A holiday thriller on Netflix has taken audiences by storm, drawing comparisons to the action classic Die Hard.
The movie, which blends suspense, action, and seasonal charm, has become a festive favorite for many.
Praising it online, one fan wrote: “It was a great movie and perfectly timed for a holiday release.”
Another person declared: “The best Christmas movie!”
“Best movie ever watched,” a third commented.
Somebody else said: “It’s the most worthy successor to Die Hard.”
But before we dive into what the new festive film is about, it’s worth asking: is Die Hard really a Christmas movie?
The debate over what constitutes a Christmas movie has lingered for years, particularly regarding Die Hard.
The 1988 action film follows a detective who lands in LA to spend the holidays with his wife when he learns of a hostage situation in an office building.
John McTiernan, director of the Bruce Willis-led blockbuster, weighed in on the topic in a 2020 video for the American Film Institute.
He revealed that while the film wasn’t initially intended as a Christmas story, its themes of joy and redemption during the holiday season ultimately solidified its status as a festive favorite.
Critics have noted that this other Netflix release successfully captures a similar spirit, blending holiday cheer with intense action.
This gripping thriller, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, best known for The Shallows, stars Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman in a tense story set on Christmas Eve.
Egerton takes on the role of a TSA agent who finds himself coerced into smuggling dangerous items onto a flight under the threat of blackmail.
Bateman’s character plays a key role as the enigmatic figure pulling the strings. At the same time, a supporting cast, including Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, and Logan Marshall-Green, adds depth to the ensemble.
The film, penned by TJ Fixman, was originally intended to launch Netflix’s partnership with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin production company but underwent delays due to script revisions.
Director Collet-Serra has openly acknowledged the influence Die Hard had on the project.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “Everyone wants to make the next Die Hard, and the reality is that no one ever will – it’s a perfect movie that can’t be replicated.”
He added that the new film aims to offer a more grounded version of the 1988 classic, tailored to resonate with a modern audience.
The parallels to Die Hard extend beyond themes of high-stakes action during the holidays.
Like Bruce Willis’ John McClane, Egerton’s character is an everyman thrust into an extraordinary situation, balancing his professional duties with personal danger.
However, the director emphasized that the new film stands on its own while paying homage to its inspiration.
“It was our North Star throughout the process,” Collet-Serra remarked.
Following its release on Netflix on December 13, 2024, Carry-On became the second most-watched worldwide movie in the streaming platform’s history, per Catalan News.
Within three months of landing on the platform, it was said to have accumulated 172.1 million views.
While Egerton has said he would love to return for a Carry-On 2, he’s shared that it’s highly unlikely to happen.
When interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter, he questioned the logistics of a follow-up.
“Carry-On 2 is really hard. It’s a celebration of Christmas and a celebration of people who work at Christmas. It then needs to have this huge plot that needs to be foiled and maybe the earwig component,” the actor explained.
“All of that is quite hard to achieve in a sequel without it feeling contrived and to the point of defying credulity. So I have not heard anything, but who knows, stranger things have happened.”
With its timely release and high praise, Carry-On has quickly established itself as a must-watch for the holiday season.
Whether it sparks debates about its classification as a Christmas film or simply serves as an entertaining escape, it’s clear that Netflix has delivered a hit.
Watch the official trailer for Carry-On below…
Carry-On is available to stream now on Netflix.
