Zooey Deschanel Weighs In On The Die Hard Christmas Movie Debate: 'It Is One'

Christmas is just around the corner, and the age-old controversy of whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not arrived just in time. This time around the (500) Days of Summer star Zooey Deschanel entered

the chat.

During an interview with PEOPLE, the 45-year-old actress revealed her opinion on the age-old controversy.

Zooey Deschanel Believes Die Hard Is A Christmas Movie

When asked about her opinion, Deschanel firmly replied, “It is.” Comparing Die Hard to her latest film, Merv, Deschanel explained, “It takes place on Christmas, and maybe it’s not like Elf or something, where there’s a magical creature or a magical person or whatever at the centre of the film — so it doesn’t have that, like, super Christmas-forward element — but it has Christmas in the background.”

The 1998 film Die Hard is often considered a holiday classic, as the story follows a New York City police detective who tries to protect a Los Angeles skyscraper from a terrorist attack while visiting his estranged wife during a Christmas Eve party.

However, many believe Die Hard is not a Christmas movie since it was released in theatres over the summer and it does not centre around what viewers have called a ‘traditional’ storyline for a Christmas film.

Die Hard Director Believes The Film To Be a Christmas Movie

Previously, John McTiernan, the director of Die Hard, told the American Film Institute that he agrees with fans who label Die Hard as a holiday movie. “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.

However, the film’s lead actor, Bruce Willis, has expressed different feelings. During Comedy Central’s 2018 Roast of Bruce Willis, the star gave his input on the Die Hard debate, stating, “I did this roast for one reason and for one reason only, to settle something once and for all. Now, please listen very carefully: Die Hard is not a Christmas movie! It’s a goddamn Bruce Willis movie.”

What Do We Know About Zooey Deschanel’s Latest Movie?

Coming back to the actress, Deschanel recently starred in Merv alongside Charlie Cox. The romantic comedy also features Chris Redd, Patricia Heaton, David Hunt, Ellyn Jameson, and Wynn Everett, among others, in supporting roles.

The titular character, Merv, on the other hand, is played by a dog named Gus, who is a wire-haired terrier rescue.