Bruce Willis’ Christmas Action Movies: Ranked And Reviewed

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While Die Hard is famous for its action during the Christmas season, it wasn’t Bruce Willis’s only holiday-themed action film. Beyond the debate of whether it is a Christmas movie, the 1988 hit was the film that truly made Willis a star in the action genre.

Before starring in Die Hard, Bruce Willis was mainly known for the television show Moonlighting and hadn’t found much success in movies. Die Hard launched his film career, and he quickly became a major action star – almost defining the genre himself. Unlike action heroes like Stallone or Schwarzenegger who often played seemingly unbeatable characters, Willis’s characters felt relatable and genuinely human, which made them so captivating.

I always loved Bruce Willis in action movies, and he did so many beyond Die Hard! It’s funny, some of them actually happen around Christmas too, though they definitely don’t feel the same as when he’s saving the Nakatomi Plaza – they’re a whole different vibe.

Detective Knight: Redemption (2022)

The Detective Knight series is a lesser-known set of films starring Bruce Willis as a tough, unconventional cop who always gets results. While Redemption stands out for taking place during Christmas, this sequel, like many of Bruce Willis’s films released directly to streaming around this time, feels very formulaic and unoriginal.

Bruce Willis’ character in this film feels more like a legend than a fully developed role, and he doesn’t appear on screen much. It’s now understood that he was diagnosed with aphasia at the time and took on these projects to provide for his family, knowing his condition would eventually require him to stop acting.

Director Edward John Drake manages to make the most of a very limited budget, and the film does a surprisingly good job of integrating Bruce Willis into the plot – better than many similar low-budget action movies. While it introduces some intriguing ideas, it doesn’t quite have the time or money to develop them fully.

Detective Knight: Redemption isn’t a must-see. While it’s not the absolute worst of Bruce Willis’ later action films, it doesn’t offer anything new and the action scenes feel poorly executed.

RED (2010)

Though not as impressive as some of his other action movies, RED is a lighthearted and enjoyable film with a fantastic cast. The movie, based on a comic book, shows Bruce Willis playfully acknowledging his age as a former secret agent who’s pulled back into action when his past comes back to haunt him.

RED’s biggest strength is its impressive cast, featuring veterans like Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, and Morgan Freeman. While the action sequences aren’t particularly noteworthy, the actors’ chemistry and talent make the movie enjoyable to watch.

Like many holiday films, RED is set during the festive season, though the holidays aren’t central to the story. It does contribute to the movie’s warm and enjoyable atmosphere, even if it’s not one of Bruce Willis’ most thrilling action films.

Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)

Many critics pointed out that Die Hard 2 closely followed the storyline of the first Die Hard. While that’s fair, some would argue it’s actually a more festive Christmas movie. The action takes place in a snow-covered airport, where John McClane, played by Bruce Willis, has to stop terrorists who are threatening to crash planes.

Compared to the first film, Die Harder is a bit more intense, featuring more violent scenes and a particularly dramatic plane crash. Despite this, Bruce Willis still brings John McClane’s signature wit and humor to the role, and director Renny Harlin maintains a fast-paced story.

While no villain could quite measure up to Alan Rickman’s iconic Gruber, William Sadler’s Colonel Stewart is a strong and compelling adversary. He challenges McClane both mentally and physically, and their confrontations create a really engaging rivalry.

The airport is decorated for Christmas, which really adds to the festive atmosphere of the movie. While Die Hard 2 isn’t as good as the first film, it’s still incredibly fun and a great choice if you want something similar to watch during the holidays.

12 Monkeys (1995)

While 12 Monkeys does include some scenes with guns, it’s not a typical action movie. It’s actually a strange and thought-provoking thriller where Bruce Willis plays a character who travels from a ruined future to try and prevent a deadly virus from wiping out humanity.

12 Monkeys is considered one of Willis’ strongest films from the 1990s, allowing him to move beyond typical action roles. Director Terry Gilliam infuses the story with striking visuals and heartfelt emotion, and Willis is supported by a talented cast featuring Madeleine Stowe, David Morse, and a memorable performance by Brad Pitt.

The film 12 Monkeys has a Christmas backdrop, which is appropriate considering Bruce Willis’ character, Cole, shares similarities with Jesus. This also creates a sense of sadness throughout the movie, particularly knowing how the story ends.

The Last Boy Scout (1991)

With stars like Willis, director Tony Scott (known for Top Gun), screenwriter Shane Black, and producer Joel Silver (Die Hard), The Last Boy Scout had a powerhouse team behind it. However, combining so much talent and strong personalities made the film surprisingly difficult to produce.

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Despite some issues, the movie is a lot of fun. It showcases one of Bruce Willis’s most complex action characters, has a witty script, surprisingly beautiful visuals thanks to the director, and plenty of exciting action. It’s like a grittier, more cynical take on Die Hard.

Okay, let’s be clear: don’t go into this expecting a heartwarming Christmas movie. The holiday setting feels more like a clever contrast to the gritty story. It’s a classic setup, really – two seriously flawed guys, played brilliantly by Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans, who absolutely have to work together to crack a murder case, even though they clearly don’t want to. It’s that reluctant partnership that drives the whole thing.

While The Last Boy Scout is grittier and its protagonist, Joe, less immediately appealing than Die Hard‘s John McClane, this actually makes his journey to make things right more interesting. It’s a surprisingly strong performance from Bruce Willis in an action role, and highly recommended for fans of directors Tony Scott and Shane Black.

Die Hard (1988)

Any discussion of Bruce Willis’ Christmas movies has to start with Die Hard. It’s such a classic action film, directed by John McTiernan, that it’s hard to say anything new about it. But it’s no exaggeration to call Die Hard nearly a perfect example of the action genre.

For ten years, action movies were full of nearly invincible heroes like Rambo and the Terminator. So, it was a welcome change to see a hero who felt more real and had clear weaknesses. This actually made the action scenes more exciting – John McClane had to deal with ordinary problems like running out of bullets or being seriously injured, which raised the stakes.

The film boasts a fantastic cast, including Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, and Bonnie Bedelia as John McClane’s wife. The script allows even smaller characters to make an impact, and director John McTiernan delivers some of the best action sequences of his career. Simply put, Die Hard remains Bruce Willis’s greatest Christmas action film.

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2025-12-20 20:47