Every family has a Christmas movie that has to be watched every December. Home Alone, Elf, A Christmas Story and Die Hard all have a strong claim to being the one. This One Gotta Go card asks which holiday favorite you would take off the list for good, and yes, Die Hard counts.
Think about the movie your family quotes, the one that plays on TV all day, and the one you put on while wrapping gifts. Then make your pick, and get ready for the yearly question about whether Die Hard is really a Christmas movie.
Home Alone vs Elf vs A Christmas Story vs Die Hard (yes it counts)
A. Home Alone
Home Alone follows Kevin, who gets left behind when his family flies to Paris and has to protect the house from two burglars with homemade traps. It's a family favorite. The case against it is that the slapstick can feel repetitive after many rewatches.
Keep it if: Kevin's booby traps, the family chaos and the John Williams score are your Christmas tradition.
B. Elf
Elf stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole who travels to New York to find his father. It's sweet and very quotable. The case against it is that its humor depends on loving Buddy's over-the-top energy.
Keep it if: You quote Buddy all December and think the syrup-on-spaghetti scene is a holiday classic.
C. A Christmas Story
A Christmas Story follows Ralphie, who wants a Red Ryder BB gun and keeps hearing 'You'll shoot your eye out.' It's known for the leg lamp and its long TV marathons. The case against it is that its slower pace isn't for everyone.
Keep it if: The leg lamp, the bunny suit and the TV marathon are part of every Christmas at your house.
D. Die Hard (yes it counts)
Die Hard stars Bruce Willis as John McClane, stuck in an office tower during a Christmas Eve party when it's taken over by thieves. Every year people ask whether it counts as a Christmas movie. If you say no, this is your easy cut.
Keep it if: You believe Die Hard is a Christmas movie and watch it every December to prove the point.
Our take
We'd cut A Christmas Story. It's a classic, but it's the one on this card most people watch in the background during a marathon rather than sit down for. Home Alone and Elf are family movie night picks, and Die Hard brings the yearly debate about whether it's a Christmas movie at all, which is half the fun. Expect your group to spend more time on the Die Hard question than on the actual vote, and that's exactly how it should be.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which Christmas movie is loved mostly for the nostalgia?
- Is Die Hard a Christmas movie, and can everyone explain why?
- Which movie has the most quotable lines in your family?
- Which Christmas movie deserves a spot on this card instead?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Christmas Movies: quick answers
Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?
It's one of the most talked-about holiday questions. Die Hard takes place at a Christmas Eve office party and features Christmas music, which is why many fans count it. Others say it's an action movie that just happens to be set at Christmas. This card lets your group finally settle it, at least for one night.
What are the best Christmas movies for a family movie night?
Home Alone, Elf and A Christmas Story are some of the most popular family picks, along with classics like It's a Wonderful Life and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Die Hard is more of a grown-up pick. Use this card to choose what your family watches next.
