Festive film icon Macaulay Culkin faced a chorus of boos from an audience of loyal fans this weekend after he voiced a controversial opinion on a perennial Christmas debate.
The actor, who became a household name as a child star in the classic films Home Alone and Home Alone 2, made the divisive comment during A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin. The event, held on Saturday, November 22, celebrated the 35th anniversary of the beloved film and took place at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center in California.
The Festive Favourites That Divided the Crowd
During a Q&A session, the 45-year-old actor was asked about his favourite holiday films. According to People magazine, Culkin shared a list of cherished classics from his childhood, including A Christmas Story and what he called a 'lost classic,' Scrooged.
He also gave a nod to the modern favourite, Elf, but noted that it lacked the nostalgia factor for him as he wasn't raised on it. The atmosphere turned, however, when he directly addressed the elephant in the room.
'And also, okay guys for real: Die Hard isn't a Christmas movie,' Culkin stated, to the immediate dismay of the audience, who responded with loud boos.
Culkin Doubles Down on His Controversial Stance
Unfazed by the negative reaction, the actor stood his ground. Acknowledging the crowd's discontent, he challenged, 'I know. Some of you guys want to fight me. I'll meet you at the loading dock.'
He then elaborated on his reasoning, arguing that the Bruce Willis action film's Christmas setting was merely incidental. 'It's just a movie that's set at Christmas. If you set it at St. Patrick's Day, the exact same movie,' he contended.
To drive his point home, he used his own film as a counter-example, suggesting that the premise of Home Alone wouldn't work if transposed to another holiday.
The Enduring Die Hard Christmas Debate
This is not a new argument; for years, fans and filmmakers have been locked in a passionate debate over Die Hard's status as a Christmas movie.
Evidence cited by proponents includes:
- The plot unfolds during a Christmas Eve party.
- The soundtrack features classic songs like Winter Wonderland and Let it Snow.
- The set is decorated with festive ornaments and even features a dead body with 'Ho ho ho' scrawled on his chest.
Adding fuel to the fire, Die Hard writer Steven E. de Souza has publicly declared it a Christmas film. In 2017, he took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm this, joking about a rejected 'Purim draft.'
However, the film's star, Bruce Willis, has humorously argued the opposite. During his 2018 Comedy Central roast, he proclaimed, 'Die Hard is not a Christmas movie! It's a goddamn Bruce Willis movie.'
More recently, A Christmas Story star Peter Billingsley made a heartfelt case for its festive credentials in 2024, pointing to the themes of reconciliation and hope between the main characters as a quintessential Christmas narrative.
Despite the compelling arguments on both sides, Macaulay Culkin's recent comments prove that this light-hearted cinematic dispute is far from settled, and is sure to be debated over mince pies and mulled wine for many festive seasons to come.
