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Die Hard (1988)
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Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
3 November 1988 (Netherlands)
See more »
Tagline:
It will blow you through the back wall of the theater! See more »
Plot:
New York cop John McClane gives terrorists a dose of their own medicine as they hold hostages in an LA office building. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars.
Another 6 wins
&
2 nominations
See more »
NewsDesk:
(917 articles)
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User Reviews:
The most influential action film of the last half-century
See more (582 total) »
Cast
(in credits order) (verified as complete)
Directed by | |||
| John McTiernan | |||
Writing credits(WGA) | ||
| Roderick Thorp | (novel "Nothing Lasts Forever") | |
| Jeb Stuart | (screenplay) and | |
| Steven E. de Souza | (screenplay) | |
Produced by | |||
| Charles Gordon | .... | executive producer | |
| Lawrence Gordon | .... | producer | |
| Beau Marks | .... | associate producer (as Beau E.L. Marks) | |
| Joel Silver | .... | producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Michael Kamen | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Jan de Bont | (as Jan De Bont) | ||
Film Editing by | |||
| John F. Link | |||
| Frank J. Urioste | |||
Casting by | |||
| Jackie Burch | |||
Production Design by | |||
| Jackson De Govia | (as Jackson DeGovia) | ||
Art Direction by | |||
| John R. Jensen | |||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Philip Leonard | (as Phil M. Leonard) | ||
Costume Design by | |||
| Marilyn Vance | (as Marilyn Vance-Straker) | ||
Makeup Department | |||
| Paul Abascal | .... | hair stylist | |
| Wes Dawn | .... | makeup artist | |
| Scott H. Eddo | .... | makeup supervisor | |
| Jim Kail | .... | makeup artist | |
| Josée Normand | .... | hair stylist: Bruce Willis (as Josee Normand) | |
Production Management | |||
| Beau Marks | .... | unit production manager (as Beau E.L. Marks) | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Paula Foster | .... | dga trainee | |
| Michael Alan Kahn | .... | second second assistant director | |
| Beau Marks | .... | second unit director (as Beau E.L. Marks) | |
| Terry Miller | .... | second assistant director (as Terry Miller Jr.) | |
| Benjamin Rosenberg | .... | first assistant director | |
Sound Department | |||
| Vanessa Theme Ament | .... | foley artist (as Vanessa Ament) | |
| George H. Anderson | .... | supervising dialogue editor (as George Anderson) | |
| Kevin Barlia | .... | assistant dialogue editor | |
| Ron Bartlett | .... | foley editor | |
| Don J. Bassman | .... | sound re-recording mixer (as Don Bassman) | |
| Destiny Borden | .... | assistant sound editor | |
| Sherrie Bayer Burke | .... | assistant adr editor | |
| Kevin E. Carpenter | .... | adr mixer (as Kevin Carpenter) | |
| Kevin F. Cleary | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| Phyllis Drury | .... | machine operator | |
| Stephen Hunter Flick | .... | sound effects (as Stephen H. Flick) | |
| David W. Gray | .... | stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as David Gray) | |
| Robin Harlan | .... | foley artist | |
| Craig Heath | .... | sound recordist | |
| Dennis Jones | .... | boom operator | |
| Cindy Marty | .... | dialogue editor | |
| Rick Mitchell | .... | foley editor | |
| Oscar Mitt | .... | assistant sound editor | |
| Al Overton Jr. | .... | sound mixer (as Al Overton) | |
| Richard Overton | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| Todd Overton | .... | cable person | |
| Matthew Peerce | .... | apprentice adr editor | |
| Robert Renga | .... | sound recordist | |
| Lisa M. Risen | .... | apprentice adr editor | |
| Dennis Rogers | .... | adr recordist | |
| Jeff Rosen | .... | dialogue editor | |
| Hank Salerno | .... | supervising adr editor | |
| Norman B. Schwartz | .... | post-production dialogue | |
| Catherine Shorr | .... | sound effects editor | |
| Richard Shorr | .... | sound effects | |
| James Simcik | .... | adr editor (as James R. Simcik) | |
| Ronald Sinclair | .... | adr editor | |
| David E. Stone | .... | sound effects editor (as David Stone) | |
| Lee Tinkham | .... | foley mixer | |
| Bill Voigtlander | .... | adr editor | |
| Rosemarie Wheeler | .... | assistant adr editor | |
| Ezra Dweck | .... | sound effects recordist (uncredited) | |
| Bill Henderson | .... | sound re-recording engineer (uncredited) | |
| Richard Shorr | .... | supervising sound editor (uncredited) | |
Visual Effects by | |||
