15 reasons why Die Hard is a Christmas film

Today is the 10th of December. That means 15 days to Christmas Day. So here are 15 reasons why Die Hard is a Christmas film. Because you never see articles like this knocking around. Rare as hen's teeth they are.

1. Let's start off slow. It's set on Christmas Eve. The most festive of days.

2. It's set in a building hosting a Christmas party. There's eggnog. And a huge Christmas tree.

3. John's wife's name is Holly Gennaro. Holly. Green leaves and red berries. A SYMBOL OF CHRISTMAS.

4. The bad guy is called Hans Gruber. Hans Gruber rhymes with Franz Gruber. Who's he you say? Oh he's only the fella that wrote Silent Night. That little known Christmas carol.

5. Ellis has a love for cocaine. Cocaine is also known as snow. Snow? Christmas? Keep up people. 

6. There's a scene where a terrorist finds his inner child. There's a swat team approaching but Uli (Al Leong) is literally like a child in a sweet shop. Nothing says Christmas movie like a scene of an adult rediscovering joy. Sadly he went for a Hershey bar instead of a peanut butter cup so went to meet his maker with a tummy full of inferior chocolate. Poor Uli. All the best festive films always have a touch of tragedy.

7. Christmas songs. Let It Snow! by Vaughn Monroe and this cracker from Run DMC both play prominent parts in proceedings. 

8. Speaking of Christmas. Actor Robert Davi who played Special Agent Johnson is an accomplished singer and has released 2 Christmas singles called "New York City Christmas" and "Mistletoe & Holly". The fact that these songs were released 25 years after Die Hard is neither here nor there. 

9. Miracles. Courtesy of FBI agents Johnson & Johnson. Miracles are a staple of Christmas films and Die Hard has one. Granted its one that works out for the bad guys but it's still a miracle and it all plays out to the sounds of Beethoven's 9th Symphony aka the most Christmassy bit of classical music ever™.

10. Now I Have A Machine Gun. Ho-Ho-Ho. A Santa Claus quote. Well the end bit anyway.

11. A man finds peace. Christmas films are all about being happier and Al the cop makes peace with himself at the end of the film by using violence against people who deserve it. I mean, just look how happy he is in Die Hard 2. 

12. Helsinki gets mentioned on the news report. Helsinki is in Finland. Finland is home to Lapland. Lapland is home to Santa Claus. Boom! Christmas!! #Layers 

13. Christmas themed sticky tape literally saves the day at the end of the film. When all is lost, when the end is nigh, a humble roll of festive tape decorated with holly (see no.3) helps John get the upper hand. G'wan sticky tape.

14. A family is brought back together. John & Holly's kids get the best presents they could wish for. Their mam safe and sound and their Da there to wake up on Christmas morning with them. 

15. After all that if ye still don't agree take a look at the picture below. A huge corporation like Sky would never send ye wrong. Never. Nope. Btw, zoom in close on the picture. See, subliminal.