Hollywood celebrities often find themselves in the spotlight for their opinions on political and social issues.
However, Macaulay Culkin discovered this week that there are certain topics that can rapidly stir up controversy.
Despite being the iconic face of the Home Alone franchise, Culkin, now 45, experienced some backlash at an event in Long Beach, California, when he expressed his views on Christmas films.
This gathering, titled A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin, was held to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Christmas classic that brought him fame as a child star. During the event, Culkin was asked about his favorite holiday movie, and his response sparked a mixed reaction from the audience.
Culkin began with a safe choice, telling People: “A big one in our household growing up was A Christmas Story, certainly was always on.”
He then mentioned his appreciation for a lesser-known Bill Murray film, stating: “A lost classic or one that people kind of forget: Scrooged…. Scrooged is awesome though. Yeah, we watch it all the time. Those were ones that really stick out.”
However, Culkin’s candor led to a murmur of discontent when he continued: “There’s some ones that come later. Elf is a really good one, but I wasn’t raised on Elf so it doesn’t have that nostalgia factor.
“And also, OK guys for real: Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie.”
This statement prompted some attendees to boo, but Culkin, unfazed by the reaction, stood his ground.
The debate over whether ‘Die Hard‘ qualifies as a Christmas movie has intensified over time, with some viewers advocating for the 1988 action film as a holiday staple, contrasting with more traditional festive films.
This argument arises because the movie’s narrative occurs during the holiday season, with Bruce Willis’ character, John McClane, attending a Christmas party at Nakatomi Plaza.
“I know. Some of you guys want to fight me. I’ll meet you at the loading dock, but it’s just a movie that’s set at Christmas,” Culkin explained.
Despite the vocal opposition from some in the audience, Culkin remained steadfast, pointing out the film’s use of the season as merely a backdrop.
“If you set it at St. Patrick’s Day, the exact same movie. But you set Home Alone at St. Patrick’s Day…” he remarked.
Now, we can imagine 8-year-old Kevin McCallister outsmarting two burglars who have indulged in too much Guinness, which would certainly have made his Home Alone adventure a bit simpler.