Poll Finds Most Viewers Do Not Consider Die Hard a Christmas Film

A new poll conducted by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has reignited one of cinema’s most enduring debates: whether Die Hard should be considered a Christmas film. According to the findings, 44% of respondents said it is not a Christmas movie, while 38% argued that it is, and 5% even named it as their favorite festive film. The remaining 17% were unsure, perhaps reflecting fatigue over this long-running discussion. Actor Bruce Willis himself settled his own stance years ago, famously declaring during a 2018 comedy roast that Die Hard was not a Christmas movie but ‘a Bruce Willis movie.’ He has since found backing from fellow actor Macaulay Culkin, who similarly believes the film’s holiday setting is incidental, suggesting it could work just as well in another context such as St. Patrick’s Day. The same BBFC survey crowned the all-time favorite Christmas movie among audiences, with Home Alone taking first place at 20% of votes, followed by Love Actually with 9%, It’s A Wonderful Life with 8%, and Elf with 7%. The poll also explored viewing habits around the season: 43% of participants said they start watching Christmas films at the beginning of December, while 13% begin as early as November. Interestingly, 8% confessed to watching festive favourites year-round. The discussion around what makes a Christmas film continues to divide opinion, but the new poll suggests that for many viewers, Die Hard remains more of an action classic than a seasonal staple.