Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming ends the ‘Die Hard’ Christmas debate

Article content

It’s a debate that surfaces every holiday season. As the calendar marches down to Dec. 25, longtime fans and newcomers alike flood social media trying to settle the question: “Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?”

Article content

We’ve made many arguments in favour of it being declared the ultimate seasonal flick, but now the wife of the film’s star, Bruce Willis, has officially ended the ongoing back-and-forth.

Article content

As she gave fans a peak at her family’s holiday celebrations, Emma Heming Willis has declared the 1988 action flick essential Christmas viewing.

In a message shared to her Instagram Story, the 45-year-old model posted a clip of her husband as John McClane from the film set to Run DMC’s Christmas in Hollis, a holiday track that features in the movie’s opening.

Emma added her definitive statement along with a heart-hand emoji that read: “Us too.”

Her post came after the mom of two documented their daughters’ Evelyn, 9, and Mabel, 11, opening their gifts on Christmas morning and a message to Willis’ fans. “Happy Holidays & Live it up!” the note attributed to “Bruce, Emma, Mabel & Evelyn” read.

Article content

Since its summertime release 35 years ago, many viewers have deemed the film required viewing as the days move closer to Dec. 25, pointing to the film’s Christmas setting, use of music, the romantic reunion of an estranged couple and the miracle rescue of a group of office workers as proof that Die Hard deserves its place alongside classics like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Home Alone and Miracle on 34th Street.

Twitter trends show that Die Hard is a much-talked about topic every Dec. 24. On Google, there are countless stories dedicated to the never-ending debate. During an interview 13 years ago, Willis smiled when I told him that watching the film was one of my holiday traditions.

“Mine too,” he replied.

Article content

Article content

In case you don’t remember, the story takes place on Christmas Eve as terrorists (led by the late Alan Rickman) crash a company party inside Nakatomi Plaza with the hopes of stealing $640 million in bearer bonds. The only wrench in their plan is Willis’ visiting New York City cop, who avoids getting swept up with the other hostages and launches his own rescue siege from inside the office building.

Doesn’t sound too Christmas-y, right? But the film has emerged as a viewing favourite before Santa finishes checking off his naughty and nice list.

To celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2018, Twentieth Century Fox re-released a holiday-themed trailer for the film calling it, “The greatest Christmas story ever told.”

“Get ready to jingle some bells and deck the halls with boughs of Bruce Willis,” a voiceover says merrily.

Article content

Article content

In past years, Willis’ family has remained on the fence, with his daughter Scout saying it is a festive favourite, while his mother Marlene told TMZ that the Christmas setting is not an essential element of the picture.

Over the years the film’s co-writer, Steven E. de Souza, has weighed in, telling The Washington Post in 2018 that the picture’s producer, Joel Silver, had predicted the movie would get played at Christmastime for years.

And during an appearance on the Script Apart podcast in December 2020, de Souza built his case by comparing the action thriller to Bing Crosby’s White Christmas to further his argument.

“I think we can all agree … that White Christmas, the 1950s movie with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, is a Christmas movie. So let’s check the boxes,” de Souza said.

Article content

“Does the movie take place during the Christmas holiday? Die Hard takes place entirely during Christmas. White Christmas, only the first scene and the final scene occur on Christmas, and they take place eight or 10 years apart.”

He continued, “Is the setting a Christmas party? Die Hard is set entirely at a Christmas party. In White Christmas, only the final scene is a Christmas party. How many Christmas songs are in the movie? Die Hard has four — Let it Snow, Winter Wonderland, Christmas in Hollis and Jingle Bells. White Christmas has only two — White Christmas, of course, and Snow, which is arguably not even a Christmas song, it’s a weather song.”

In both movies, the party venue is threatened — one by terrorists and the other by foreclosure — which de Souza joked isn’t quite the same thing. But he continued the comparisons, noting how both movies have a journalist with an agenda, German ringleaders, government incompetence, selfless sacrifice and a high body count.

Article content

“Some people say to me, ‘Die Hard can’t be a Christmas movie because you kill people,’” de Souza said. “I say, ‘Was Ellis killed? Yes. We don’t see Ellis killed; he’s killed off camera, does that still count?’ Do off-camera deaths count?’ … If we’re counting Ellis, then 23 people are killed in Die Hard. But now, you, my skeptic about Die Hard being a Christmas movie because of the off-camera death count, the body count in White Christmas is 26,128 people in the Battle of the Bulge, which is the opening scene of the movie.”

De Souza went on to add that McClane’s selfless sacrifice is greater.

“Bruce Willis runs barefoot over broken glass. In White Christmas, Danny Kaye gives his first-class (train) ticket to the girl he wants to make it with. He upgrades her.”

Article content

The film’s director John McTiernan also spoke out in December 2020 telling the American Film Institute that people’s love of watching the film around the holidays is what has elevated its status as a festive favourite.

“We hadn’t intended it to be a Christmas movie, but the joy that came from it is what turned it into a Christmas movie,” he said.

Emma’s Die Hard proclamation comes after she updated Willis’ fans on his declining health as he battles dementia.

Speaking on the TODAY show in September, Emma said the disease was taking a toll on the people closest to her spouse.

Article content

“Dementia is hard,” Emma said. “It’s hard on the person diagnosed, it’s also hard on the family. And that is no different for Bruce, or myself, or our girls. When they say this is a family disease, it really is.”

When co-anchor Hoda Kotb asked if her partner knows what is happening to him, Emma said she was unsure.

“It’s hard to know,” she replied. “It’s hard to know.”

“Bruce has good days and bad days, but in the last two months, there are many more bad days than good,” a source told Us Weekly earlier this month about the actor’s health. “This experience has brought the whole family even closer together. No one knows how much time Bruce has left, so they’re soaking up every moment they get with him.”

Article content

To prove their point, Emma returned to Instagram on Wednesday to share a photo of the couple embracing.

“16 years with this special man,” she wrote. “My love and adoration for him only grows.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com

X: @markhdaniell

Article content