| Yarek Alfer | .... | model maker: Boss (as Jarek Alfer) | |
| Maura Alvarez | .... | animation production assistant: Boss | |
| Brent Boates | .... | visual effects art director: Boss | |
| Richard Chronister | .... | model electronics: Boss | |
| Kevin Clark | .... | optical line-up: Boss | |
| Albert Cox | .... | optical supervisor 'Die Hard': Boss (as Al Cox) | |
| Philip Crescenzo | .... | chief electronics engineer: Boss Film | |
| Richard Edlund | .... | visual effects producer | |
| Alan K.M. Faucher | .... | stand-by model maker: Boss (as Alan Faucher) | |
| Donald Fly | .... | chief financial officer: Boss Film (as Donald R. Fly) | |
| Meg Freeman | .... | animation production assistant: Boss | |
| Kento Gebo | .... | model maker: Boss (as Kent Gebo) | |
| Ron Gress | .... | model painter: Boss | |
| Robert L. Johnston | .... | model effects key man: Boss (as Robert Johnston) | |
| Larry Jolly | .... | model helicopter consultant: Boss | |
| Kelly Kerby | .... | stage assistant: Boss | |
| Lisa Krepela | .... | animation production assistant: Boss | |
| Bruce MacRae | .... | model maker: Boss | |
| Pat McClung | .... | chief model maker: Boss (as Patrick McClung) | |
| Dennis Michelson | .... | visual effects editor: Boss | |
| Bill Neil | .... | director of photography: Boss (as William Neil) | |
| Clint Palmer | .... | camera operator: Boss Film Studios (as Clinton Palmer) | |
| Samuel E. Recinos | .... | technical animation supervisor: Boss (as Samuel Recinos) | |
| Chris Regan | .... | optical department supervisor: Boss | |
| Milius Romyn | .... | model construction foreman: Boss | |
| Paul Sabourin | .... | model effects: Boss | |
| Suzie Schneider | .... | model maker: Boss (as Suzy Schneider) | |
| Dennis Schultz | .... | model maker: Boss | |
| David Schwartz | .... | chief miniature moldmaker: Boss | |
| James Sleeper | .... | optical camera operator: Boss | |
| Mark Stetson | .... | model shop supervisor: Boss | |
| Michael Van Himbergen | .... | visual effects coordinator | |
| Garry Waller | .... | special project supervisor: Boss | |
| Debra Wolff | .... | assistant visual effects editor: Boss | |
| Peter Yanovitch | .... | optical line-up: Boss | |
| Dana Yuricich | .... | model maker: Boss | |
| Matthew Yuricich | .... | chief matte artist: Boss | |
| James G. Anka | .... | model maker (uncredited) | |
| Wayne Baker | .... | first assistant camera operator: Boss Films (uncredited) | |
| Mike Chambers | .... | visual effects coordinator (uncredited) | |
Casting Department | |||
| Ferne Cassel | .... | casting associate | |
| Carl Joy | .... | extras casting | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Barry Francis Delaney | .... | costume supervisor (as Barry Delaney) | |
| Charles Mercuri | .... | costumer: Bruce Willis | |
| Barbara Siebert | .... | set costumer: women (as Barbara Siebert Bolticoff) | |
| Victoria Snow | .... | additional costumer | |
| Michael Voght | .... | set costumer: men (as Michael J. Voght) | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Derek Brechin | .... | assistant editor (as Derek G. Brechin) | |
| Gary Burritt | .... | negative cutter | |
| Bryan H. Carroll | .... | assistant editor (as Bryan Carroll) | |
| Gregory M. Gerlich | .... | assistant editor | |
| Dale E. Grahn | .... | color timer (as Dale Grahn) | |
| Jeff Gullo | .... | second assistant editor | |
| Bob Hagans | .... | color timer | |
| Paul Jenson | .... | negative developer: Boss | |
| Edward Malone | .... | second assistant editor | |
| Kelly Irvine | .... | assistant editor (uncredited) | |
Music Department | |||
| Bruce Babcock | .... | additional orchestrator | |
| Chris Boardman | .... | additional orchestrator | |
| Walt Borchers | .... | score engineer | |
| Christopher Brooks | .... | supervising music editor | |
| Terry Brown | .... | score engineer | |
| Chuck Garsha | .... | score engineer | |
| Philip Giffin | .... | additional orchestrator | |
| Michael Kamen | .... | conductor | |
| Stephen McLaughlin | .... | music producer (as Stephen E. McLaughlin) | |
| Armin Steiner | .... | score mixer | |
| Fiachra Trench | .... | additional orchestrator (as Fi Trench) | |
| Bruce Babcock | .... | composer: additional music (uncredited) | |
Transportation Department | |||
| Myra Hill | .... | transportation coordinator (as Myra L. Hill) | |
| Dean E. Mason | .... | transportation captain (as Dean Mason) | |
| James Nordberg | .... | transportation captain (as Jim Nordberg) | |
| Stanley R. Webber | .... | picture car coordinator (as Stanley Webber) | |
| Tim Sisson | .... | picture car mechanic (uncredited) | |
