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Die Hard With a Vengeance

Play trailer 2:41 Poster for Die Hard With a Vengeance R Released May 19, 1995 2h 8m Action Adventure Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
60% Tomatometer 80 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is now divorced, alcoholic and jobless after getting fired for his reckless behavior and bad attitude. He is called back into action, however, when a cryptic terrorist (Jeremy Irons) takes New York City hostage in a lethal game of "Simon Says" and refuses to speak with anyone but McClane. Teaming up with a street-savvy electrician named Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson), McClane dashes through the city, trying to stay one step ahead of a murderous plot.
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Die Hard With a Vengeance

Die Hard With a Vengeance

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Critics Consensus

Die Hard with a Vengeance benefits from Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson's barbed interplay, but clatters to a bombastic finish in a vain effort to cover for an overall lack of fresh ideas.

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Critics Reviews

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Barbara Creed The Age (Australia) If you are an action fan you will love Die Hard With A Vengeance. All you need is a strong stomach and a penchant for masochism. If you can endure the pain threshhold, you won't mind the glaring plot inconsistencies, woeful stereotyping and banal story. Nov 18, 2022 Full Review David Hinckley New York Daily News Samuel L. Jackson ensures that Bruce Willis' third stint as the ragged detective John McClane is a triumphant one. Rated: 3/5 May 7, 2021 Full Review Ian Nathan Empire Magazine Die Hard With A Vengeance is better than Die Hard 2, but not as good as the peerless original. Rated: 3/5 Apr 2, 2019 Full Review Don Shanahan Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast There are times we like this one more than the original. Nov 16, 2024 Full Review David Hogan hoganreviews.co.uk Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson are a fantastic double act and only add to the fun action scenes. Easily the second best Die Hard film and one of the best action films full stop. Rated: 5/5 Apr 29, 2024 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Whereas Die Hard 2 downgraded Bruce Willis’ McClane to your average invincible superhero, all too common in action flicks, this 1995 release returns humanity to the character. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 6, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Cody W Bruce Willis’s action style and Samuel L. Jackson’s hilarious sense of humor are what make DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE a wild and extreme roller coaster ride for action fans. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/27/24 Full Review Jay W This movie begs the question of, "What makes a Die Hard movie?" Each Die Hard movie is based on a book, but they are all from different series. This means that the original screenplays, were not written with John McClain in mind. This one, for example, was originally called "Simon Says". Before this film, most people would associate a "Die Hard" film as an action film that takes place almost entirely in one location. This is why so many Die Hard knock offs would be defined by where it was happening, on a bus, a plane, a mountain or a tunnel. This time around, McClain has a full city to roam around in. Another aspect would be that of Christmas. Both of the previous entries took place during Christmas, this one only makes the occasional reference to the holiday. So how does this film even consider itself Die Hard? But this film has 3 important aspects that make it feel genuinely "Die Hard". #1. John McLain takes a beating. Die Hard is known for its visceral action, and this one brings it to life. McClain isn't winning because he is the smartest or strongest, he is just the guy that happens to show up. And by the end of the movie, you do feel like he has gone through some of the worst stuff and is just still standing by sheer will power. #2 A memorable villain. Much like Hans Gruber before him, Simon, as played by Jeremy Irons, is an absolute delight. He has the right level of camp and menace. He feels like he is relishing every scene of villainy he is doing. But at the same time, is still nice enough to throw a man some aspirin if he has a headache. It almost feels like he is playing the live action version of Scar, and what could be wrong with that. #3 John McTiernan is back baby! The legendary director has returned and has not missed a beat. He knows how to best frame an action scene so that our heroes feel like they are in the most peril. He is able to elevate the material to something above and beyond. "Die Hard 3" may not be a game changer the same way the first film was, but it is still a really good action film. My main complaints would be the bickering between Jackson and Willis gets on my nerves and the ending is a bit of a letdown. Simon says, give it a watch. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/21/24 Full Review Frank B My third time watching.... it is my favourite of Die Hard Series of films...It brings me into the suspense and action. I enjoyed the characters well done... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/09/24 Full Review Idan Charles L A near perfect ending for the original die hard trilogy Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Patrick M Sweet!!! I enjoyed this!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/25/24 Full Review Audience Member My favourite die Hard film if you like loads of action you will love it Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/05/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Die Hard With a Vengeance

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Movie Info

Synopsis Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is now divorced, alcoholic and jobless after getting fired for his reckless behavior and bad attitude. He is called back into action, however, when a cryptic terrorist (Jeremy Irons) takes New York City hostage in a lethal game of "Simon Says" and refuses to speak with anyone but McClane. Teaming up with a street-savvy electrician named Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson), McClane dashes through the city, trying to stay one step ahead of a murderous plot.
Director
John McTiernan
Producer
Michael Tadross, John McTiernan
Screenwriter
Roderick Thorp, Jonathan Hensleigh
Distributor
Fox, 20th Century Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox, Cinergi Pictures Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Action, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 19, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$99.5M
Runtime
2h 8m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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