Macaulay Culkin ignited a lively debate on Saturday when he declared that Die Hard is not a Christmas movie.
Speaking at A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin, an event celebrating the 35th anniversary of Home Alone, the 45-year-old actor’s comment drew boos from the crowd at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center in California.
The Controversial Statement
Culkin jumped into the ongoing cinematic debate while discussing his favorite holiday films.
“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,” he quipped after the audience reacted.
He went on to compare it to Home Alone: “If you set it at St. Patrick’s Day, it’s the exact same movie.
But you set Home Alone at St. Patrick’s Day…”
He also shared nostalgic favorites from his own childhood: A Christmas Story and Scrooged, which he said were staples in his household.
Though he praised later films like Elf, he stressed that they didn’t carry the same nostalgia factor for him.
Die Hard’s Holiday Debate
The argument over whether Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas movie has raged for years.
The film’s opening scene shows John McClane arriving at LAX with a Christmas gift and attending a festive office party, accompanied by a soundtrack full of holiday classics, from Winter Wonderland to Ode to Joy.
Even Bruce Willis, the film’s star, weighed in during a 2018 Comedy Central Roast: “Die Hard is not a Christmas movie! It’s a goddamn Bruce Willis movie.”
Yet others, including director John McTiernan and writer Steven E. de Souza, offered more nuanced takes, noting the joy and holiday spirit present in the film.
Peter Billingsley, star of A Christmas Story, chimed in 2024, highlighting the film’s message of reconciliation: “That relationship between John McClane and his estranged wife… there’s hope, there’s joy, and they’re going to go and have a great Christmas morning with their kids.
Not to mention the snow falling and the Christmas songs. In my opinion, it is a Christmas movie.”
Culkin’s Home Alone Anniversary Tour
Macaulay Culkin is currently touring to celebrate Home Alone’s 35th anniversary, a film that launched him into superstardom at age 10.
The 1990 classic earned $476.7 million worldwide on an $18 million budget and cemented Culkin as one of Hollywood’s biggest child stars.
On social media, Culkin invited fans to join him for screenings, promising stories, trivia, and audience interaction.
“Why watch Elf by yourself? Why watch Grinch in a pinch? Why watch Die Hard since it’s not a Christmas movie? (fight me),” he joked on Instagram, engaging his 2.1 million followers.
The Legacy of Home Alone
The actor’s reflection on Home Alone highlighted both nostalgia and fun, bringing together fans of all ages.
Alongside revisiting the iconic movie, Culkin shared behind-the-scenes anecdotes and playful commentary, making it clear that his love for the holiday classic remains undimmed—even if he isn’t sold on other Christmas-time favorites.
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