Movie: Die Hard.
Released: 1988.
IMDB rank: 8.2.
IMDB link.

Notes: Up until Die Hard, Bruce Willis had had mostly bit parts on TV shows, though he was the main character on the TV series Moonlighting. Die Hard – which was nominated for four Oscars and won various other awards – arguably established him as an action star. (Though lately he’s been doing a lot of great bit parts.) As veteran Officer John McClane, he goes to great, heroic lengths to protect citizens when a dozen terrorists take people hostage on the 30th floor of office tower in LA, with the intention of stealing over $600M in bearer bonds. McClane has come from New York to LA to for Christmas to see his kids and sort of estranged wife, who is in the building. With no time to wait for the FBI, McClane plans to stop the terrorists. Of course, if you watch this one, you have to see the rest in the series. Number 4 is now out on DVD.

Director: John McTiernan.
Categories: Action, Crime, Thriller.
Writers: Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza based on novel by Roderick Thorp.
Cast: Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia.
Runtime: 131 min.
Trailer: