Is 'Die Hard' a Christmas movie? Yes. Is 'Die Hard' not a Christmas movie? Yes. Here's why

Every year, it’s the same old argument: “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie.

Or it’s not.

Actually, it’s an argument for all seasons, not just the holiday one. The argument, I get. The level of devotion to one side or the other, not so much.

Because it doesn’t really matter.

Anything can be a holiday movie. It all has to do with what the movie means to you — no matter what holiday you celebrate, if a film moves you in the manner of the season, it counts.

Don’t let anyone tell you differently.

With “Die Hard” there are arguments both ways. It’s set during the holidays and the bulk of the action takes place at an office Christmas party. Ho ho ho.

On the other hand, it’s a nonstop Bruce Willis action film (and an Alan Rickman meme machine). Also, it came out in July of 1988, when the only frost was inside of your freezer.

Why the 'Die Hard' Christmas movie debate is silly

But none of that matters if you’re in a fighting mood. Pick your side and head to Twitter to defend it. It’s the modern holiday spirit, as that great Christmas philosopher Charlie Brown might say.

The All Puppet Players have cast their vote. The company will perform its version of "Die Hard: A Christmas Story" through Dec. 26 at Playhouse on the Park in Phoenix. Harkins Theatres will also be hosting screenings of the film.

See? That's a cool way to harness the energy of the debate.

But why does anyone really care enough to argue about it? I get that it's kind of like being a fanatical sports fan. It gives you something ultimately unimportant to care about passionately, shunting the world’s other worries aside for a while. That can be therapeutic.

But really, hating the Dallas Cowboys is one thing. The proper thing, I might add. We should all hate the Dallas Cowboys.

Getting all worked up over whether “Die Hard” belongs next to “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street” in the holiday movie pantheon is something else.

It’s not dissimilar to the absurd “war on Christmas” that people with nothing better to do than complain about non-existent problems drag out every year like a fake tree from the basement. Dust it off and it looks just like last year.

Similarly, “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie if you want it to be a Christmas movie. Any movie can be a holiday movie, depending on what it means to you. A strident position on what a movie means to anyone else is inherently selfish and small-minded.

Anything can be a holiday movie if you say it is

For instance, I think of “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “American Hustle” as holiday movies, doubtless for reasons few other people do. It’s got to do with being a film critic at the end of the year when studios backload the movies they think are important. “American Hustle” came out on Dec. 13, 2013, and “The Wolf of Wall Street” came out on Christmas Day of the same year.

Neither of them has a lot of what you would call holiday cheer, though they do have other qualities that recommend them. Excess would be the leading one.

They also have this in common: I saw them both the same day, a powerhouse one-two punch that involved a friend wandering around a holiday-bedecked shopping center watching my children for a few hours while I watched the movies. Someone’s Christmas party followed, though details about that are less immediately clear. But that doesn’t matter.

This does: To you, they’re movies you may or may not like.

To me, they’re holiday movies, and always will be. Thinking about them, and when and how I saw them, makes me happy. Isn’t happiness supposed to be part of the holidays? A movie is a holiday movie if you say it is.

So lighten up on the “Die Hard” front. Just come to terms with the fact that it is, indeed, a Christmas movie.

Or not. Really, it’s fine either way.

Where to watch 'Die Hard'

Streaming on Amazon Prime (with subscription, with ads).

Harkins Camelview at Fashion Square will show the film at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 and 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 11. Tickets are $14 via www.harkins.com/movies/moonlight-cinema-die-hard-88569-4.

All Puppet Players present "Die Hard: A Christmas Story" at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays through Dec. 11, then Dec. 16-20 and Dec. 23 and 26. Tickets are $29-$81 via tickets.phoenixtheatre.com/overview/13576.

Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Twitter: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.

Subscribe to azcentral.com today. What are you waiting for?

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Is 'Die Hard' a Christmas movie? Yes. And no. Why the debate continues