In a debate that rivals the age-old question of whether a hotdog is a sandwich, students at Central Oregon Community College have found themselves embroiled in a heated discussion: is the 1988 action movie Die Hard a Christmas movie, or not? This controversy has sparked passionate arguments, festive fervor, and even a few students attempting to deck the halls with digital streaming receipts.
The Broadside took to the COCC campus to acquire statements and to poll 100 random students on this pressing issue. The results of the poll? We’ll get to that in a minute. But first, let’s take a look at statements from several parties invested in the issue.
Bill McGoey, a COCC student with a penchant for Die Hard festivities, said, “Yes. Because I can find it listed under all the streaming services as such. It takes place before and during Christmas. And I don’t think there’s anything more American on Christmas than Bruce Willis (John McClane) saying ‘Yippee Ki-Yay Mother’—well, you know the rest. I have visuals of Hans Gruber falling backward off Nakatomi Plaza; in the third one, Willis flies a Harrier through a tunnel, and they’re all just American classics.”
“My personal favorite Christmas movie is It’s a Wonderful Life, which is very different as a genre, but I’d say for modern America, Die Hard is right up there with It’s a Wonderful Life,” McGoey added.
However, not everyone at COCC is ready to hang Die Hard stockings by the chimney with care. Julie Sturges, a Sodexo employee at COCC, said, “Die Hard is absolutely NOT a Christmas movie. It’s not Elf, it’s not The Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s just a violent movie you can watch any day or month of the year. I rest my case.”
Some might say the Die Hard Christmas conundrum has now become a yuletide tradition across the globe, much like debating whether fruitcake is an acceptable gift or a culinary punishment. As the festive season unfolds, it seems the only thing certain is that the debate will continue to rage on, leaving students to wonder if Die Hard truly deserves a spot on the Nice List or if it’s destined for the proverbial lump of coal.
As for our aforementioned poll? 75% of respondents voted, “It is definitely a Christmas movie,” while 25% asserted, “It is definitely NOT a Christmas movie.” It seems the Die Hard debate is splitting the student body faster than Detective John McClane split Tony Vreski’s neck.
Regardless of where you stand on this Christmas quandary, one thing is for sure—for many, Die Hard has become as much a part of the Christmas season as awkward family gatherings and the inevitable fruitcake re-gifting. So, whether you’re cozying up with It’s a Wonderful Life or settling in for a night of Nakatomi Plaza shenanigans, remember that the true spirit of Christmas lies in the joy of sharing, laughter and perhaps a good-natured debate over what makes the perfect holiday flick.
