Random 'Die Hard' Fan Theories (14 items)

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  (#1) Gruber Planned To Eliminate His Henchmen

  One of the plot holes in Die Hard that fans like to point out is the fact that the getaway vehicle wouldn’t have been able to fit all of the terrorists. Not even close! The ambulance is far too small, especially considering that it would also be packed with stacks of bank bonds. Redditor /u/thistlemusic has a theory that just might explain the situation.

  As we know, Gruber’s plan was to force all of the hostages onto the building’s roof and blow it up to make sure the police thought it was a terrorist attack. Even though McClane ends up taking out most of his men - leaving plenty of room in the ambulance - Gruber couldn't have expected that to occur. However, he may not have intended to make his getaway with his henchmen anyway.

  This Redditor suggests that Gruber planned to set off the detonator while his henchmen were still on the roof, ensuring the body count would be higher than the number of hostages. By doing this, it would confirm to police that terrorists were behind the attack and they intentionally took their own lives in the explosion. Gruber could then make his getaway with the cash and no one would be the wiser.
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  (#2) ‘Die Hard’ Is A Christmas Movie

  There has been much debate over the years as to whether or not Die Hard should be considered a Christmas movie. Redditor /u/blergz seems to have found the proof we’ve all been waiting for.

  In one of the earlier scenes, when McClane is being driven to Nakatomi Plaza, he asks the limo driver if he has any Christmas music. The driver points out that they are listening to Christmas music, since Run-DMC is playing in the background. While it may not be the traditional holiday tunes McClane has in mind, the song is certainly Christmas-themed.

  The Redditor believes this sets up the rest of the film as a non-traditional Christmas movie. It has all the music and scenery of a holiday movie, but the action-packed script gives it a bit of a spin. 
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  (#3) McClane Is Immortal

  Many Die Hard fan theories revolve around the fact that McClane is able to get himself out of impossible situations alive and unscathed. Some believe he’s a god, but Redditor /u/Albata3 suggests he’s simply immortal. It takes him a while to realize this, but in the most recent Die Hard films, he seems to know he can’t perish. 

  To further prove this theory, the Redditor connects the Die Hard franchise to The Fifth Element. They suggest that McClane lives long into the future, eventually becoming Korben Dallas (also played by Willis). This is evident in their similar personality traits and disregard for authority figures. 

  Additionally, this theory could explain why Dallas isn’t so great with the technological gadgets of the future, as well as the long list of weapons he has experience using. The Redditor also points out that Dallas’s calm and cool exterior may be a response to the fact that he’s seen everything a dozen times over and knows he’s immortal. 
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  (#4) It's In The Same Universe As ‘Family Matters’

  Redditor /u/professorhazard has come up with a theory that revolves around Sergeant Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson). After getting to know McClane during their limited radio communication, he admits to accidentally firing on a child. “He was 13 years old,” Powell says. “It was dark. I couldn’t see him. He had a ray gun, looked real enough.”

  According to this theory, Die Hard takes place in the same universe as the '90s sitcom Family Matters. If you’ve seen the show, you know that VelJohnson plays police officer Carl Winslow. The theory goes that Winslow accidentally offed his nerdy neighbor, Steve Urkel (Jaleel White), after seeing him with one of his many inventions. 

  These events ultimately destroyed his marriage, encouraging him to start over by transferring from the Chicago Police Department to the LAPD, where he runs into McClane. By changing his name from Winslow to Powell, he’s trying to cut ties with his past. However, he reveals his past to McClane in order to gain his trust. 
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  (#5) NBC Comedy ‘Chuck’ Exists In The Same Universe

  After bingeing the NBC action-comedy Chuck, Redditor /u/CynicalFilmboy noticed a crossover with Die Hard, suggesting the two exist in the same universe. In a Christmas episode titled “Chuck Versus Santa Claus,” the cast of Chuck is held hostage in an electronics store, Buy More. When the LAPD shows up, none other than Sergeant Powell (once again played by VelJohnson) is on the scene. 

  While this Redditor believes this is a sign that Chuck and Die Hard exist in the same universe, he misses a huge detail. The entire Christmas episode is actually an homage to the action flick and is filled with Easter eggs. In addition to Powell making an appearance, you can also hear some of the same music from the film, including "Ode to Joy."

