Bruce Willis’ wife has weighed in on whether Die Hard should be considered a Christmas movie. Emma Heming Willis recently opened up about what the upcoming holiday season celebrations will be like for the family following the actor’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis in 2022. During an interview at a conference in Los Angeles, Heming Willis shared that the family’s Christmas remains joyous, even though it looks different.
Emma Heming Willis gives verdict on whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie
Emma Heming Willis spoke to PEOPLE about the Willis family’s Christmas celebrations, saying, “Bruce loved Christmas and we love celebrating it with him. It just looks different, so we’ve kind of adapted to that.” She was one of the speakers at the End Well 2025 on Nov. 20 in Los Angeles, and discussed important information on cognitive wellness and dementia with Yvette Nicole Brown.
Meanwhile, in conversation with PEOPLE at the conference, the British model and actress mentioned how it can be really “hard” for families of dementia patients during the holiday season. She then remarked, “I think it’s important to put Die Hard on because it’s a Christmas movie.” With this statement, Emma appears confident that the film is a Christmas movie, tipping the balance in the long‑standing debate.
“You have to learn and adapt and make new memories, bring in the same traditions that you had before. Life goes on. It just goes on,” she continued to speak about dementia and the importance of staying positive during festivities. “Dementia is hard, but there is still joy in it. I think it’s important that we don’t paint such a negative picture around dementia. We are still laughing. There is still joy. It just looks different,” she added.
Bruce Willis was diagnosed with aphasia, followed by frontotemporal dementia in 2022. Since then, his wife Emma put in dire efforts to raise awareness about dementia and emphasize the importance of brain health. She also wrote a book called The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path.
