Die Hard is a 1988 American action thriller film directed by John McTiernan and written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza, based on the 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp. It stars Bruce Willis as John McClane, a New York City police detective who tries to save his estranged wife and several others from terrorists on Christmas Eve.
The film Die Hard is about an NYPD officer named John McClane (Willis) who finds himself in a high-stakes situation when a group of terrorists takes control of Nakatomi Plaza, a Los Angeles skyscraper, during a Christmas party.
Here is a brief overview of the plot:
McClane is a New York City cop, visits his estranged wife, Holly Gennero (formerly Holly McClane), who works for the Nakatomi Corporation. He arrives at Nakatomi Plaza on the evening of December 24 to attend her office holiday party. As the party gets underway, a group of well-armed terrorists, led by the charismatic Hans Gruber (played by Alan Rickman), storm the building and take the partygoers hostage.
John McClane manages to evade capture and goes on a one-man mission to thwart the terrorists and rescue the hostages, including his wife. Armed only with his wit, determination, and some improvised weaponry, McClane battles tries to outsmart Gruber's criminal gang. The film unfolds as a high-octane game of cat and mouse within the confines of the skyscraper, with McClane using his resourcefulness to combat the heavily armed attackers.
Die Hard is known for its intense action sequences, suspenseful storytelling, and the iconic portrayal of John McClane as an everyday hero who uses his ingenuity and resilience to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. The film's unique take on the action genre, along with Bruce Willis's charismatic performance, set it apart and made it a classic in the genre.
This was the first production of what became the Die Hard franchise. The original film was followed up by:
- Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)
- Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
- Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
- A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)
After the success of the blockbuster, Bruce Willis was solidified as one of the top action film stars of the generation.
Cast
- Bruce Willis as John McClane, a New York City police detective
- Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber, the ruthless leader of the terrorists
- Alexander Godunov as Karl, Gruber's second-in-command
- Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro-McClane, a high-ranking Nakatomi executive and John's estranged wife
- Reginald VelJohnson as Al Powell, an LAPD sergeant
- Paul Gleason as Dwayne T. Robinson, the LAPD Deputy Chief
- De'voreaux White as Argyle, John's limousine driver
- William Atherton as Richard Thornburg, an unscrupulous TV reporter
- Clarence Gilyard as Theo, Gruber's tech specialist
- Hart Bochner as Harry Ellis, a sleazy Nakatomi executive
- James Shigeta as Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi, Nakatomi's head executive
Other cast members include Gruber's henchmen: Bruno Doyon as Franco, Andreas Wisniewski as Tony, Joey Plewa as Alexander, Lorenzo Caccialanza as Marco, Gerard Bonn as Kristoff, Dennis Hayden as Eddie, Al Leong as Uli, Gary Roberts as Heinrich, Hans Buhringer as Fritz, and Wilhelm von Homburg as James. Robert Davi and Grand L. Bush appear as FBI Special Agents Big Johnson and Little Johnson, respectively, Tracy Reiner appears as Thornburg's assistant, and Taylor Fry and Noah Land make minor appearances as McClane's children Lucy McClane and John Jr.
Director: John McTiernan
Writers: Jeb Stuart, Steven E. de Souza
Box Office Gross: $141,603,197
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox
Release Date: July 15, 1988
Die Hard Films:
- Die Hard
- Die Hard 2: Die Harder
- Die Hard with a Vengeance
- Live Free or Die Hard
- A Good Day to Die Hard