One Nation, Indivisible with Andrew Seidel 041: Yes, Die Hard is a Christmas Movie, says a scholar of religion and the law
Dec 2, 2025
Dive into the festive debate over whether Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas movie! Discover the film's unique holiday elements, from its plot necessity to its emotional family reunions. Andrew contrasts it with Home Alone, highlighting common themes and Christmas music. He argues that the audience's acceptance shapes a movie's genre, and no single tradition should claim Christmas as its own. Join the fun as he combines humor and scholarly insight to settle this iconic debate once and for all!
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Childhood Gift Became Holiday Tradition
- Andrew L. Seidel recounts Aunt Missy gifting him Die Hard on VHS and making it a Christmas tradition since age ten.
- He still watches Die Hard every Christmas and upgraded formats from VHS to Blu-ray over the years.
Festival Setting Makes It A Christmas Film
- Andrew argues Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas movie because the festival night is integral to its plot and character motivations.
- He frames the debate as reflecting broader cultural fights over who controls holiday meaning.
Audience & Source Cement Genre
- Writers and source material support Die Hard as a Christmas story, with the screenplay opening on 'Christmas' and the book set at Christmas.
- The director conceded audience reception decides genre, reinforcing that intent isn't definitive.
