On July 15, 1988, audiences got their first taste of Die Hard, a film that would go on to become one of the most beloved action movies ever made. Starring Bruce Willis, the movie centers on a New York City cop who travels to visit his estranged family over the Christmas holiday. When he shows up at his wife's office holiday party, things take a dramatic turn as terrorists seize control of the building. Trapped inside, Willis' character realizes he's the sole person who can stand between the armed assailants and the hostages they've taken. Adapted from Roderick Thorpe's 1979 novel, Nothing Lasts Forever, the film masterfully weaves together heart-pounding action, nail-biting suspense, and genuinely funny moments.

What makes Die Hard's success story so remarkable is that virtually nobody saw it coming. The film wasn't expected to make much of a splash, and once it hit theaters, critics were far from kind in their reviews. Yet somehow, defying all expectations, the movie pulled in approximately $150 million at the box office, earning the distinction of being the year's highest-grossing action film. On top of that, it picked up 4 Academy Award nods, and its leading men — Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman — found themselves catapulted to Hollywood stardom. As its commercial triumph became impossible to ignore, critics took a second look, and today it stands as one of the greatest action films of all time.

Fun Facts about Die Hard:

  • A good number of the explosions and practical effects seen on screen were actually real, lending the film a visceral intensity and sense of realism that's hard to fake.
  • Improvisation was actively encouraged by the director, resulting in some of the movie's funniest moments and most memorable, quotable dialogue.
  • Bruce Willis actually experienced hearing loss during production, the result of a particularly loud gunshot fired in one of his scenes.
  • Die Hard marked Alan Rickman's very first film role, and before production began, he was genuinely frightened of guns.
  • Despite its Christmas setting and holiday themes leading many fans to passionately argue that Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas movie, the filmmakers never actually intended it to be viewed as a holiday film.