A new nationwide survey has definitively settled one of Britain's great cultural debates, naming the beloved family comedy Home Alone as the UK's ultimate Christmas movie. The announcement comes a significant 35 years after the film's initial cinematic release.
The Festive Film Rankings
Conducted by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), the research placed Home Alone firmly at the top of the festive tree. The 1990 classic, starring a young Macaulay Culkin as the resourceful Kevin McCallister, was followed in second place by the romantic ensemble Love Actually. The timeless It's a Wonderful Life from 1946 secured the third spot, with the modern favourite Elf rounding out the top four.
The survey also sought to end a decades-long dispute among film fans: is the Bruce Willis action vehicle Die Hard a legitimate Christmas movie? Set during a Los Angeles skyscraper hostage situation on Christmas Eve, the 1988 thriller was officially voted not a festive film by the British public. When posed the age-old question, 44% of respondents rejected its Christmas credentials, while a smaller but passionate 38% defended its status. A dedicated 5% even declared it their absolute favourite film to watch during the snowy season.
What Makes the Perfect Christmas Film?
Beyond simple rankings, the BBFC poll investigated the core ingredients of a perfect Christmas movie. The results were clear: Brits value a heartwarming story above all else, with this element leading the way for 33% of people. This was followed by the need for films to be family-friendly (15%) and to contain a good dose of humour (13%).
The survey's timing coincides with a live event that reignited the very same debate. At 'A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin' in California, celebrating his film's 35th anniversary, the 43-year-old actor was met with boos from the audience after he proclaimed that Die Hard 'isn't a Christmas movie'. Culkin defended his stance, arguing, 'It's just a movie that’s set at Christmas. If you set it at St. Patrick's Day, the exact same movie.'
A Debate For The Ages
The status of Die Hard has been a point of contention for years, even among its own creators. The film's director, John McTiernan, told the American Film Institute in 2020 that the joy it brought audiences is what ultimately turned it into a Christmas movie, even if that wasn't the original intention. Conversely, writer Steven E. de Souza has publicly championed its festive credentials on social media using the hashtag #DieHardIsAChristmasMovie.
Perhaps the most famous opinion came from its star, Bruce Willis. During a 2018 comedy roast, the actor, who retired from acting in 2022, joked, 'I did this roast for one reason and for one reason only, to settle something once and for all... Die Hard is not a Christmas movie! It’s a goddamn Bruce Willis movie.'
For now, however, the British public has spoken. The story of a young boy creatively defending his home from bungling burglars has beaten spies, romantic liaisons, and a desperate banker to claim the title of the nation's favourite Christmas film.
