Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    Best of 2022OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Die Hard

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
876K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
70
103
Bruce Willis and Hart Bochner in Die Hard (1988)
Bruce Willis is John McClane in the film that launched the billion-dollar 'Die Hard' action franchise.
Play trailer1:28
13 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionThriller
A New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.A New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.A New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
876K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
70
103
    • John McTiernan
    • Roderick Thorp(based on the novel by)
    • Jeb Stuart(screenplay by)
    • Steven E. de Souza(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Bruce Willis
    • Alan Rickman
    • Bonnie Bedelia
    • John McTiernan
    • Roderick Thorp(based on the novel by)
    • Jeb Stuart(screenplay by)
    • Steven E. de Souza(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Bruce Willis
    • Alan Rickman
    • Bonnie Bedelia
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.1KUser reviews
    • 203Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Top rated movie #119
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars

    Videos13

    Trailer: 30th Anniversary Christmas Edition
    Trailer 1:28
    Watch Trailer: 30th Anniversary Christmas Edition
    Die Hard Trilogy
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Die Hard Trilogy
    Die Hard
    Trailer 2:25
    Watch Die Hard
    Holiday Movie or Not?
    Clip 3:12
    Watch Holiday Movie or Not?
    Alphabet of Movies | A to Z
    Clip 1:33
    Watch Alphabet of Movies | A to Z
    Watch Like a Pro: Giancarlo Esposito's Ultimate Villain Watchlist
    Clip 3:51
    Watch Watch Like a Pro: Giancarlo Esposito's Ultimate Villain Watchlist
    What's Your Favorite Scene From a Holiday Movie?
    Video 3:33
    Watch What's Your Favorite Scene From a Holiday Movie?
    Giancarlo Esposito's Ultimate Villain Watchlist
    Video 3:54
    Watch Giancarlo Esposito's Ultimate Villain Watchlist
    The 'Hobbs & Shaw' Cast Reveals Its Watchlist
    Video 4:49
    Watch The 'Hobbs & Shaw' Cast Reveals Its Watchlist
    'Die Hard' Trailer Commentary With 'Happytime Murders' Private Detective
    Video 2:06
    Watch 'Die Hard' Trailer Commentary With 'Happytime Murders' Private Detective
    'Die Hard' Anniversary Mashup
    Video 1:16
    Watch 'Die Hard' Anniversary Mashup
    Which Massive Stars Passed on 'Die Hard'?
    Video 2:26
    Watch Which Massive Stars Passed on 'Die Hard'?

    Photos173

    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Bruce Willis and Andreas Wisniewski in Die Hard (1988)
    Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia in Die Hard (1988)
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, and Reginald VelJohnson in Die Hard (1988)
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia in Die Hard (1988)
    Alan Rickman, Bruno Doyon, and Wilhelm von Homburg in Die Hard (1988)
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Terry Leonard in Die Hard (1988)
    Die Hard (1988)
    Hans Buhringer in Die Hard (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bruce Willis
    Bruce Willis
    • John McClane
    Alan Rickman
    Alan Rickman
    • Hans Gruber
    Bonnie Bedelia
    Bonnie Bedelia
    • Holly Gennaro McClane
    Reginald VelJohnson
    Reginald VelJohnson
    • Sgt. Al Powell
    Paul Gleason
    Paul Gleason
    • Dwayne T. Robinson
    De'voreaux White
    De'voreaux White
    • Argyle
    William Atherton
    William Atherton
    • Thornburg
    Hart Bochner
    Hart Bochner
    • Ellis
    James Shigeta
    James Shigeta
    • Takagi
    Alexander Godunov
    Alexander Godunov
    • Karl
    Bruno Doyon
    • Franco
    Andreas Wisniewski
    Andreas Wisniewski
    • Tony
    Clarence Gilyard Jr.
    Clarence Gilyard Jr.
    • Theo
    Joseph Plewa
    Joseph Plewa
    • Alexander
    • (as Joey Plewa)
    Lorenzo Caccialanza
    Lorenzo Caccialanza
    • Marco
    Gérard Bonn
    • Kristoff
    • (as Gerard Bonn)
    Dennis Hayden
    • Eddie
    Al Leong
    Al Leong
    • Uli
      • John McTiernan
      • Roderick Thorp(based on the novel by)
      • Jeb Stuart(screenplay by)
      • Steven E. de Souza(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Die Hard 2
    7.1
    Die Hard 2
    Die Hard with a Vengeance
    7.6
    Die Hard with a Vengeance
    Live Free or Die Hard
    7.1
    Live Free or Die Hard
    Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
    8.2
    Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
    The Terminator
    8.1
    The Terminator
    Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
    8.4
    Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
    Jurassic Park
    8.2
    Jurassic Park
    A Good Day to Die Hard
    5.2
    A Good Day to Die Hard
    Back to the Future
    8.5
    Back to the Future
    Terminator 2: Judgment Day
    8.6
    Terminator 2: Judgment Day
    Alien
    8.5
    Alien
    The Sixth Sense
    8.2
    The Sixth Sense