Other crew | |||
| Pamela Alessandrelli | .... | assistant: John Mctiernan | |
| Alex Algarin | .... | dubbing projectionist | |
| Brook Altman | .... | production assistant | |
| Bobby Bass | .... | special weapons training | |
| Susan Joy Beallor | .... | assistant: Joel Silver | |
| Dan Carroll | .... | location liaison | |
| Paul Chaleff | .... | special ceramic vessels | |
| Rick Chavez | .... | craft service | |
| Jack Crain | .... | knife designer and manufacturer (as Jack W. Crain) | |
| Keith Cubba | .... | trainer: Bruce Willis | |
| Jyllel Syage Dickerman | .... | assistant production accountant (as Jyllel Syage) | |
| Ken Dudderar | .... | precision cinetechnician: Boss | |
| Riley Kathryn Ellis | .... | production executive | |
| Robert Eyslee | .... | chief lighting tech: Boss | |
| Marilynn B. Frank | .... | first aid | |
| Elizabeth Galloway | .... | production coordinator | |
| Gary Goldman | .... | technical advisor: military (as L. Gary Goldman) | |
| Aaron J. Green | .... | model furnisher: butterfly wing bridge | |
| Rhonda C. Gunner | .... | video and graphics display: Video Image | |
| Alison Harstedt | .... | assistant production accountant | |
| Richard E. Hollander | .... | video and graphics display: Video Image | |
| Deborah Johnson | .... | assistant: Bruce Willis | |
| K. Lenna Katich | .... | production accountant (as K. Lenna Kunkel) | |
| Tony Kerum | .... | caterer | |
| Carol Land | .... | assistant: John Mctiernan | |
| Clare Leavenworth | .... | assistant: Bruce Willis | |
| Andrew Lipschultz | .... | publicity coordinator | |
| Joel Marx | .... | location manager (as Joel B. Marx) | |
| Peter McKernan Sr. | .... | pilot (as Peter McKernan) | |
| Peter McKernan | .... | pilot (as Peter McKernan Jr.) | |
| Gregory L. McMurry | .... | video and graphics display: Video Image | |
| Kari Ann Messina | .... | production assistant | |
| Lisa Miller | .... | production assistant | |
| Chrissa Owens | .... | stage assistant: Boss | |
| Michael Papac | .... | weapons specialist | |
| Gilbert O. Parra | .... | police technical advisor (as Art Fransen) | |
| Alan D. Purwin | .... | pilot (as Alan Purwin) | |
| Jeff Rand | .... | stage assistant: Boss | |
| Frank Reinhard | .... | production assistant | |
| Phil Robinson | .... | production assistant | |
| Ken H. Rosen | .... | location manager | |
| Annie Saunders | .... | assistant: Charles Gordon | |
| Shari Schneider | .... | assistant: Lawrence Gordon | |
| Antoinette Simmrin | .... | assistant location manager | |
| Tamara Smith | .... | production associate | |
| Ken Stone | .... | maintenance engineer | |
| Charles A. Tamburro | .... | pilot | |
| Michael Tamburro | .... | pilot | |
| Tony Tamburro | .... | pilot | |
| Dana Lynne Taylor | .... | production coordinator | |
| Kellett Tighe | .... | assistant: Lawrence Gordon | |
| Marion Tumen | .... | script supervisor | |
| Ladd Vance | .... | assistant: Joel Silver (as Ladd Rosenberg-Vance) | |
| Tod M. Volpe | .... | special ceramic vessels | |
| John C. Wash | .... | video and graphics display: Video Image | |
| Mark West | .... | design engineer: Boss | |
| Claire Wilson | .... | assistant: Richard Edlund, Boss Film Studios | |
| Maryjane Zelicskovics | .... | production accountant: Boss | |
| M. Rutledge McCall | .... | production assistant (uncredited) | |
Thanks | |||
| Dick Beving | .... | special thanks | |
| Patty Brewer | .... | special thanks | |
| Georgian Francisco | .... | special thanks | |
| Jim Gembala | .... | special thanks | |
| George Meehan | .... | special thanks | |
| Allen Pena | .... | special thanks | |
| Eli Tawil | .... | special thanks | |
Production CompaniesDistributors
- Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox of Germany (1988) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox (1989) (UK) (theatrical)
- CBS/Fox Home Video (1989) (USA) (video)
- CBS/Fox (1989) (Argentina) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox Video (1990) (Belgium) (video)
- Fox Network (1991) (USA) (TV)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (UK) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2001) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
- Gativideo (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Gativideo (2001) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-edited)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (2-disc special edition)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox Home Video (????) (New Zealand) (VHS) (original video release)
- Boss Film Studios
- Video Image (video and graphic displays)
