Fresh
Die Hard is an action picture with a capital A. In fact, you might as well go ahead and capitalize the whole darn word.
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
Die Hard
Twelve terrorists. One cop. The odds are against John McClane... That's just the way he likes it.
1988 · 2h 12m · R
Action, Thriller
Directed by
John McTiernan
Overview
NYPD cop John McClane's plan to reconcile with his estranged wife is thrown for a serious loop when, minutes after he arrives at her offices Christmas Party, the entire building is overtaken by a group of terrorists. With little help from the LAPD, wisecracking McClane sets out to single-handedly rescue the hostages and bring the bad guys down.
Director and cast
- John McTiernan Director
- Bruce Willis as John McClane
- Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber
- Reginald VelJohnson as Sgt. Al Powell
- Alexander Godunov as Karl
- Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennero McClane
- Paul Gleason as Deputy Police Chief Dwayne T. Robinson
- De'voreaux White as Argyle
- William Atherton Cast
- Hart Bochner Cast
- James Shigeta Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
94%
Tomatometer
Rotten
As a grand flourish of cinematic technique, it is awesome; as a human drama, it is disgusting and silly, a mindless depiction of carnage on an epic scale.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Fresh
McTiernan, who directed last summer's Predator, composes the action cleanly and logically, making good use of Jackson DeGovia's elaborate post-modernist set-the building becomes something of a character in itself.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Tribune
Rotten
In the first half of Director John McTiernan's movie, Willis wears an undershirt. In the second half he gets rid of it. And that's pretty much it for his performance.
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
Fresh
Die Hard is as high tech, rock hard and souped up as an action film can be.
Variety Staff, Variety
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