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The fictional Nakatomi Plaza is the headquarters of 20th Century Studios, so the studio could use one of its own buildings and didn't have to hold back on stunts and action sequences. While Jeb Stuart was writing the screenplay, he did a tour of the building, and immediately incorporated some of the locations and objects he found there into his script as set pieces (such as the cart that McClane and Karl end up riding during their fight). The company charged itself rent for the use of the then-unfinished building. Some of the middle floors were occupied by legal and administrative departments, so only empty floors were used for filming. Still, the filming of scenes that involved gunfire had to be postponed until after hours because some of the employees from the active floors started to complain about the noise.
    • Goofs
      There is no ambulance in the truck when the terrorists first arrive, but Theo drives an ambulance out of the truck near the end of the movie (error acknowledged by filmmakers).
    • Quotes

      John McClane: [huddled in an air vent, recalls his wife's invitation] "Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs..."

    • Crazy credits
      In the widescreen version, the 20th Century Fox logo is stretched.
    • Alternate versions
      The Ultimate edition DVD contains the following deleted/extended scenes:
      • Extended power shutdown sequence.
      • Extended opening flight scene.
      • Brief dialogue in the first Hans/McClane confrontation.
      • Extended scene where Robinson/Powell brief the FBI on the tower situation.
      • Brief dialogue when Hans interrogates Takagi.
      • Brief dialogue after Theo says "You didn't bring me along for my charming personality".
      • Extended/alternate dialogue in McClane/Powell conversation after McClane uses the plastic explosives.
      • Brief scene of FBI agents getting stuck in thorn bushes as they make their way towards the building.
      • At the end, McClane says "You got a warranty for this (Holly's watch, a gift from Nakatomi Corporation)?" to which Holly laughs.
      • Argyle's dialogue as Powell's police cruiser flies by in the background.
      • Brief Ellis dialogue reacting to the terrorist intrusion.
      • City engineer briefly coughs before pulling out the power cord.
      • Brief dialogue in Hans/Karl argument about "neutralizing" McClane.
      • Additional Holly dialogue after seeing Karl's reaction to McClane's escape.
    • Connections
      Edited into Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Singin' in the Rain
      Written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown

    User reviews1.1K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Ladies and gentleman, Mr.Bruce Willis, Movie Star
    DIE HARD (1988) **** Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Alexander Godunov, Reginald Vel Johnson, William Atherton, Paul Gleason, Hart Bochner, Robert Davi. NYC cop John McClane (Willis in his star-making iconic role) is visiting LA at Christmas to reconnect with his estranged wife Bedelia who is at an office party that becomes a nightmare when a group of terrorists take over the building led by Hans Gruber (perfect Rickman) a German nutjob out to filch millions in bonds in the vault of the Japanese company. As the " fly in the ointment", Willis does his damnedest to stop him at all costs relying on his street-smarts and out-guessing as time ticks away. Great blend of action suspense and much welcomed humor. Best bit: Willis plunging from a rooftop attack by the FBI (thinking the disheveled cop is one of the bad guys!) attached to a fire hose and shooting his way into an empty office! Hair-raising and exhilirating fun for all. "Yippiee-Kay-Ay !!!!" (Dir: John McTiernan)
    helpful•10
    2
    • george.schmidt
    • Mar 6, 2003

    IMDb Best of 2022

    IMDb Best of 2022

    Discover the stars who skyrocketed on IMDb’s STARmeter chart this year, and explore more of the Best of 2022; including top trailers, posters, and photos.
    See more
    Image caption not available

    FAQ27

    • What will it cost to repair all the damage to the building by the bad guys?
    • What exactly is the deal with Ellis? Why was he acting so strange?
    • Why does McClane need to take a gun to L.A.?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 20, 1988 (United States)
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
      • English
      • German
      • Italian
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Fox Plaza - 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Gordon Company
      • Silver Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 12 minutes
      • Color

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Bruce Willis and Hart Bochner in Die Hard (1988)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of Die Hard (1988) in Australia?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.