Bruce Willis’ wife Emma weighs in on Die Hard Christmas debate… and disagrees with her husband

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Fans have long debated whether Bruce Willis‘ 1988 action film Die Hard is a Christmas movie.

And now his wife Emma Heming Willis, 47, is sharing where she stands on the controversial subject.

During a conversation at the End Well 2025 conference, she shared with People magazine that she believes watching ‘Die Hard’ is a crucial part of her family’s holiday tradition, firmly stating it is a Christmas movie.

The movie begins with John McClane – played by Bruce Willis, now 70 years old – arriving at LAX airport carrying a Christmas present. He’s on his way to join his wife at her company’s holiday party.

The album is packed with beloved Christmas songs, like “Winter Wonderland,” “Let it Snow,” “Christmas in Hollis,” and “Ode to Joy.”

Emma’s comment was unexpected, considering Bruce had previously felt differently. He publicly stated his opposing view in 2018, before retiring from acting in 2022 due to his dementia.

During a Comedy Central roast, he made a point of saying, ‘I only agreed to do this to finally clear something up. And listen closely: Die Hard is not a Christmas movie! It’s just a great action movie starring Bruce Willis.’

The mother of two also shared with the publication how she’s managing the holidays while caring for her husband, who is living with frontotemporal dementia.

You know, the holidays can be really emotional, but also incredibly special. After losing Bruce, Christmas definitely changed for us. It doesn’t feel the same, and that’s okay. We’ve learned to adapt and find new ways to celebrate, keeping his memory alive and cherishing the joy we can still find. It’s different, absolutely, but still beautiful.

The husband and wife, who wed in 2009, share daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn.

The actor, who has won an Emmy, has three daughters with his former wife, Demi Moore, who is 63: Rumer, 37, Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31.

Emma told People magazine that the holidays can be especially difficult for families dealing with the challenges of dementia.

But she emphasized the value in preserving tradition and positivity wherever possible. 

She explained that even with challenges, it’s important to keep learning, adjusting, and creating new memories while still holding onto beloved traditions. Life continues, even when facing difficulties like dementia, and there’s still happiness to be found.

She stressed that ‘it’s important that we don’t paint such a negative picture around dementia.’

In 2022, Bruce’s family announced that he had been diagnosed with aphasia, a condition affecting his ability to communicate.

It broke my heart to learn that by February 2023, what we feared had come true: he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, or FTD. It’s a really devastating disease that slowly affects how someone speaks, acts, and thinks – watching it progress has been incredibly difficult.

In her September book, The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, Emma shares her personal story of becoming a caregiver and how it profoundly changed her life.

In July, she announced the beginning of her audiobook recording, posting a studio selfie on Instagram. She shared that she had finished the first of four days in the recording booth for ‘The Unexpected Journey’.

I’d been holding these words inside for a long time, and today I finally said them aloud. Even reading the very first page, the dedication, brought me to tears.

As I read on, I kept thinking how unbelievable it was that this was the topic I’d become so knowledgeable about.

It’s deeply upsetting, but I’m thankful I can share my experiences. I hope what I’ve learned helps other people who are caring for someone they love.

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2025-11-29 05:48