When Macaulay Culkin talks about Christmas, people usually listen, but this time, the actor has left people fuming over his opinions.
While Culkin has the right to say and do anything when it comes to Christmas, considering he’s a holiday staple around the world since his Home Alone flick, it turns out the love for him has its limits.
Apparently, it’s when he dares to enter the ‘is Die Hard a Christmas movie?’ debate.
Even though John McClane himself, Bruce Willis, revealed that his 1988 movie isn’t a festive film, and his wife, Emma, claimed the opposite just this year, Culkin's opinion seems almost definitive.
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In a recent interview with YouTube’s Mythical Kitchen on their series, Last Meals, Culkin was asked about his thoughts on the film and whether he thought it earned the title of a 'Christmas film'.
That’s when he said: “No, it’s not. It’s based around Christmas.”
However, seemingly aware of his controversial take, he quickly added: “Don’t fight me. It’s based around Christmas, but if it was also St. Patrick’s Day, it would work.”
“But you couldn’t do, like, Memorial Day Home Alone, no,” he added. “It doesn’t work that way. I’m just saying. Look, I’m kind of the godfather of Christmas nowadays, so yes, my opinion has some sway in this.”
Obviously, some took issue with this reasoning, as many said it’s not just a film that happens to be around Christmas time, as the holiday is pretty central to the theme.
“If Home Alone is a Christmas movie, Die Hard is just that in an adult font,” said one, as they added: “Kevin’s family could still leave him for a weekend for Memorial weekend while they went to a lake house, and the house gets robbed.”
"Umm he went to see his family BECAUSE it was Christmas," another said. "He wouldn’t have been there for any other holiday other than Thanksgiving. Home alone could have been a school vacation week or in the summer and still be fine."
However, others were on Culkin's side, as someone else said it wasn't about 'when it happens', but 'the themes', as Home Alone is about 'coming together as a family'.
"There are no Christmas themes in Die Hard, therefore it's not a Christmas movie." they added.
Meanwhile, a fourth wrote: "If you think Die Hard is a Christmas movie, then so is Iron Man 3."
The person who should probably settle the dispute once and for all is the movie's director, John McTiernan, who did so in 2020.
He revealed that it was never meant to be a Christmas movie, but it ultimately became one, as he explained: “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.”
So, there you have it.
Topics: Christmas, Macaulay Culkin, Bruce Willis, Die Hard, Home Alone, YouTube, TV and Film
Britt Jones