James Cameron Reveals His Favorite Action Movie Is ‘Die Hard’

I’ve always been amazed by James Cameron’s films – he truly knows how to make an action movie! From the Terminator movies to the incredible world of Avatar, he’s a master at blending action with other genres. Honestly, I always assumed his favorite action film would be one of his own, like Terminator 2: Judgment Day or True Lies. But I was totally wrong! He actually loves a different film, and the clue is this famous line: “Yippee Ki Yay, motherf-ers.”

Cameron recently appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to discuss his new movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash. While he expected to talk about the latest Avatar film and the future of the series – specifically whether he’d make the planned Avatar 4 and 5 – he was surprised to find the conversation went in unexpected directions.

Instead of a traditional interview, Cameron participated in “The Colbert Questionert,” a fast-paced round of varied questions. He tackled everything from lighthearted topics like his favorite sandwich to deeper questions about life and death, and seemed to genuinely enjoy himself. When asked about his favorite action movie, he checked if he could choose one of his own, and Colbert gave him the okay. Surprisingly, Cameron said no and instead picked the 1988 classic, Die Hard.

I’m certain the answer is Die Hard. It consistently wins awards for having the best one-liner, the most memorable villain death, and being the ultimate Christmas movie.

The Polarizing Status of ‘Die Hard’ as a Christmas Movie


20th Century Fox

Many people who celebrate Christmas enjoy watching holiday movies each year. While classics like Home Alone, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story are always popular choices, there’s a debate about whether the action film Die Hard should be considered a Christmas movie.

As a film buff, I’ve seen this debate rage on for years: is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Honestly, it feels like it comes down to what you personally think. It is set during Christmas, and John McClane definitely delivers some memorable, even Christmas-y, one-liners. But even Macaulay Culkin, who basically is the king of Christmas movies, doesn’t consider it one! Still, more and more people seem to embrace it as a holiday tradition every year. But you know what? Bruce Willis himself settled it – he famously said, “Die Hard is NOT a Christmas Movie!” So, there you have it – straight from the source!

Subscribe to the newsletter for sharp movie debates

Hungry for more film perspective? Subscribe to our newsletter for deeper coverage of movies, directors, and holiday-viewing debates—concise analysis and context that enriches your pop culture discussions.

Subscribe to the newsletter for sharp movie debates

Hungry for more film perspective? Subscribe to our newsletter for deeper coverage of movies, directors, and holiday-viewing debates—concise analysis and context that enriches your pop culture discussions.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s
Terms of Use
and
Privacy Policy
. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Look, as a huge film buff, I always feel like there’s a debate about whether Die Hard counts as a Christmas movie. But honestly, Bruce Willis’s wife recently explained it perfectly, and it really resonated with me. She said they always watch it because, for them, it is a Christmas movie – a way to remember and celebrate Bruce, who loved the holiday season. It’s a bittersweet joy, she admitted, but it still brings them happiness and keeps his spirit alive during Christmas time.

Die Hard is currently streaming on Prime Video.

Read More

2025-12-24 19:18