Bryan in Resident Evil
Horror Movies Resident Evil movie director says he "took liberties" with the game, which is why there is snow and an iPhone
 
 
Oppenheimer
Movies Christopher Nolan's movies, ranked from worst to best
 
 
Latest in Christmas Movies
David Harbour as Santa Claus in Violent Night 2
Action Movies Violent Night 2 trailer breakdown: director and producer on de-powering Santa and weaponizing Christmas decorations
 
 
Jim Carrey as the Grinch and Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who during How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Christmas Movies Despite calling the makeup process "excruciating," Jim Carrey is returning to The Grinch, 26 years later
 
 
Best Christmas movies: A close-up of Jim Carrey as the Grinch wearing a Santa hat during How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Movies The 10 best Christmas movies to watch right now
 
 
Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson in Back to the Future
Christmas Movies Back to the Future stars Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson reuniting for a Hallmark Christmas movie
 
 
Connor Swindells as Nick and Olivia Holt as Sophia in Jingle Bell Heist.
Rom Coms The 20 best Netflix Christmas movies to watch in 2025
 
 
Muppet Christmas Carol
Christmas Movies A lost Muppet Christmas Carol song is being added back to the movie
 
 
Latest in News
The hero looks at a giant beanstalk growing out of a house in a lush village in Fable (2027) for Xbox Series X, a possible consequence of player action
RPGs Fable lead says "every single member of the team is first and foremost" a fan of the RPG series
 
 
Ruaridh Mollica as Tommy Shepherd in Vision Quest
Marvel TV Shows Tommy Shepherd star won't confirm whether his Marvel character has powers in VisionQuest
 
 
Marvel timeline: Tom Hiddleston looking straight ahead during season 1 of the Marvel series Loki.
Star Wars Movies Tom Hiddleston says Star Wars is "a very early introduction to moral clarity and the balance of goodness and love in the universe"
 
 
Paul Bettany as human Vision in VisionQuest
Marvel TV Shows VisionQuest showrunner confirms no generative AI was used in the Marvel show
 
 
Cloud and Tifa prepare for battle in Final Fantasy 7 Revelation
Final Fantasy Prepare your hard drives: Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is "probably going to be around 200 GB"
 
 
Sekhmet grins with her claws out
Survival Games Palworld devs have "a graveyard" of scrapped Pals, but there was one they knew would be a hit
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. The Build a Boat for Treasure game logo in Roblox
    1
    Build a Boat for Treasure codes (September 2026) for Gold
  2. 2
    Fable lead says "every single member of the team is first and foremost" a fan of the original RPG trilogy
  3. 3
    Loki star Tom Hiddleston has a lot of love for Star Wars: "It's a very early introduction to moral clarity and the balance of goodness and love in the universe"
  4. 4
    Tommy Shepherd star won't confirm whether his Marvel character has powers in VisionQuest
  5. 5
    VisionQuest showrunner confirms no generative AI was used in the Marvel show, but it does feature a nod to its failings

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...