Few holiday movie arguments refuse to die quite like the question of whether “Die Hard” truly belongs in the Christmas canon. Over the years, actors, filmmakers, and fans have weighed in, often splitting neatly along festive lines. Now, Macaulay Culkin has offered his own perspective, framing the debate less around decorations and more around storytelling logic.
Macaulay Culkin Explains Why ‘Die Hard’ Is Not a Christmas Movie
Speaking on Mythical Kitchen’s Last Meal segment, Culkin broke down his reasoning with a simple thought experiment. “It’s based around Christmas, but if it were also St. Patrick’s Day, it would still work. But you couldn’t do Home Alone on Memorial Day,” he said during the interview. His argument centers on whether a holiday is essential to the plot or merely a backdrop, drawing a clear distinction between movies that require Christmas to function and those that simply happen to be set during it.
Source: IMDb
From Culkin’s perspective, “Die Hard” uses Christmas primarily as atmosphere rather than necessity. The office party and seasonal setting add irony and visual flavor, but the core story of an isolated hero facing off against criminals could unfold on almost any calendar date. In contrast, films like “Home Alone” depend entirely on Christmas specific circumstances, from family travel to gift giving traditions, to make their plots believable.
The comment resonates partly because Culkin himself is so closely tied to Christmas movie history. His role in “Home Alone” has long been considered the gold standard for holiday filmmaking, which gives his take a certain authority. Rather than dismissing “Die Hard” outright, his explanation reframes the debate in a way that feels logical rather than emotional.
As the holiday season rolls around each year, the “Die Hard” argument will likely continue, fueled by nostalgia and tradition. But Culkin’s reasoning offers a useful lens for future debates, separating movies that are inseparable from Christmas from those that simply borrow its twinkling lights.
