(NewsNation) — Is “Die Hard” a Christmas movie? According to Macaulay Culkin, the answer is no.
Culkin was asked about his favorite Christmas movie Saturday at “A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin,” celebrating the 35th anniversary of “Home Alone” in Long Beach, California.
The actor initially referenced iconic movies such as “A Christmas Story” and “Scrooged,” according to People magazine, saying, “Those were ones that really stick out.”
However, it’s what Culkin said next that had attendees questioning his judgment.
“There’s some ones that come later. ‘Elf’ is a really good one, but I wasn’t raised on ‘Elf,’ so it doesn’t have that nostalgia factor. And also, OK guys, for real: ‘Die Hard’ isn’t a Christmas movie,” Culkin said.
The audience responded with a chorus of boos.
“I know. Some of you guys want to fight me, I’ll meet you at the loading dock, but it’s just a movie that’s set at Christmas,” Culkin insisted. “If you set it at St. Patrick’s Day, the exact same movie. But you set Home Alone at St. Patrick’s Day …”
Opinions split on whether ‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas movie
Fans of the 1988 classic are not the only ones divided on whether it’s a Christmas movie or an action flick.
The movie’s star, Bruce Willis, chimed in at Comedy Central’s 2018 “Roast of Bruce Willis.”
“I did this roast for one reason and for one reason only, to settle something once and for all,” he said. “Now, please listen very carefully: ‘Die Hard’ is not a Christmas movie! It’s a goddamn Bruce Willis movie.”
In 2020, director John McTiernan told the American Film Institute, “We hadn’t intended it to be a Christmas movie, but the joy that came from it is what turned it into a Christmas movie.”