Emma Willis declares ‘Die Hard’ a Christmas movie as she gives update on Bruce Willis

Emma Willis has officially weighed in on one of Hollywood’s most enduring debates: whether “Die Hard” deserves its place among the most beloved Christmas movies. Ever since the film exploded onto screens in 1988, fans have argued over its status as a holiday classic.

The action thriller follows New York police officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) as he attempts to save his estranged wife, Holly Gennaro McClane (Bonnie Bedelia), and others taken hostage at a Christmas Eve party.

March 1995.Bruce Willis stars in the new film Die Hardd. (Credit: 20th Century Fox/Getty Images)

For Emma, ​​47, the film remains an essential part of the Willis family festivities. She told People, “I think it’s important to put ‘Die Hard’ on because it’s a Christmas movie.”

His stance contrasts with Bruce’s famously brutal stance. During the 2018 Comedy Central Roast of Bruce Willis, the star insisted, “Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. It’s a goddamn Bruce Willis movie!”

Bruce Willis attends the Comedy Central Roast of Bruce Willis at the Hollywood Palladium on July 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Credit: Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Bruce retired from acting in 2022 following his diagnosis of aphasia, a condition affecting speech and understanding. In 2023, his family revealed that his symptoms had progressed to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a disorder that affects language, behavior and personality.

Despite these challenges, Emma says the Willis family continues to find meaning and joy during the holidays. The mother-of-two, who shares daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, with Bruce, told the outlet: “There’s still joy. It’s just different.”

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Bruce Willis and his wife Emma Willis (Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

She acknowledged the emotional difficulties many families face when caring for loved ones with dementia, adding: “You have to learn, adapt and create new memories, introduce the same traditions as before.

“Life goes on. It goes on. Dementia is difficult, but there’s still joy,” she said. “I think it’s important that we don’t paint such a negative picture of dementia.”

Emma Heming Willis, wife of Bruce Willis{ } (Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty)

Emma recently spoke about the dire lack of support the family received when Bruce was first diagnosed. She told Yahoo! “The day we received the diagnosis, we left that appointment with nothing: no hope, no direction, no support.”

The first few years, she noted, were particularly difficult: “With FTD, those first years are so difficult because you have to try to figure everything out in real time. It is a progressive disease. » As Bruce’s needs evolved, she added, “You need to increase the support.”