How Die Hard Could Be a Christmas Film

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? This debate rages every year. People often point out that the film is set at Christmas and is filled with Christmas music (John McClane’s wife is even named Holly). But those are just the obvious, surface arguments.

Here are my five definitive (tongue-in-cheek) reasons why Die Hard is not only a Christmas film, but also a thinly-veiled Christian allegory that explains the whole point of Christmas and the gospel.

Reconciling a Broken Marriage

The context of the Christian gospel is a broken marriage—the marriage between God and his people. God loves his bride and so he leaves his home in heaven and comes to earth in the man Jesus (arriving with the proclamation of the angels) on a mission to reconcile with his beloved.

This is also the plot of Die-Hard. John McClane is estranged from his wife Holly. They are separated but he still loves her and so he leaves his home and arrives in Los Angeles (meaning “The Angels”) on a mission to reconcile with his beloved.

Rescuing Hostages

Second, Jesus comes to a people held hostage to evil forces, who are helpless and needing rescue and Jesus is the only one who is able to save them.

Same with John McClane.

Saving Through Suffering

Both Jesus and John McClane had to go through great hardship and physical suffering in order to be the saviour of the story. In the end, they are both bloody, battered and bruised and in order to rescue their beloved bride, they must surrender their life, giving themselves up in order to save her life.

A Surprising Victory

But just when evil looks to have won, both Jesus and John McClane have a surprise to defeat the villain and win the day. I won’t spoil the twist ending of both the movie and the gospel story, but there’s a reason it’s called Die Hard. And victory provides both freedom for all those in need of rescue and reconciliation with their beloved.

Meaningful Names

Finally, it’s in their names: “Jesus” means “Yahweh Saves”. Jesus is the Son, the suffering servant, the one who provides us grace.”John” means “Yahweh is gracious”; McClane means “Son of the servant of St John”. So “John McClane” means “Yahweh is Gracious—the Son of the servant of Yahweh is gracious”.Enough said. Mic drop.

Ode to Joy

But wait: encore! Remember the great moment in the film when the vault is being opened and the epic music “Ode to Joy” begins playing?Well, let me leave you with the gospel-rich words from that song:

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.

Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!

Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us,
Brother love binds man to man.

Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us
Sunward In the triumph song of life.

Simon Camilleri is the author of the children’s book, “When Santa Learned the Gospel” and the founder of Simon Says Publishing, creating engaging resources to help people share the gospel. Simon has been actively involved at Bundoora Presbyterian Church since 2001 and serves there with Cat, his wife, and his two children. Simon loves excellent public Bible reading, discussing the gospel, biblical storytelling and learning magic tricks. You can follow him on Patreon.