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Bruce Willis made some unforgettable movie magic and completely changed the face of the action genre when he headlined the beloved 1988 blockbuster hitDie Hard, which famously followed NYPD detective extraordinaire John Mclane as he finds himself facing off against a nefarious group of terrorists on Christmas Eve. McClane engages in a battle of wits with the devious Hans Gruber, who has masterminded a lucrative heist and took unsuspecting partygoers hostage in a skyscraper.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest action movies of all time and a touchstone for all future films in the exhilarating genre,Die Hardspawned four sequelsover the ensuing 25 years and helped establish Willis as a certified leading man. However, not everyone was completely blown away by the John McTiernan classic, with celebrated film critic and Chicago Sun-Times writerRoger Eberttaking issue with certain elements of the flick and awarding it just 2 stars out of 4. Let’s check out why Ebert dislikedDie Hard(and why he was all wrong).
‘Die Hard’ Is a Legendary Silver Screen Extravaganza
Bruce Willis served up a truly unforgettable performancewhen he starred as the sardonic and gruff NYPDdetective John McClanein the trailblazing 1988 action classicDie Hard,which famously follows the lawman as he heads to sunny Los Angeles to try and win back his estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) on Christmas Eve. When McClane arrives at Nakatomi Plaza to join Holly for a holiday party hosted by her employer, he is forced to take action after the festivities are derailed by German terrorists who take everyone in the high-rise hostage aside from the quick-thinking detective.
With only the help of the skeptical LAPD sergeant Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson) assisting him from down below, McClane goes toe-to-toe with the terrorist’s ruthless leader, Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), who is the brilliant mastermind behind the daring heist to steal $640 million from the building’s vault. McClane must rely on his natural instincts and police training to save the hostages (including his lady love) from being harmed by Gruber and his henchmen, leading to an epic showdown between the reluctant hero and diabolical terrorist.
Roger Ebert Was Unimpressed by ‘Die Hard’
Die Hardmade its electrifying debut on July 26, 2025, and blew audiences away with its adrenaline-pumping premise, iconic villain Gruber, and Willis' rip-roaring performance as the resilient everyman John McClane;despite an initial mixed response from critics, moviegoers awarded the thrilling action flick a stellar A+ CinemaScore. Though many reviewers were blown away by Willisand John McTiernan’smasterful direction, revered filmcritic Roger Ebertwas notably unimpressed by the action-packed spectacle, givingDie Hardjust 2 out of 4 stars andtaking issue with “the unnecessary adornments of the script.”
Ebert was extremely critical of Paul Gleason’s character, Dwayne T. Robinson, the stubborn and no-nonsense LAPD Deputy Chief who serves as an antagonistic presence because of his skepticism that McClane is actually inside the skyscraper and an ally to the authorities.The late and great Chicago Sun-Times writer called the incredulous Robinson “so willfully useless, so dumb, so much a product of the Idiot Plot Syndrome, that all by himself he successfully undermines the last half of the movie.”
Die Hard Movies in Order: How to Watch Chronologically and by Release Date
The great Bruce Willis changed the face of the action genre when he superbly portrayed the wise-cracking John McClane in the epic Die Hard franchise.
While Ebert felt that Robinson brought down the film because of his lack of intelligence,Gleason did, in fact, serve his purpose and added some extra tension among the core characters as they carried out their risky mission, acting as a frustrating foil to both Willis' McClane and VelJohnson’s Powell. The premise is wonderfully wild and over-the-top in the best way possible, and Ebert needed to remember that not all action flicks have to logistically make perfect sense to dazzle and delight audiences.
‘Die Hard’ Remains an Influential Touchstone in Cinema
Despite Roger Ebert’s underwhelming response toDie Hard,there is no denying the groundbreaking impact the action staple had on Hollywood and how it helped reshape the fan-favorite genre.Die Hardhelped revitalizeBruce Willis' careerafter the actor had trouble transitioning from the small screen to the big, and it established the acting great as a bona fide leading man who could deliver both dramatic and comedic performances. Willis helped alter the way action heroes were depicted in the cinema as he was presented as an everyman who reluctantly rose to the occasion, doing so with refreshing vulnerability and his trademark humor.
Die Hard Is a Christmas Movie Whether You Like It or Not
A deep dive into the beloved action film, Die Hard proves it’s also a Christmas classic.
The massive critical and commercial success ofDie Hardhelped establish an enduring and cherished franchise that remains a must-watch for fans all across the world. Not only did the film gross over $140 million worldwide, but it also received three Academy Award nominations and served as Alan Rickman’s breakthrough performance, with his unparalleled portrayal of Hans Gruber also redefining the wayaction villains are depicted; Gruber is considered one of the most iconic and formidable foes to ever appear in a pulse-pounding genre.
Die Hardremains one of the most influential movies of the 1980s, and countless creators looked to the certified classic as a blueprint for all future action films, with directors like Darren Aronofsky and Paul W.S. Anderson citing the smash hit as major inspiration. In the more than three decades since the release ofDie Hard,it has been hailed as one of the finest action movies of all time and spawned numerous imitations, though none have ever been able to capture the magic and charisma of the Bruce Willis masterpiece.StreamDie HardonTubi.
