As a seasoned holiday movie star, Peter Billingsley isn’t without his own opinion when it comes to whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas film.

In a 2023 episode A cinematic Christmas journey Podcast, the actor – who played the famous lead role A Christmas story (1983) and appeared in other Christmas hits such as: Eleven (2003) and Four Christmases (2008) – and co-host Steve Byrne discussed it all Die Hard with the help of the film’s cinematographer, Jan de Bont.

“You know Jan de Bont’s work – he directed it Twister And speedBillingsley tells PEOPLE. “I had seen some quotes from him that he didn’t believe that Die Hard was a Christmas film. He said, “I just don’t see it.” So I said, “Would you mind if I tried to convince you why this is a Christmas movie?” I know you did it. I know you’ve lived with this for a long time, since 1988.’ He said, “Okay.” ”

Read below to learn Billingsley’s reasons why Die Hard should be in the canon of holiday films.

Why should Die Hard considered a Christmas film?

Although Die Hard was released in theaters in the summer of 1988, and the film’s plot – about a New York police officer (played by Bruce Willis) who becomes involved in a terrorist takeover of a Los Angeles skyscraper – takes place on Christmas Eve.

“I think what convinced (de Bont) is that I said, ‘The relationship between John McClane and his estranged wife is broken, but in the end they learn to forgive each other.’ There is hope, there is joy, and they will have a great Christmas morning with their children,” Billingsley said.

“Not to mention there are Christmas carols and it’s snowing. In my opinion it is a Christmas film,” he adds.

The director and star think about it Die Hard a Christmas movie?

Die Hard Director John McTiernan agrees with fans and critics’ categorizations Die Hard as a holiday film. “We didn’t intend for it to be a Christmas movie, but the joy that came from it made it a Christmas movie,” he told the American Film Institute in 2020.

However, during Comedy Central 2018 Roast by Bruce Willisthe star finally gave his input Die Hard Debate 30 years after the film’s release. “I did this roast for one reason and one reason only: to settle something once and for all,” Willis said. “Now please listen carefully: Die Hard is not a Christmas film! It’s a fucking Bruce Willis movie.”

Did Peter Billingsley convince Jan de Bont? Die Hard as a holiday classic?

Contrary to Willis’ opinion, Billingsley convinced de Bont otherwise.

“I worked through my criteria,” Billingsley tells PEOPLE. “And he said, ‘I’ve never thought about it that way.’ He said, “You’ve now convinced me it’s a Christmas movie.” And I said, ‘Yes!’ So I was able to change a filmmaker’s mind, which was cool.”

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