For years, an eternal debate has raged among cinephiles during the holidays: isDie Harda Christmas movie? While this article will not take a position on either side of this contentious issue, it will point out that this December, you’ll be able to decide for yourself — for free. The 1988Bruce Willisactioner will be available to stream on the free, ad-supported streaming service Tubi starting on December 1.
Directed by action mavenJohn McTiernan,Die Hardis an adaptation of theRoderick ThorpnovelNothing Lasts Forever.The Detective, an earlier Thorp novel thatNothing Lasts Foreverwas a sequel to, had been adapted into a 1968 film withFrank Sinatra; thus, Sinatra was contractually obligated to be offered the lead role inDie Hard. Sinatra turned it down, and the lead went to Willis, then best-known for his role on the TV seriesMoonlighting. The film’s villain,Alan Rickman, was even more obscure at the time —Die Hardwas his screen debut. 20th Century Fox had doubts about the movie’s prospects, but it became one of the biggest box office hits of 1988, spawning a successful franchise and making Willis into a bonafide action star.
What Is ‘Die Hard’ About?
Veteran New York copJohn McClanetakes a trip to LA to visit his estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) at Christmas, hoping to patch up their marriage. Unfortunately, his visit to her office party at the Nakatomi Plaza skyscraper coincides with a team of terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Rickman) taking its attendees hostage. Soon, McClane is left to wage a one-man war on Gruber’s men — with a little help from cop Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson), and absolutely no help from the rest of the LAPD, the FBI, or weaselly journalist Richard Thornburg (William Atherton). However, he soon learns that Gruber isn’t a terrorist — and that he has no intention of freeing the hostages, even if his demands are met. He’ll have to use all his skills to save Holly and her coworkers, and his marriage. Yippie-ki-yay!
The success ofDie Hardnot only inspired four sequels, but aslew of ripoffsthat could be summarized as “Die Hardin a _____”. That includesUnder Siege(Die Hardin a battleship),Passenger 57(Die Hardin an airliner), andSudden Death(Die Hardin a hockey arena).
Die Hardwillstream for free on Tubi starting on December 1. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
New York City policeman John McClane (Bruce Willis) is visiting his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and two daughters on Christmas Eve. He joins her at a holiday party in the headquarters of the Japanese-owned business she works for. But the festivities are interrupted by a group of terrorists who take over the exclusive high-rise, and everyone in it. Very soon McClane realizes that there’s no one to save the hostages – but him.
Watch on Tubi
