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Die Hard

  • 1988
  • R
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
967K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
43
49
Bruce Willis 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
One-Person Army ActionActionHolidayThriller

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 info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    8.2/10
    967K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    43
    49
    • Director
      • John McTiernan
    • Writers
      • Roderick Thorp
      • Jeb Stuart
      • Steven E. de Souza
    • Stars
      • Bruce Willis
      • Alan Rickman
      • Bonnie Bedelia
    • 1.2KUser reviews
    • 204Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Top rated movie #117
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 8 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos14

    Trailer: 30th Anniversary Christmas Edition
    Trailer 1:28
    Trailer: 30th Anniversary Christmas Edition
    Die Hard Trilogy
    Trailer 0:31
    Die Hard Trilogy
    Die Hard Trilogy
    Trailer 0:31
    Die Hard Trilogy
    Die Hard
    Trailer 2:25
    Die Hard
    Holiday Movie or Not?
    Clip 3:12
    Holiday Movie or Not?
    Alphabet of Movies | A to Z
    Clip 1:33
    Alphabet of Movies | A to Z
    Watch Like a Pro: Giancarlo Esposito's Ultimate Villain Watchlist
    Clip 3:51
    Watch Like a Pro: Giancarlo Esposito's Ultimate Villain Watchlist

    Photos203

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    + 197
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    Top cast74

    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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    Production art
    List

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    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
      Several times during transmissions with the two-way radios, characters interrupt each other, which would be impossible given the type of radios they were using.
    • 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 reviews1.2K

    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)
    • george.schmidt
    • Mar 5, 2003
    • Permalink

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    FAQ14

    • 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
      • Duro de matar
    • Filming locations
      • Fox Plaza - 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA(Nakatomi building, interiors filmed on the 29th and 35th floors)
    • 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
      • $85,892,546
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $601,851
      • Jul 17, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $143,651,650
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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

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