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Die Hard

Hollywood and English-Language Studio Cinema

Die Hard is a 1988 American action film directed by John McTiernan, starring Bruce Willis as an off duty New York police officer who becomes trapped in a Los Angeles skyscraper during a Christmas party after a group of armed criminals seize the building and take its occupants hostage. Confined largely to a single tower and unfolding in close to real time, the film built its tension through its hero's isolation and improvisation rather than large scale spectacle. Its commercial and critical success established a template that numerous later action films consciously imitated, often described by critics and filmmakers as the die hard formula.

Facts
Classification
Original Language
English 1
Award
Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Foreign Language Film 2
Release Year
1988 1
Country
United States 1
FAQs

Is Die Hard a Christmas film?

It is often named one of the best Christmas films, but its status as one is disputed.

People disagree. The story takes place during a Christmas Eve party at a Los Angeles skyscraper, and because of that setting Die Hard is often named one of the best Christmas films of all time. Its status as a Christmas film is disputed, though. Those in favor argue that the Christmas setting is enough to qualify it, while those opposed argue that it is an action film that merely happens to take place at Christmas.
Connections

Created By

Source Die Hard, Wikipedia

In Medium

Film, Media Forms
Source Die Hard, Wikipedia
In the Other Atlases

Original Language

Also in Language Atlas: the original language of this subject.

Originated In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Source Die Hard, WikipediaLead sentence 1
Quote, Lead sentence 1
Die Hard is a 1988 American action film directed by John McTiernan and written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E.
Sources
1. Die Hard, Wikipedia
  • Lead paragraph, first sentence
    Die Hard is a 1988 American action film directed by John McTiernan and written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza, based on the 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp.
  • Lead paragraph, first sentence, country
    Die Hard is a 1988 American action film directed by John McTiernan and written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza, based on the 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp.
  • Die Hard, Description, original language
    Die Hard is a 1988 American action film directed by John McTiernan, starring Bruce Willis as an off duty New York police officer who becomes trapped in a Los Angeles skyscraper during a Christmas party after a group of armed criminals seize the building and take its occupants hostage.
  • In Medium: Film, Article lead sentence
    Die Hard is a 1988 American action film directed by John McTiernan and written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E.
  • Created By: John McTiernan, Article lead sentence
    Die Hard is a 1988 American action film directed by John McTiernan and written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza, based on the 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp.
View the Source
2. Die Hard (Wikidata)
Wikidata P166: Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Foreign Language Film
Quote, Wikidata P166: Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Foreign Language Film
Wikidata P166 (award received): Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Foreign Language Film.
View the Source
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