  One of the more obvious similarities is the show’s Twinkies reference. In Die Hard, Powell is shown buying Twinkies for his wife and, in this episode of Chuck, we see him enjoying the pastry with one of the other characters. It’s safe to say that these Die Hard references are all intentional.
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  (#6) McClane Is Actually Kevin McCallister All Grown Up

  Ever wonder what kind of person Home Alone’s Kevin McCallister grew up to be? According to Reddit user /u/kkbodz17, that mischievous kid grew up to be the rebellious New York City police officer McClane. It may seem farfetched, but the evidence laid out in this theory is pretty solid. 

  In addition to the two having a unique way of using their surroundings to take down criminals, there are also similarities in their personalities. They each tend to talk to themselves and have their own catchphrases. Isn’t “Keep the change, you filthy animal” kind of a youthful version of “Yippee-ki-yay, mother f***er?"

  The theory claims that McCallister changed his name and moved to New York to get away from his dysfunctional family. After seeing how good he was at taking down Marv and Harry, he decided to join the NYPD. He then attempted to start a family but, having an unhealthy family model, drove his wife away.

  When Christmas came around, the memories of being left home alone started to haunt him, so McClane (formerly McCallister) decided to go to Los Angeles to win back his wife. Remember McClane’s fear of flying? This theory points out that his fear developed after losing his family in the airport as a child and flying to a strange city all alone. What do you think?
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  (#7) ‘Live Free Or Die Hard’ Stars Cop-Turned-Actor John McClane

  Many Die Hard fans discount the more recent films in the franchise, claiming they don’t do the first three movies justice. While the obvious changes in tone and McClane’s character were likely a studio decision so the films would appeal to a wider audience, Redditor /u/Shaneonreddit posted a theory that also makes sense. 

  Claiming the theory comes from a “friend,” it suggests that the first three Die Hard films are the true accounts of what happened to McClane. Afterward, he becomes a countrywide hero who inspires movies to be made in his name. Rather than hiring an actor to depict the former police officer, the filmmakers decide to allow McClane to star in the films himself. This is when Live Free or Die Hard and the films that follow are developed. 

  This could explain the difference in the fourth and fifth films' tones, as well as McClane’s character differences, such as ditching the cigarettes and cleaning up his language. The fan theory takes it even further, claiming this explains why McClane’s children are portrayed by two different actors.
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  (#8) Hans Gruber Is The Anti-Santa Claus

  In tune with the anti-capitalist themes throughout the film, Redditor /u/fultron suggests that the movie carries an anti-consumerism message. Labeling Gruber the “free market anti-Claus,” the theory states that the hostages are prisoners of the system long before they go to work that day. The world has been fooled into thinking happiness can be bought by acquiring the latest gadgets and fancy suits, especially around the holidays. 

  Gruber takes advantage of this mindset by planning to rob Nakatomi Plaza of their yearly profits. However, McClane, who represents the average working American doing everything he can to spend the holidays with his family, puts a stop to it. He’s able to do this by rejecting consumerism, which is demonstrated by his lack of footwear and ratty tank top. 

  Ultimately, Gruber learns the meaning of Christmas when he overestimates Holly’s attachment to her new watch. She gladly lets it slip from her wrist to ensure that Gruber meets his demise and to put an end to the debauchery of the evening. 
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  (#9) McClane Is A God

  We can all agree that McClane suffers more injuries than a human body can possibly withstand in each Die Hard film, yet continues to survive. Is this just one of those things that Hollywood expects audiences to accept, or are they trying to tell us something? According to Redditor /u/RevengeWalrus, McClane is a god. Specifically, an American god. 

  They back up their theory by pointing out how McClane embodies many aspects of contemporary American culture, such as the cowboy, the law, the morally ambiguous individual with honest intentions, etc. Then in each movie, we see McClane battling foreign threats until he defeats them. 

  The Redditor suggests the Die Hard films each depict a ritual in which the villains that are taken out are all sacrifices to the god McClane. These sacrifices determine the course of America as a whole and are performed in a way that would explain the recurring pattern of events that unfold in each movie. It would also explain why McClane seems to be invincible.
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  (#10) McClane Saves His Wife From Capitalistic Greed

  Redditor /u/HanzGoober believes McClane may have been in Los Angeles to do more than save his marriage. He may have also been trying to save his wife, Holly Gennero-McClane (Bonnie Bedelia), from a life consumed by money and greed. 

  According to this Redditor, the adverse effects of capitalism are subtly illustrated by the head executive of Nakatomi Corporation, Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi (James Shigeta), who is the original villain of the film. However, when Gruber's goons take over the building, they eliminate Takagi and replace him as the villain in the story. This is confirmed by Harry Ellis (Hart Bochner) when he compares terrorists to capitalists, saying, “Hey, business is business. You use a gun, I use a fountain pen, what's the difference?” 

