Zooey Deschanel joins the long-running debate, calling Die Hard a Christmas movie as she promotes her new holiday rom-com Merv, now streaming on Prime Video.
Every holiday season, one debate refuses to die: Is Die Hard really a Christmas movie? Now, actress Zooey Deschanel has officially entered the conversation — and she’s firmly on the side of those who say yes.
In a recent interview with People, the 45-year-old actress shared her thoughts on the long-running pop culture argument surrounding the 1988 action blockbuster. Despite its summer release date and explosive storyline, Deschanel believes the film earns its place among holiday favorites.
“It is,” she said simply, when asked whether Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas movie.
Why Zooey Deschanel Says Die Hard Counts
For Deschanel, the reasoning is straightforward. While Die Hard may not feature snowmen, Santa suits, or magical elves, its Christmas setting plays a meaningful role in the story.
“It takes place on Christmas,” she explained. “And maybe it’s not like Elf or something, where there’s a magical creature or a magical person at the center of the film — so it doesn’t have that super Christmas-forward element — but it has Christmas in the background.”
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Coming from Deschanel, whose face is closely associated with modern holiday cinema thanks to her role in Elf, the comment carries extra weight. Her argument echoes what many fans have said for years: a Christmas movie doesn’t need jingling bells in every scene — it just needs the holiday to matter to the story.
A Holiday Backdrop With High Stakes
Released in 1988, Die Hard follows New York City police detective John McClane, played by Bruce Willis, as he visits Los Angeles to reconnect with his estranged wife during a Christmas Eve office party. That celebration quickly turns into a nightmare when terrorists seize control of the skyscraper.
The holiday setting isn’t incidental. The party, the timing, and even the emotional core of the film — a fractured family trying to reunite — are all tied to Christmas. For many viewers, that emotional throughline is what elevates Die Hard from a standard action film into a seasonal staple.
The movie is based on the 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp and was directed by John McTiernan. It also stars Alan Rickman, Alexander Godunov, and Bonnie Bedelia.
Even the Director Agrees — Sort Of
Interestingly, Deschanel’s opinion aligns with McTiernan’s own reflections on the film. In a 2020 interview with the American Film Institute, the director acknowledged that while Die Hard wasn’t originally intended as a Christmas movie, audience reaction transformed it into one.
“We hadn’t intended it to be a Christmas movie,” McTiernan said. “But the joy that came from it is what turned it into a Christmas movie.”
That “joy” — mixed with adrenaline, quotable lines, and repeat viewings every December — is exactly what keeps the debate alive year after year.
Bruce Willis Disagrees
Not everyone involved with the film shares Deschanel’s view. Willis himself famously shut down the debate during Comedy Central’s Roast of Bruce Willis in 2018.
“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.”
Despite the actor’s insistence, fans have largely ignored the ruling, continuing to stream the film alongside more traditional holiday fare.
From Elf to Merv: Deschanel’s Holiday Evolution
Deschanel’s comments come as she promotes her latest holiday project, Merv, now streaming on Prime Video. The romantic comedy follows a recently separated couple who take a holiday trip with their dog in hopes of lifting his spirits — and perhaps rediscovering their own connection along the way.
The film stars Deschanel alongside Charlie Cox, with a supporting cast that includes Chris Redd, Patricia Heaton, David Hunt, Ellyn Jameson, and Wynn Everett.
The titular dog, Merv, is played by Gus, a wire-haired terrier rescue — a detail that adds extra charm for animal lovers.
A Love Letter to Romantic Comedies
For Deschanel, signing on to Merv was about more than another holiday role. She saw it as a chance to celebrate the romantic comedy genre she loves.
“I was just so excited to see a really great rom-com with these complex characters,” she said. “And just a way to tell this sweet breakup and makeup story with a little bit of holiday and a little bit of puppy love.”
The film is directed by Jessica Swale and written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart.
So, Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?
Zooey Deschanel’s answer won’t end the debate — and that’s part of the fun. Whether viewers side with her, with John McTiernan, or with Bruce Willis himself, Die Hard has secured a permanent place in holiday pop culture.
And perhaps that’s the real definition of a Christmas movie: one people return to every December, year after year, because it feels right — even if it involves explosions instead of sleigh bells.