A definitive verdict has been delivered in one of the most contentious festive debates: the British public has officially ruled that Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. The finding comes from a major new survey by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), which also crowned the nation's ultimate favourite film for the holiday season.
The Great Festive Film Debate Settled
The survey of 2,000 people revealed a clear, if narrow, majority against the action classic's festive credentials. 44% of respondents stated they did not believe Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas film. However, a passionate 38% defended its status, with 5% even selecting it as their personal favourite in the genre. A further 17% remained undecided on where to place Bruce Willis's iconic 1989 outing.
This puts the British public broadly in agreement with actor Macaulay Culkin, who was recently booed by a live audience in California for stating, "Die Hard isn't a Christmas movie." Culkin, speaking at a 35th-anniversary event for Home Alone last month, argued the film's plot was not inherently festive, quipping, "It's just a movie that's set at Christmas."
Home Alone Reigns Supreme as UK's Favourite
So, if not Die Hard, what does the UK consider the perfect Christmas film? The survey produced a decisive winner: Home Alone was the favourite for 20% of respondents, putting it firmly at the top of the tree.
The full ranking of the nation's top festive films is as follows:
- Home Alone (20%)
- Love Actually (9%)
- It's a Wonderful Life (8%)
- Elf (7%)
When asked what ingredients make the perfect Christmas movie, Brits prioritised a heartwarming story (33%), followed by family friendliness (15%) and humour (13%). Only a tiny 2% actively sought out a tear-jerker during the holidays.
Festive Traditions and Cinematic Splits
David Austin, chief executive of the BBFC, commented on the findings, noting that "heartwarming, family-friendly stories continue to sit at the heart of the nation's Christmas viewing traditions."
The survey also shed light on other holiday habits. Just under a fifth (18%) of Britons said a family trip to the cinema over the Christmas period is a tradition. Of those, a third (33%) prefer to go before Christmas Eve, while 20% favour a Boxing Day outing.
The debate over Die Hard's status has even split those who made it. Director John McTiernan has said he did not initially intend it to be a Christmas film but was delighted it "turned into one." Meanwhile, star Bruce Willis humorously sidestepped the debate in 2018, declaring: "Die Hard is not a Christmas movie, it's a goddamn Bruce Willis movie." For now, according to the British public, the matter is settled.