  When Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) ultimately falls to his demise, he takes Holly’s watch with him, symbolizing her liberation from capitalism. The Redditor also points out that the company’s employees are hostages when Gruber takes over, but in a way, they were always hostages. By working for Takagi to take over parts of the world and ultimately destroy its infrastructure for financial gain, they’re working for a terrorist. Whether that makes them prisoners of capitalism or villains themselves is up to you.
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  (#11) It's In The Same Universe As Shows On ABC’s TGIF

  Redditor /u/morbidmovies feels that Die Hard shares a universe not only with Family Matters, but all of the shows that played during ABC’s TGIF program block in the '90s.

  Harriette Winslow (Jo Marie Payton) worked in a newspaper office on the show Perfect Strangers, which premiered in 1987. She then moved from Chicago to Los Angeles with her husband, Carl, where he joined the LAPD and partook in the events that occur in Die Hard. Harriette decided LA was too dangerous and convinced Carl to move back to Chicago and settle down with their family. This is when the show Family Matters begins. 

  To further prove this theory, the Redditor points out that Urkel is linked to several other shows in this universe by making appearances in Full House, Step by Step, and Meego. Since we all know Urkel is quite the inventor, it makes perfect sense for him to have the ability to time-travel and make his rounds in the TGIF universe.
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  (#12) The Franchise Takes Place In The Matrix 

  In the fourth movie in the franchise, Live Free or Die Hard, we are introduced to computer hacker Matt Farrell (Justin Long). McClane is hired by the FBI to track him down, but things don’t go according to plan. Redditor /u/darkamyy’s fan theory suggests that the entire movie takes place within the Matrix and that Farrell is actually a version of Neo (Keanu Reeves) if Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) hadn’t contacted him. 

  The theory backs this up by pointing out all of the power outages, suggesting this is the result of Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and his team trying to shut down the system and wake up more people. Agents are trying to get to Farrell before he realizes his potential as Neo or because they believe he can lead them to Morpheus. 

  Additionally, McClane seems to be able to bend the rules of the Matrix. Most movie fans accept the action-packed stunts Willis pulls off in this film as added entertainment value, but this Redditor has suggested a different theory. They think McClane is either an agent or was given the abilities of one to avoid suspicion while working for them to get Farrell. 
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  (#13) It’s In The Same Universe As Other Willis Films

  If you’ve seen the 2000 film Unbreakable, then you’re familiar with Willis’s character David Dunn. After a tragic train accident, he discovers several unique abilities, including superhuman strength and mind-reading. This movie exists in the same universe as Split and Glass, both of which Willis appears in. 

  Redditor /u/Multi_Sharp believes the universe is even larger and includes the Die Hard franchise, as well. The fan theory claims that after McClane’s divorce from Holly, he goes undercover and assumes a new identity. Between the events of Die Hard 2 and Die Hard with a Vengeance, Dunn (formerly McClane) meets and marries Audrey (Robin Wright Penn), and the two have a son. The film Unbreakable takes place sometime after Die Hard with a Vengeance and before Live Free or Die Hard, after which Dunn is able to get his powers under control.

  He eventually returns to his former life as McClane and reunites with his children from his first marriage to Holly. Afterward, he takes on life as a vigilante, which is what we get a glimpse of when Willis makes a brief cameo in Split. According to this fan theory, McClane keeps his two children a secret from Audrey, which allows him to live a double life. 
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  (#14) Gruber Is Severus Snape On A Mission For Voldemort

  Even though this Redditor came up with his Die Hard fan theory to get his wife to watch the movie with him, it’s still plausible. The theory suggests that Gruber is actually Severus Snape (also played by Alan Rickman) on a mission for Tom Riddle long before he becomes known as Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). 

  Riddle needs funds to assist his uprising and decides that obtaining muggle money is the best way to go about it. He sends Snape, his most loyal follower, to the United States because it’s outside  the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Magic. Riddle gives him strict instructions not to use magic and to hire an all-muggle crew to help him accomplish his goal. However, Snape is unprepared when McClane, a muggle, shows up and foils his plans. 

  When we see Snape falling from the building as Gruber, he apparates back to London and leaves behind a magical illusion depicting his demise. Snape then must explain to Riddle why he doesn’t have the money, but the Dark Lord has a backup plan and is still able to find a way to fund his uprising. 

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