Red Onehas sly connections to various Christmas movies, and the movie sneaks in a perfect tribute to Bruce Willis andDie Hard. Dwayne Johnson’s 2024 action movie is more firmly entrenched in the Christmas holiday season than Bruce Willis' iconic 1988 action film. This is due toRed Oneincluding Santa, his elves, and more mythological creatures and beings connected to the holiday.Still,Die Hard’s Christmas settinghas meant it has been attached to the holiday ever since, including the never-ending debates aboutwhetherDie Hardis a Christmas movie.
Even with their action roots,Red OneandDie Hardare very different movies that seemingly have little in common beyond their Christmas settings. One is about a thief and an ELF commander trying to save Santa from an evil witch before she entraps every naughty human. The other is about a regular guy who fights back as Russians take hostages amid a heist at his wife’s company during their Christmas party. Despite their differences,Red Onefound a clever way to honor Bruce Willis andDie Hardthrough a short moment.
Red One References John McClane’s Vent Scene In Die Hard
J.K. Simmons' Santa Copies Bruce Willis
The reference toDie Hardcomes inRed One’s endingthrough a montage focused on J.K. Simmons' Santa Claus. The movie takes a few minutes to show his Santa sneaking into houses to deliver gifts for kids, and his methods for entry and escape vary. One of the momentsshows Simmons' Santa army crawling through air ventswith a big smile on his face. The scene and the way it is framed immediately calls to mind John McClane’s vent scene inDie Hard.
The vent scene inDie Hardis one of the most iconic shots of the film, asBruce Willis' action hero crawls through the vents at Nakotami Plazaas he tries to evade Karl Vreski. The moment includes him using a lighter to help him see inside the vent and saying the memorable line,“Come out to the coast, have a few laughs.“The vent scene has become so widely recognizable that it is even a popular Christmas ornament idea for allDie Hardaficionados. Now,Red Oneuses J.K. Simmons' Santa to pay tribute to the iconic moment.
Bruce Willis' Connections To Red One Explained
Bruce Willis Has A History With Some Red One Stars
The decision to giveRed OneaDie HardEaster egg could have come down to Dwayne Johnson and director Jake Kasdan’s love for the 1988 action movie, but Bruce Willis has some ties to the 2024 film, too. Thanks to the longevity of his incredible career, Willis has worked with a few of the people involved inRed One.He notably appeared alongside Dwayne Johnson inG.I. Joe: Retaliation, which marked the only time they’ve worked together. Willis was also one of the leads of 1997’sThe Jackal, which included J.K. Simmons.
It is plausible that Dwayne Johnson is largely responsible for theDie Hardtribute. When he was promotingG.I. Joe: Retaliationin 2013,Johnson said at a UK press conference that"Bruce Willis is the ultimate man’s man… Bruce and I have been buddies for a long time."(viaComicBookMovie) The friendship between Johnson and Willis could help explain whyRed Oneincluded the briefDie Hardreference.