- BT Industrial Supply expendables
- Central Casting extras casting
- DeLuxe Laboratories color
- Hadler Public Relations special thanks
- IVC digital mastering
- On Tour Productions transportation services
- Panavision cameras and lenses
- R/Greenberg Associates additional optical effects
- R/Greenberg Associates titles
- Segue Music music editing
- Varèse Sarabande score album released by (limited edition)
- Video Image display graphics
- Video Image video displays
Additional Details
Also Known As:
"Duro de matar" - Argentina, Mexico, Peru
"Piège de cristal" - Canada (French title), France
"Smrtonosná past" - Czechoslovakia (imdb display title), Czechoslovakia (Czech title)
"Stirb langsam" - Austria, West Germany
"Умирай трудно" - Bulgaria (Bulgarian title)
"Aksjon skyskraper" - Norway (imdb display title)
"Assalto ao Arranha-Céus" - Portugal
"Die Hard" - Japan (English title)
"Die Hard - Vain kuolleen ruumiini yli" - Finland (imdb display title)
"Die hard - Trappola di cristallo" - Italy (DVD title)
"Drágán add az életed!" - Hungary (imdb display title)
"Duro de Matar" - Brazil
"Greu de Ucis" - Romania (imdb display title)
"Greu de ucis" - Romania (imdb display title)
"Jungla de cristal" - Spain
"Poly skliros gia na pethanei" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Smrtonosná pasca" - Czechoslovakia (Slovak title)
"Szklana pulapka" - Poland
"Trappola di cristallo" - Italy (imdb display title)
"Umri muski" - Yugoslavia (Serbian title)
"Umri muski" - Croatia (imdb display title)
"Umri pokoncno" - Slovenia (imdb display title)
"Visa hing" - Estonia
"Zor ölüm" - Turkey (Turkish title)
See more »
"Piège de cristal" - Canada (French title), France
"Smrtonosná past" - Czechoslovakia (imdb display title), Czechoslovakia (Czech title)
"Stirb langsam" - Austria, West Germany
"Умирай трудно" - Bulgaria (Bulgarian title)
"Aksjon skyskraper" - Norway (imdb display title)
"Assalto ao Arranha-Céus" - Portugal
"Die Hard" - Japan (English title)
"Die Hard - Vain kuolleen ruumiini yli" - Finland (imdb display title)
"Die hard - Trappola di cristallo" - Italy (DVD title)
"Drágán add az életed!" - Hungary (imdb display title)
"Duro de Matar" - Brazil
"Greu de Ucis" - Romania (imdb display title)
"Greu de ucis" - Romania (imdb display title)
"Jungla de cristal" - Spain
"Poly skliros gia na pethanei" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Smrtonosná pasca" - Czechoslovakia (Slovak title)
"Szklana pulapka" - Poland
"Trappola di cristallo" - Italy (imdb display title)
"Umri muski" - Yugoslavia (Serbian title)
"Umri muski" - Croatia (imdb display title)
"Umri pokoncno" - Slovenia (imdb display title)
"Visa hing" - Estonia
"Zor ölüm" - Turkey (Turkish title)
See more »
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
131 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)
Certification:
USA:R (certificate #29160) | Peru:14 | Argentina:16 (original rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2001) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (re-rating) (2001) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) (original rating) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | West Germany:16 (cut) (video premiere) | Finland:K-16 (1989) (cut) | Finland:K-15 (DVD version) | Finland:K-18 (1988) (uncut) | Malaysia:18SG | Brazil:14 | Philippines:R-18 | UK:18 (1988) | West Germany:18 (original rating) | India:A | South Africa:16LV | Italy:VM14 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 (re-rating) | Canada:14+ (TV rating) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Australia:M | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Norway:18 (original rating) | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | France:U | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:PG-12 | Spain:18
Filming Locations:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
There are two references to the Japanese naval attack on Pearl Harbor on he 7th December 1941. The first occurs when John McClane questions whether the Japanese celebrate Christmas. Takagi replies "We're flexible, Pearl Harbor didn't work out so we got you with tape decks". The second is the breaking of the code key for the vault. The password "Akagi" (Red Castle in English) is the name of one of the Japanese aircraft carriers which carried out the strike on Pearl Harbor.See more »
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: The eyes of the dead terrorist in the elevator close just before Gruber touches his face.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Businessman:You don't like flying, do you?
