Die Hard, the iconic action film starring Bruce Willis, premiered in theaters on July 15, 1988. The story follows a New York City police officer who is visiting his estranged family during Christmas. While attending a holiday party for his wife, he becomes embroiled in a terrorist takeover of the building. Willis’ character finds himself as the only one capable of fighting to save the lives of the hostages in the building. The film is a blend of suspense, action, and comedy, based on Roderick Thorpe’s 1979 novel, Nothing Lasts Forever. 

Die Hard, though now seen as a cult classic, wasn’t projected to be a big success. The expectations for the film’s reception were low, and critics were particularly harsh in their assessment of the film after its release. However, against the odds, Die Hard grossed approximately $150 million and became the highest-grossing action film of the year. It also received 4 Academy Award nods, and the leading men, Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman, were put on the Hollywood map. After it was critically reevaluated due to its overwhelming success, it is now considered one of the greatest action films of all time. 

Fun Facts about Die Hard: 

• Many of the explosions and effects from the movie were real, which significantly contributed to the film’s intensity and realism. 
• The director encouraged the actors to improvise, which added to the movie’s hilarity and numerous quotable lines.
• During the filming, actor Bruce Willis suffered from hearing loss due to a loud gunshot from one of his scenes. 
• Die Hard was Alan Rickman’s film debut, and he was initially scared of guns prior to the production. 
• Though many claim that Die Hard is a Christmas movie due to its setting and themes, the film was not intended to be considered a holiday film.