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IMDbPro

Die Hard

  • 1988
  • R
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
901K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
833
6
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
14 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.

  • Director
    • John McTiernan
  • Writers
    • Roderick Thorp
    • Jeb Stuart
    • Steven E. de Souza
  • Stars
    • Bruce Willis
    • Alan Rickman
    • Bonnie Bedelia
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.2/10
    901K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    833
    6
    • Director
      • John McTiernan
    • Writers
      • Roderick Thorp
      • Jeb Stuart
      • Steven E. de Souza
    • Stars
      • Bruce Willis
      • Alan Rickman
      • Bonnie Bedelia
    • 1.1KUser reviews
    • 204Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #116
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 8 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos14

    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
    Die Hard: Roof Jump
    Clip 1:25
    Watch Die Hard: Roof Jump
    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

    Photos175

    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
    • Director
      • John McTiernan
    • Writers
      • Roderick Thorp
      • Jeb Stuart
      • Steven E. de Souza
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    8.2
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    8.4
    Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

    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
    8/10
    The ultimate action film.
    Die Hard tells the story of a New York City detective named John McClane who is separated from his wife. She invites him to a Christmas party at her office building in Los Angeles, and he decides to go to work things out. Once there, a group of German terrorists come in and take hostages with the intent of stealing millions of dollars in bonds. McClane manages to escape and begins to fight the terrorists one by one to save the people in the building.

    Die Hard is a classic film because it completely revolutionized action films. The 80s were a time of unrealistic action sequences, predictable characters, and rudimentary plots. Die Hard changed all that. Die Hard takes place in a real world setting, or at least about as real as you can get with an action movie, so the action sequences, while insane, are slightly believable. The plot of the movie is simple, yet it's so brilliant at the same time. And the characters in this movie are engaging and a lot of fun to watch. John McClane is a really likable everyman kind of guy, we can all relate to him. Hans Gruber is an awesome villain, both cold and ruthless, yet very human. The supporting characters on the outside of the building are all great as well. Another great thing about Die Hard is that even though it's a hardcore action movie, it manages to be extremely funny at some parts, almost to a point of being able to call it a comedy. This makes the movie really easy to watch over and over again. There's really nothing wrong with this movie whatsoever in any department.

    The acting is great. Bruce Willis is hilarious and hardcore as John McClane, and he portrays the adrenaline and the frustration of the situation very well. Alan Rickman is awesome in one of his earlier roles as the main villain Hans Gruber. Reginald VelJohnson is enjoyable as McClane's outside contact Officer Al Powell, and Paul Gleason is funny as a hardheaded and incompetent deputy chief of police.

    Overall, Die Hard is the ultimate action film because it's fast, funny, and hardcore. It also gave us one of the most famous action movie one liners of all time...You know the one.

    8/10
    helpful•21
    5
    • theshadow908
    • Jun 28, 2007

    Top picks

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    FAQ28

    • 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)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Italian
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Umri pokončno
    • Filming locations
      • Fox Plaza - 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA(Nakatomi building)
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Gordon Company
      • Silver Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $28,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $83,844,093
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $601,851
      • Jul 17, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $141,603,197
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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