Why Die Hard is a great film

The 1988 film Die Hard(1) is one of the most influential and popular action films of all time. What makes this movie so good and so popular?

Although Die Hard has many clever and suspenseful action scenes, the deeper reason for its greatness is the cleverness and layers in its premise.

The simple action idea of Die Hard is:

A husband/cop separated from his wife flies to Los Angeles for Christmas to win her back, but her work building is taken over by terrorists who he has to take down to save his wife and the other hostages.

That’s a good action film premise with some compelling layers.

When Die Hard was released in 1988 its premise was new. The idea of hostages and their rescuer locked together in the confined space of a skyscraper was original and dramatic. Many imitations with a similar premise of a hero facing impossible odds in a locked space soon followed.

The main action conflict in Die Hard contains a huge conflict/danger: John McClane having to rescue his wife and other hostages from a team of skilled killers.

Another good action film element in the Die Hard premise is that the values being sought and at stake are large scale, of a life and death nature. People will die. McClane and his wife could be killed.

And like all good action films Die Hard has a very well-developed suspense question at the center of its premise, as well as an intriguing mystery and some dramatic surprises. The mystery relates to the nature of the villain Hans’ true goal and how he will open the safe. The main surprises relate to the answer to these mystery questions. But suspense is the main dramatic device used in Die Hard. During the film and its escalating dangers and stakes, we are leaning over the ledge of the top floor of a skyscraper desperate to learn who wins and loses and how and why. Will John McClane survive, stop Hans, and rescue his wife?

But the clever action elements in the premise and story of Die Hard aren’t enough to make it a great film. These elements, conflicts, and layers are typical to most good actioners. But what separates Die Hard from so many other (esp. current) actioners is that it has other layers/elements that lift it above a good action story. These are the key reasons for the intense drama in and the wide appeal of Die Hard.

The Character Goal That Makes Die Hard Poignant

The most vital element that makes Die Hard both a classic action film story and a deeper more layered drama is the nature of protagonist John McClane’s main goal (and the big complication that flows from it). McClane’s main goal is not to save his wife from terrorists. This kidnapping is the main complication in the story. McClane’s more fundamental goal and the key element in the drama layer of the film’s premise is that this tough but lonely New York City cop wants to reunite with his estranged but still-loved wife Holly.

What’s the worst thing that can happen to a character with such a goal? His wife is taken farther away from him; her life is greatly endangered when she’s kidnapped by terrorists. Now John’s love goal seems impossible. And “impossible” is a great word for a story conflict situation!

What really makes the story of Die Hard work emotionally is that the main problem/complication of the protagonist -- to rescue his wife from terrorists -- is set directly against his big PERSONAL and poignant goal. John McClane loves his wife and wants her back, but he loses her even more, perhaps even permanently. We the audience care that McClane wants love for Christmas by being reunited with his wife (and their two kids). That story is personal and real to us. We get it! Don’t we all want a happy family Christmas filled with love? It is this deeply personal goal of McClane’s that adds layers of empathy and poignancy to the story.

This romantic relationship goal of McClane makes Die Hard more than a thrilling action film with a good vs. evil theme. It makes it a heartfelt drama and a love story.

Another dramatic element in this romance story is the layer to McClane’s characterization and conflict with his wife of him being sexist. McClane wants his wife to return to New York and give up her career and independence. McClane’s struggle and character arc re his sexism adds drama and some humour to the story. And his honesty about his sexism further endears him to us.

Many fans also enjoy Die Hard as a Christmas film! When McClane’s Christmas wish comes true, we cheer.

But there are other layers to this story and its premise that further make Die Hard more than an action story and so further broaden its appeal.

The Relationships!

As a story set in a large locked space, a Los Angeles skyscraper, Die Hard was later copied by films set in a train, ship, and aeroplane, to note just three examples. These copycat films were of varying quality but one misstep they (and even Die Hard sequels) made was to not fully grasp another important part of the first Die Hard premise that made this original film so compelling. To abuse what has become a cliché in politics – it’s “the relationships, stupid.” What made Die Hard a smarter, deeper and a more engaging film was the cleverness and high value stakes of its three main relationships. (We’ve discussed Holly the wife, while the subplots of the narcissistic journalist and the close-minded law enforcement officers are also dramatic but they won’t be discussed here.)

The Buddy

A crucial emotion-inducing relationship in Die Hard is McClane’s with the Los Angeles police officer, Al. Al is a man undercut by a terrible personal problem we care about: He has to overcome his own self-doubts and fears about a tragic mistake he made eleven years ago as a patrolman. As Al has to step up his game as the cop in the wrong place at the right time and comes to believe and support McClane, he struggles to overcome his self-doubt. We have all made mistakes and suffered self-doubt, so our hearts go out to this honest cop as he supports McClane in his dire situation of fighting alone a gang of terrorists.

The Nemesis

The other key relationship that adds depth and cleverness to the Die Hard premise and story is that between McClane and his nemesis, the elegant and vicious Hans Gruber. Stylishly played by Alan Rickman, Gruber has a personal feud with McClane as they play high stakes cat and mouse with each other (and Gruber’s henchmen.) We watch intrigued by the intelligent and dangerous ploys these adversaries use against each other, knowing that they will conflict unto death. And we enjoy their clever dialog during these games of death. If McClane can’t outwit the cunning Gruber, Holly and the hostages are dead.

Note that these relationship conflicts are not just tacked onto the film’s action story. They are intrinsic to it.

The Layered Premise of Die Hard

Die Hard being set in a (then) original location with its own specific dramatic problems does make it a thrilling action story. But what separates Die Hard from so many other action films is the quality of the layers in its concept: The original and high stakes action problem, and the realistic and layered characters and their poignant relationship issues.

Here is the premise statement for the more complex action-drama-romance Die Hard:

During Christmas, a tough sexist cop and lonely husband unhappily separated from his independent and successful wife flies to LA to win her back, but she and her co-workers are taken hostage by terrorists in their locked down work skyscraper; for the husband to rescue her he must take down the vicious terrorists, especially their brilliant leader, while needing the trust and help of a self-doubting cop on the outside.

This premise statement shows the layers of Die Hard and the key reasons for its great appeal.

Creative Takeaway

Die Hard has important lessons for writers, directors, producers, and creative executives: When developing a story, have an original premise, give the leads universal and personal goals we care about, and have high stake relationships that are real and meaningful to us. Such elements are not new ideas but today they are too often ignored or forgotten by many action story writers and developers. To do so is to lock yourself down in a closed space with no exit! To enact them is to help make your Christmas dreams come true.

…

Scott McConnell, the story guy

Former producer, Scott McConnell is a script editor and story developer for writers, directors, and producers.

1) Die Hard was produced by Lawrence Gordon and Joel Silver, directed by John McTiernan, with script by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza, adapted from the novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp.

“Scott McConnell is an excellent Script Editor.” Snorri Þórisson, CEO Pegasus Pictures 

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