--- title: 'Die Hard' Writer Confirms It Is A Christmas Movie description: Yippee-ki-yay, movie lovers, Die Hard really is a Christmas movie canonical: https://time.com/5079487/die-hard-christmas-movie/ author: Melissa Locker article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-12-26T15:47:36.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-12T08:43:33.635Z og:title: The 'Die Hard' Writer Just Settled the Christmas Movie Debate Once and For All og:description: Yippee-ki-yay, 'Die Hard' fans og:url: https://time.com/5079487/die-hard-christmas-movie/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1acdbf197dd4788b/6988f686fb4eac76cf8951db/die-hard-bruce-willis.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4281 og:image:height: 2408 og:image:alt: Bruce Willis In 'Die Hard' og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The 'Die Hard' Writer Just Settled the Christmas Movie Debate Once and For All twitter:description: Yippee-ki-yay, 'Die Hard' fans twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1acdbf197dd4788b/6988f686fb4eac76cf8951db/die-hard-bruce-willis.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The _Die Hard_ Writer Just Settled the Christmas Movie Debate Once and For All > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=226cc25f-49da-4a9d-91d8-2b90d5e275cf&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Daily | TIME, August 2026 | | Written by | Richard Hall, Editor | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The informed consumer. A scaled audience of readers who turn to TIME to stay informed and make sense of the world, with meaningful reach across education and research, nonprofits and civic life, media and communications, government and public institutions, and business and professional services. ### TIME The Brief: key statements * The Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * The Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=226cc25f-49da-4a9d-91d8-2b90d5e275cf&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/subscribe?i=226cc25f-49da-4a9d-91d8-2b90d5e275cf&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is TIME's daily news newsletter? The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters. #### How do I sign up for The Brief? The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it. #### Is The Brief free? Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes The Brief? The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=226cc25f-49da-4a9d-91d8-2b90d5e275cf&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Die Hard - Official Trailer [Watch (HLS stream): Die Hard - Official Trailer](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/22vXFo8p.m3u8) (2:39)  _Published 2017-12-26. Die Hard - Official Trailer_ by [Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/) ## Melissa Locker Dec 26, 2017 3:47 PM UTC by [Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/) ## Melissa Locker Dec 26, 2017 3:47 PM UTC Yippee-ki-yay, _Die Hard_ fans. Go ahead and switch from the Hallmark Channel’s Christmas fare and fire up _Die Hard_, because the film’s writer has confirmed that it is indeed a [Christmas story](http://time.com/4597160/christmas-movies-stream-2016/?iid=sr-link6). CNN reporter Jake Tapper used his investigative journalism skills to get to the bottom of one of the burning questions that is dividing the nation—is _Die Hard_ a Christmas movie? Tapper reached out to the film’s writer, Steven de Souza, on Twitter and asked him to settle the debate once and for all. > [](https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/944740130681753601) > [](https://twitter.com/StevenEdeSouza/status/944812347461218305) According to de Souza, _Die Hard_ really is a Christmas [movie](http://time.com/5060626/national-film-registry-2017/?iid=sr-link1), but only “because the studio rejected the Purim draft.” While the idea of [Bruce Willis](http://time.com/5002211/bruce-willis-is-almost-unrecognizable-in-his-highly-successful-halloween-costume/?iid=sr-link1)’s sardonic, seen-it-all police officer John McClane battling [Alan Rickman](http://time.com/4181498/alan-rickman-appreciation/?iid=sr-link7) as a Hans Gruber-esque Haman laying siege to the office Purim party will make many movie-lovers chuckle, it’s good to know that _Die Hard_ can safely be added to the Christmas movie playlist next to _It’s A Wonderful Life_ and _A Christmas Story_. Getting the definitive answer to this long-running question, isn’t the only way that Tapper applied his journalistic skills to the _Die Hard_ legacy. He also also transformed the action movie into an epic, rhyming poem that tells of the struggle between good and evil that took place at the Nakatomi Tower on Christmas Eve, all tapped out in a series of tweets. > [](https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/945475213797584896) ## Transcript [ BLANK_AUDIO ] [ MUSIC ] It's Christmas Eve in L. A. California. Is Daddy coming home with you? Well, we'll see what Santa and Mommy can do, okay? And New York cop, John McClane, has come to see his wife. I missed you. Instead [ SOUND ] he's going to have to save her. Sit down. Hey! Within this skyscraper high above the city 12 terrorists have declared war. They're about to be taught a lesson in the real use of power. [ SOUND ] There is brilliant. Because I am interested in the $ 640 million in your vault. As they are ruthless. But I'm telling you, you're just going to have to kill me. Okay. [ SOUND ] We do it the hard way. Now, the last thing McClane wants. Think, damnit, think. Is to be a hero. Where's Holly? Tucker! Where! But he doesn't have a choice. What does he think he's doing? [ SOUND ] It's a job. [ MUSIC ] They have already killed one hostage. This channel is reserved for emergency calls only. Lady, do I sound like I'm ordering a pizza! [ NOISE ] He's inside? Who is he? Get inside! [ SOUND ] Who are you then? You are most troublesome for a security guy. [ SOUND ] Sorry, wrong guess, Hans. Would you like to go for double jeopardy? [ SOUND ] Do you really think you have a chance against us, Mister Cowboy? Yippee ki yay, mother. [ MUSIC ] You just destroyed a building. [ SOUND ] [ NOISE ] I am in charge of this situation. Well I got some bad news for you, from up here doesn't look like you're in charge jack. [ NOISE ] He is alone, he is tired, and he hasn't diddlysquat from anybody down here. [ NOISE ] Hey pal, how you feeling? All things being equal, I'd rather be in Philadelphia. [ SOUND ] I just want blood. And you'll have it. [ SOUND ] Only John can drive somebody that crazy. [ LAUGH ] [ SOUND ] He's an easy guy to like. Come out to the [ UNKNOWN ], we'll get together, have a few laughs. And a hard man to kill. [ SOUND ] [ SOUND ] Bruce Willis, Die Hard. Got invited to the Christmas party by mistake. Who knew? [ MUSIC ] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5079487/die-hard-christmas-movie/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5079487/die-hard-christmas-movie/"},"headline":"The Die Hard Writer Just Settled the Christmas Movie Debate Once and For All","datePublished":"2017-12-26T15:47:36.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-12T08:43:33.635Z","description":"Yippee-ki-yay, movie lovers","url":"https://time.com/5079487/die-hard-christmas-movie/","keywords":["Newsfeed","movies","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1acdbf197dd4788b/6988f686fb4eac76cf8951db/die-hard-bruce-willis.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Melissa Locker","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1acdbf197dd4788b/6988f686fb4eac76cf8951db/die-hard-bruce-willis.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Bruce Willis In 'Die Hard'","caption":"Bruce Willis In 'Die Hard'","creditText":"20th Century-Fox/Getty Images)","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5079487/die-hard-christmas-movie/","name":"The Die Hard Writer Just Settled the Christmas Movie Debate Once and For All"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Die Hard - Official Trailer","description":"Die Hard - Official Trailer","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/22vXFo8p/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2017-12-26T18:11:52.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/22vXFo8p.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/5079487/die-hard-christmas-movie/","duration":"PT2M39S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/5079487/die-hard-christmas-movie/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```