John McClane:What gives you that idea?
Businessman:You wanna know the secret to surviving air travel? After you get where you're going, take off your shoes and your socks then walk around on the rug bare foot and make fists with your toes.
John McClane:Fists with your toes?
Businessman:I know, I know, it sounds crazy. Trust me, I've been doing it for nine years. Yes sir, better than a shower and a hot cup of coffee.
John McClane:Okay.
[the businessman sees John's gun]
John McClane:It's okay, I'm a cop. Trust me, I've been doing this for eleven years.
See more »
Businessman:You don't like flying, do you?
John McClane:What gives you that idea?
Businessman:You wanna know the secret to surviving air travel? After you get where you're going, take off your shoes and your socks then walk around on the rug bare foot and make fists with your toes.
John McClane:Fists with your toes?
Businessman:I know, I know, it sounds crazy. Trust me, I've been doing it for nine years. Yes sir, better than a shower and a hot cup of coffee.
John McClane:Okay.
[the businessman sees John's gun]
John McClane:It's okay, I'm a cop. Trust me, I've been doing this for eleven years.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in A Piece of the Action: Behind the Scenes of 'Rush Hour' (1999) (V)See more »
Soundtrack:
CHRISTMAS IN HOLLISSee more »
FAQ
How did Hans know that those kids on TV were Holly McClane's?How does McClane know to give Gruber an empty gun?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
See more »
See more (582 total) »
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Die Hard (1988) See more »Recommendations
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In the Sixties, author Roderick Thorp wrote a novel, The Detective, which was turned into a movie, starring Frank Sinatra in the title role of Joe Leland. A sequel was written, in which Joe becomes trapped in the Claxxon Oil Corporation skyscraper after it is taken over by German terrorists and he has to rescue his daughter and grandchildren. Two decades later, the skyscraper becomes Nakatomi, the daughter becomes the wife, Leland becomes John McClane and the title becomes Die Hard.
To say that Die Hard sets new standards for action movies is like calling Bill Gates well off. The movie was so innovative and groundbreaking that dozens of rip-offs followed - Passenger 57, Under Siege, Cliffhanger, Sudden Death, et al. Hostage/terrorist movies were all the rage in the early Nineties.
Very few came close, because Die Hard had so many strong points, not least of which was Alan Rickman's marvellous performance, as Hans Gruber - also the name of the villain in Our Man Flint - the classically educated, smartly dressed terrorist leader. This is not some hammy guy in a chain-mail shirt with spikes on his gloves (Commando). Gruber would have been well at home on Wall Street.
His plan is to break into the vault on the 30th floor of the Nakatomi Plaza and take away $640million in negotiable bearer bonds. When he and his 12 European henchmen round up the office workers, who are enjoying a Christmas Eve party, one man slips away unnoticed. He is John McClane, a New York cop who has come to LA to settle down with his estranged wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia). The odds are against him. But that's just the way he likes it.
The terrorists even have names. And we remember them. Most action movies these days have unidentified heavies, played by stunt men, who are lined up and knocked over.
In his battle to save his Holly, McClane is scorched, torched, beaten and blown up. He jumps off the roof and falls through air ducts. He uncovers deception and double-cross and picks broken glass out of his bare feet. No help comes from the naive and incompetent police, who are unable to get inside, and even less from the FBI.
McClane is not a supercop. He is an ordinary guy, who doesn't want a fight. When he is shot, he bleeds. He hurts. All he has are his pants, his vest, his gun - which runs out of ammo. This is the first realistic connection the audience has. When you don't want to be in McClane's position, it makes for much excitement.
John McTiernan, who's only previous mainstream movie was Predator, uses awesome photography and technical skills to give the film a truly polished and sophisticated look - it was nominated for four technical Academy Awards. He also allows for enough time for decent character development, most of which comes between McClane and a cop (Reginald Veljohnson) he makes friends with on a CB radio.
Die Hard manages to be heart-pounding and teeth-gritting every single time. And if you are one of those many people who have only ever been able to watch it on TV then now is definitely the time to rediscover a cool, classic and creative action picture.