Peter Billingsley, renowned for his holiday movie roles, weighs in on the enduring debate surrounding Die Hard‘s classification as a Christmas film. His perspective, shared on the A Cinematic Christmas Journey podcast in 2023, offers compelling arguments for including the action classic in the holiday movie canon. Billingsley, star of beloved Christmas films like A Christmas Story and Elf, engaged in a discussion with Die Hard cinematographer Jan de Bont, who initially dismissed the film’s Christmas connection.
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Billingsley revealed to PEOPLE that he aimed to persuade de Bont, citing the cinematographer’s previous statements expressing disbelief in Die Hard‘s Christmas movie status. He saw an opportunity to present a compelling case, acknowledging de Bont’s long-standing association with the film since its 1988 release.
Billingsley’s Case for Die Hard as a Christmas Movie
While Die Hard premiered in the summer of 1988, the film’s narrative unfolds on Christmas Eve. Bruce Willis portrays John McClane, a New York City police detective entangled in a terrorist siege at a Los Angeles skyscraper. The festive setting, Billingsley argues, is crucial to the film’s core themes.
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Billingsley emphasizes the central relationship between John McClane and his estranged wife Holly. Their journey toward reconciliation, culminating in forgiveness and the promise of a joyful Christmas morning with their children, embodies the spirit of hope and redemption often associated with the holiday season. The presence of Christmas music and falling snow further solidifies the film’s festive atmosphere. These elements, Billingsley contends, firmly place Die Hard within the realm of Christmas movies.
Conflicting Views: Director, Star, and Cinematographer
Die Hard director John McTiernan concurs with the film’s Christmas movie designation, highlighting the unexpected joy it evokes as a key factor in its transformation into a holiday classic. However, Bruce Willis himself famously refuted this categorization during his 2018 Comedy Central roast, asserting that Die Hard is a “Bruce Willis movie,” not a Christmas movie.
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Billingsley’s Triumph: Changing a Filmmaker’s Mind
Despite Willis’s dissenting opinion, Billingsley succeeded in swaying de Bont. By presenting a well-reasoned argument, Billingsley prompted the cinematographer to reconsider his stance, ultimately leading de Bont to acknowledge Die Hard as a Christmas movie.
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The debate regarding Die Hard‘s status as a Christmas movie continues, with varying perspectives from those involved in its creation. However, Billingsley’s persuasive argument offers a compelling case for its inclusion in the holiday film tradition, emphasizing themes of family, redemption, and the enduring spirit of Christmas.
