Die Hard is a treasured holiday classic, but it might not be a staple of Christmas movie marathons if it stuck with its original ending. Die Hard is technically an adaptation of the novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp. Like the movie, Nothing Lasts Forever is about an N.Y.P.D. detective who attends an office Christmas party in a Los Angeles skyscraper that is promptly taken over by a hostile terrorist group. However, the film makes many changes to the book. In the book, the hero’s name is Joe Leland and he’s an older, retired cop.
One of the biggest changes to the book is arguably what made Die Hard a beloved holiday classic in the years that followed. While its status as a Christmas movie has long been disputed, Die Hard is undeniably a widely adored classic that many fans like to rewatch around the holidays. If the film had been a closer adaptation of the novel, with the same bleak ending as the source material, it might not have gone on to become such a revered Christmas classic.
John McClane Visits His Wife In Die Hard Instead Of His Daughter
In Nothing Lasts Forever, McClane/Leland is in L.A. to see his estranged daughter, Stephanie, who works at the company having the Christmas party. Her two kids are there, too, and become hostages along with her. The daughter isn’t portrayed as a morally upstanding character; she does drugs and is having an affair with Ellis, and she’s deemed a failure by her father. The book’s family dynamic just isn’t the same as the movie’s, and doesn’t lead to the theme of family coming together and having a happily-ever-after holiday.
In the movie, not only is it his wife that he’s come to reconcile with, and ultimately be with his kids, but her name is Holly in this version, which is perfect for Christmas. Plus, in the movie, he gets to save the day, saving Holly’s life along with others, and have a happy Christmas. Sure, there are stories that some would say are a more accurate portrayal of the holidays by going darker, but that wouldn’t have given Die Hard the wide appeal that it’s had since its release, especially during the holidays.
The Daughter Dies In The Book Along With Gruber
The book is darker in general, but the scene where Gruber falls to his death is especially bleak as he succeeds in dragging the daughter with him, whereas McClane saves Holly from that fate in the movie. There’s also an implication that Leland will die from his wounds after the story ends. So, not only are the kids traumatized from the hostage situation; now, their mother and grandfather are dead, and their dad doesn’t seem to be around. That’s a pretty depressing Christmas story. Die Hard wouldn’t be as beloved as it is – or as rewatchable at the holidays – with that ending. That’s a ‘70s ending, not an ‘80s ending.
