Die Hard Die Hard Die Hard is a 1988 American action thriller film. It was directed by John McTiernan, and written by Steven E. de Souza and Jeb Stuart. It was produced by the Gordon Company and Silver Pictures, and distributed by 20th Century Fox. The film follows off-duty New York City Police Department officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) who is caught in a Los Angeles skyscraper during a heist led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). It is based on Roderick Thorp's 1979 novel "Nothing Lasts Forever". Made for $28 million, "Die Hard" grossed over $140 million theatrically worldwide, with the film
Live Free or Die Hard an M rating. The film notably was never released in home media with its theatrical cut, and has only been released in Australia as the extended edition. "Live Free or Die Hard" debuted at #2 behind "Evan Almighty", at the U.S. box office and made $9.1 million in its first day of release in 3,172 theaters, the best opening day take of any film in the "Die Hard" series (not taking inflation into account). On its opening weekend "Live Free or Die Hard" made $33.3 million ($48.3 million counting Wednesday and Thursday). The film made $134.5 million domestically, and $249.0