Die Hard
Metascore
70 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
view
per page
  1. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    100
    Not only is it a thrill-a-minute ride, but it has one of the best film villains in recent memory, a hero everyone can relate to, dialogue that crackles with wit, and a lot of very impressive pyrotechnics.
  2. Mr. Showbiz
    Reviewed by: Carmel Dagan
    100
    This brash, clever picture caught the attention of audiences after years of moribund product from the likes of Schwarzenegger and Stallone.
    All this publication's reviews
  3. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Mike Clark
    88
    The result is a foot-stomping rouser. Where else can you get a cop in his underwear boogalooing with skyscraper terrorists? [15 July 1988, Life, p.4D]
    All this critic's reviews
  4. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    80
    A firepowered, blood-drenched action picture that doesn't let up.
  5. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Dave Kehr
    75
    Has everything but a personality. [15 July 1988, Friday, p.A]
    All this critic's reviews
  6. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Peter Stack
    75
    Slick, glossy, overblown, implausible. [15 July 1988, Daily Notebook, p.E1]
    All this critic's reviews
  7. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Caryn James
    70
    Has to be the most excessive film around. It piles every known element of the action genre onto the flimsy story. [15 July 1988]
    All this publication's reviews
  8. Variety
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    70
    As high tech, rock hard and souped up as an action film can be.
  9. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Hal Hinson
    70
    A logistical wonder, a marvel of engineering, and relentlessly, mercilessly thrilling.
  10. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Staff (not credited)
    60
    A triumph of slick direction and lowbrow thrills, marred but not spoiled by a sour aftertaste.
  11. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Thomas
    60
    As a grand flourish of cinematic technique, it is awesome; as a human drama, it is disgusting and silly, a mindless depiction of carnage on an epic scale. [15 July 1988, Calendar, p.6-1]
    All this critic's reviews
  12. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    50
    On a technical level, there's a lot to be said for Die Hard. It's when we get to some of the unnecessary adornments of the script that the movie shoots itself in the foot.
  13. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Schickel
    50
    What Willis proves in Die Hard is that it is not one you can ease through, especially if your preparation runs more to body building than to character building. [July 25, 1988]
    All this critic's reviews

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.8 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 133 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 31
  3. Negative: 1 out of 31
  1. grandpajoe6191
    9
    Director John McTiernan's "Die Hard" is one of those original one-man macho action movies that have brainless fun and a surprisingly deep character depth. It certainly is a masterpiece.… Full Review »
  2. TheNewSpielberg
    9
    German terrorists, a skyscraper, Christmas Eve and LA. When these elements are combined, you get Die Hard, a 1988 rip-roaring action epic that shot Bruce Willis to international fame. The plot is delightfully simple; John McClane is a New York cop who is visiting his wife Holly in LA during Christmas Eve. He meets up with her at her business company's Christmas party. All goes well until a few uninvited guests in the form of creepy terrorists seize control of the building and take all 30 of the guests hostage, demanding a ransom. McClane, in the bathroom at their time of arrival, escapes into the unfinished skyscraper armed only with his standard issue 9mm at his disposal. His main objective; find out what the hell is going on. His only help is a flatfooted cop on the ground played by Reginald VelJohnson of Family Matters. Along the way, he is listening to radio messages between the villains with a stolen walkie talkie in an attempt to figure out their nefarious plan. Alan Rickman is great as Hans Gruber, leader of the baddies, and delivers a performance he echoes in the Harry Potter films as Prof. Severus Snape. One of the best movie villains of all time. This festival of explosions, guns and epic battles was directed by John McTiernan, famous already for the original Predator. He delivers a movie that entertains as well as it shocks. In particular, the sequence in which one of the hostages attempts to save his own life by offering McClane to the terrorists. Correctly anticipating a liar, Hans shoots him in the head. The film was one of the biggest box office hits of the 1980s and spawned three sequels throughout the 1990s and 2000s, firmly placing John McClane as an action hero alongside the Terminator and Rambo. Also, it is the best Christmas movie ever made.… Full Review »
  3. imthenoob
    8
    How can you not like Die Hard? As I said for First Blood, It's one of the best action movies of all time and is a must watch for all action film fans.
See all user reviews »