Die Hard

Die Hard (1988)

  • 94% of critics liked it
    (53 reviews)

  • 91% of users liked it
    (485,577 ratings)

It's Christmas time in L.A., and there's an employee party in progress on the 30th floor of the Nakatomi Corporation building. The revelry comes to a violent end when the partygoers are taken hostage by a group of terrorists headed by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), who plan to steal the 600… More

Play Trailer

R,
Directed By
Written By
Jeb Stuart, Steven E. de Souza
Genres
Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure
In Theaters
Jul 15, 1988 Wide
20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

  • Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

    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.

  • Variety Staff, Variety

    Die Hard is as high tech, rock hard and souped up as an action film can be.

  • Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

    A serviceable if rather overextended and overblown adventure thriller.

  • , Time Out

    A hi-tech thriller with a human heart.

  • Caryn James, New York Times

    The scenes move with such relentless energy and smashing special-effects extravagance that Die Hard turns out to be everything action-genre fans, and Bruce Willis's relieved investors, might have hoped for.

Read all 20 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Everett J


    "Die Hard" is one of my personal all time favorites and it holds a special place in my heart. When I was little my Dad worked night shift a lot at the water plant, and many nights my mom would let me stay up and watch movies with her. "Stand by Me",… More

  • KJ P


    John McClane is one of the most memorable action stars in recent memory and Bruce Willis is just a blast to watch on screen. Taking place in one building for the majority of the movie, the film finds so many new places to explore and it never finds a soft spot for story, it is… More

  • Red L


    I'm not a fan of most action movies - most seem to give up any thinking to concentrate on the chase or explosion or shooting scenes. But Die Hard is a fairly complete movie with action, comedy, and some heart.

  • Directors C


    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] There isn't a bigger example of your typical action blockbuster film with everything an average moviegoer could ever want, including laughs, thrills, holiday spirit, romance and action other than the… More

  • Jameson W


    I can't believe it took me so long to finally see this movie. Truly one of the best action films of all time. Intense action, violence, perfect pacing, a solid script, and good performances...this is a great film!

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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