Dwayne Johnson's Red One Honors Die Hard

Dwayne Johnson's new Christmas movie, Red One, incorporates a subtle tribute to Bruce Willis' 1988 classic, Die Hard, despite its underwhelming box office performance. The film centers around a rescue mission to save Santa Claus, portrayed by J.K. Simmons, who is kidnapped by a villain. Notably, a scene in Red One features Simmons' Santa crawling through air vents to distribute gifts, echoing a memorable moment from Die Hard where Willis' John McClane navigates the vents of Nakatomi Plaza. This homage reflects the admiration both Johnson and director Jake Kasdan have for Die Hard, a film that has influenced their careers. Johnson had previously expressed his desire to honor classic action films that inspired him, including Die Hard. Although Red One has received mixed reviews, fans of both films appreciate the clever nod to the iconic action thriller.