The Die Hard Movies - Ranked.
by NpFilmJunkie | created - 22 Sep 2020 | updated - 22 Sep 2020 | PublicThe first Die Hard film is an all-time classic and all the things that a straight-up action film should be. The follow-ups are mostly decent to awesome, except one which is disgrace to Die Hard films, and action films in general.
The movies are listed in release order, the ranks and super short reviews are in the description.
If some of my reviews (if I have reviewed), have a "beyond an F" letter grade, it simple means "fuck this movie". I cannot use that in the reviews because of IMDb. So, fuck IMDb.
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1. Die Hard (1988)
R | 132 min | Action, Thriller
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 | Stars: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson
Votes: 944,126 | Gross: $83.01M
This movie is what a straight-up action film should be. John McClane is perhaps the most relatable 80s action hero, obviously is my favourite of the bunch. While it's full of action, and the action scenes are great, it's actually the tension and uncertainty backing it up which makes it work so perfectly. The dialogues and one liners make the character even more likable and quotable. It's not non-stop action, it's non-stop tension which makes an action film excellent. This one proves it. Besides, it has countless many moments, and dialogues worth remembering. A true classic by all means. Completely badass. Yippie-ki-yay motherfucker!! This is my all time favorite and a bonafide classic which will never get old.
Rating : absolute 10/10; golden A+
Rank : 1/5
2. Die Hard 2 (1990)
R | 124 min | Action, Thriller
John McClane attempts to avert disaster as rogue military operatives seize control of Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.
Director: Renny Harlin | Stars: Bruce Willis, William Atherton, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson
Votes: 382,785 | Gross: $117.54M
While not as great as the first one, it still is quite entertaining. The template they go for is basically that of the first film, but they try to do a lot more and that's what holds the film back a little. Still John McClane is at his very best and we do have some really badass moments. Everything that made the first film great is still here, but it's just that the film itself is inferior to the first. Though towards the bottom of the list, it's still a very good film.
Rating : 7.8/10; A-
Rank : 4/5 (though at 4, it's infinite times better than the one at the bottom)
3. Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
R | 128 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
John McClane and a Harlem store owner are targeted by German terrorist Simon in New York City, where he plans to rob the Federal Reserve Building.
Director: John McTiernan | Stars: Bruce Willis, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L. Jackson, Graham Greene
Votes: 407,816 | Gross: $100.01M
It's the movie in the series which is on par with the first one, in many respects. The second film did retain the basic ingredients that made the first film great, but used it in a considerably inferior film. This one does the same, except it's not inferior. Of all the things that were retained, they were used in a different setting with the same theme, which the second film failed to do. What makes me put this one always below the first one is that the villain did not get a proper send off as in the first film. That's just the last 5 minutes of the film. Otherwise, it's almost as equally good as the first one. And besides Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson is fucking great!!!
Rating : 10/10; A+
Rank : 2/5
4. Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
PG-13 | 128 min | Action, Thriller
John McClane and a young hacker join forces to take down master cyber-terrorist Thomas Gabriel in Washington D.C.
Director: Len Wiseman | Stars: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant, Maggie Q
Votes: 420,450 | Gross: $134.53M
For the ones who complaint that this movie was PG-13, there's an unrated cut. And, for a couple of generic PG-13 slurs, the movie isn't bad. There's a lot more action than we are used to in a Die Hard movie, and apart from the fact that John McClane is almost invincible, the movie still has all the good ingredients of a Die Hard film - McClane-ism, witty one liners and the likability of John McClane. It's intense and extremely enjoyable.
Rating : 8.2/10; A
Rank : 3/5
5. A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)
R | 98 min | Action, Thriller
John McClane travels to Russia to help out his seemingly wayward son, Jack, only to discover that Jack is a CIA operative working undercover, causing the father and son to team up against underworld forces.
Director: John Moore | Stars: Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Votes: 214,962 | Gross: $67.35M
Fuck this shit! Except for Bruce Willis being there and the title containing the words "Die Hard", it's not worthy of being in the franchise. They killed all the likability of McClane, in fact he is not even there. There's an old and uninterested Bruce Willis who's an asshole. There's no tension, feels like there's nothing on stake, and the writing and that fucking ass-licking of a twist. It's just fucking nonsense. In the end all we get is a huge butthole of a movie with bad CGIs and plot holes.
Rating : complete 0/10; fuck this movie
Rank : 5/5
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