Die Hard
A New York City cop, John McClane, tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas Eve party at the Nakatomi Plaza Skyscraper in Los Angeles, California.
Directed by John McTiernan · Action · Thriller · 132 min · 1988
Trailer
Director
John McTiernan
Studio
N/A
Release
20 Jul 1988
Runtime
132 min
Genres
Action, Thriller
Full Plot
NYPD cop John McClane goes on a Christmas vacation to visit his wife Holly in Los Angeles where she works for the Nakatomi Corporation. While they are at the Nakatomi headquarters for a Christmas party, a group of robbers led by Hans Gruber take control of the building and hold everyone hostage, with the exception of John, while they plan to perform a lucrative heist. Unable to escape and with no immediate police response, John is forced to take matters into his own hands.
Cast & Characters
John McClane, a New York City police detective
Bruce Willis
Hans Gruber, the ruthless leader of the terrorists
Alan Rickman
Holly Gennaro-McClane, a high-ranking Nakatomi executive and John's estranged wife
Bonnie Bedelia
Karl, Gruber's second-in-command
Alexander Godunov
Al Powell, an LAPD sergeant
Reginald VelJohnson
Dwayne T. Robinson, the LAPD deputy chief
Paul Gleason
Argyle, John's limousine driver
De'voreaux White
Richard Thornburg, an unscrupulous TV reporter
William Atherton
Theo, Gruber's tech specialist
Clarence Gilyard
Harry Ellis, a sleazy Nakatomi executive
Hart Bochner
Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi, Nakatomi's head executive
James Shigeta
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $28.0M, Die Hard has grossed $140.8M worldwide — about 5.0x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Die Hard is part of TMDb's "Die Hard Collection."
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Die Hard's premiere took place on July 12, 1988, at the Avco theater in Los Angeles, California.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
Die Hard holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (1,021,784 votes), 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 11, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.2/10 on IMDb (1,021,784 votes), 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Die Hard's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Die Hard holds a 94% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Die Hard's IMDb rating?+
Die Hard has a 8.2/10 rating on IMDb from 1,021,784 votes.
What is Die Hard's Metacritic score?+
Die Hard has a Metascore of 72/100 on Metacritic.
Is Die Hard good? What are critics saying?+
Die Hard holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (1,021,784 votes), 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Die Hard?+
Die Hard has a runtime of 132 min.
Who directed Die Hard?+
Die Hard was directed by John McTiernan.
Where can I watch Die Hard?+
Die Hard is available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, FXNow, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Disney Plus, Rakuten TV, Sky Store, JioHotstar.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The movie "Die Hard" has received widespread critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its pace, plot, and action sequences. Many have noted that it is one of the definitive 80s action films, and some have even called it a personal favorite. The film's success can also be attributed to its appeal as a nostalgic favorite for many who grew up watching it. Some have expressed disappointment that "Die Hard" never gained more mainstream popularity during its initial release in 1988.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
**This is one of the definitive 80s Action Films.** There is no nonsense whatsoever, the plot moves along with such a pace that the viewer is not disturbed by implausabilities. Bruce Willis plays the likeable "regular guy", who is forced bare-foot into unleashing mayhem and destr…
doktorkraesch · 10/10Just watched this inexplicably for the first time, after having seen and adoring its first two sequels. As a teenager when this hit theatres, I never really felt the urge or inclination to see this at the time. Action films weren't big for me back then. Now as a father of a teena…
talisencrw · 10/10What can I even say about _Die Hard_? This is one of the most highly praised action movies of all time, and it has **actually earned that praise**. _Final rating:★★★★ - Very strong appeal. A personal favourite._
Gimly · 8/10***Big, dumb, fun action flick with Bruce Willis and a skyscraper*** RELEASED IN 1988 and directed by John McTiernan, "Die Hard" is the first of (currently) five installments in the Die Hard series. In this one New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) flies to Los Angeles to spen…
Wuchak · 7/10One seized tower block, one sweaty vest and one big set of action cojones. Based on ex cop Roderick Thorpe's 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever, Die Hard, directed by John McTiernan, changed the face of the action movie. Starring Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald…
John Chard · 10/10**Die Hard's fresh take on action heroes, excellent directing and pacing, and explosive effects make it a near-perfect action film and one of the finest of the genre.** Die Hard revolutionized the action genre by rejecting the muscle-bound action tropes of its predecessors and in…
The Movie Mob · 10/10Hardened NY cop "McClane" (Bruce Willis) arrives at the launch of the new building where his estranged wife "Holly" (Bonnie Bedelia) works, only to discover that she's now started using her maiden name. Humph!!! Luckily (for us) this is just the start of his woes as "Gruber" (Ala…
CinemaSerf · 7/10"Die Hard" is an utterly compelling mix of exciting action and some particularly bruising violence and some surprisingly quieter character moments (the wonderfully written and performed radio conversations between McClane and Sergeant Al Powell are a memorable highlight). The chi…
kevin2019 · 10/10Die Hard (1988) is one of those action movies that just gets everything right. The plot is simple but brilliantly executed, keeping the tension high from start to finish. It does not waste time with unnecessary filler, making every moment count. John McClane is a great protagonis…
RalphRahal · 9/10
From the trailer's comments
Jake Peralta must be very excited!
@JOSH-wk7wj · 683 likes❤ R.I.P Alan Rickman (1946-2016) ❤
@Enjooys · 231 likesBecause James Cameron likes it 👏🏻
@elhajie · 101 likesCome to the coast. We'll get together. Have a few laughs. - John McClane
@darrylaz3570 · 156 likes"Do I sound like I'm ordering a piza?!" I love over-the-top 80s action films.
@Coffeepanda294 · 47 likesWe'll miss you on the big screen bruce. Enjoy your retirement and we wish you the best with all that's going on. Yippee ki-yay.
@bigkmoviesandgames · 389 likesstill one of the greatest action films ever made.
@MrJJuK · 235 likesIt never ages when it comes to phenomenal action classics like this.
@CraigMcfly1985 · 103 likes
