Die Hard

Release date: July 15, 1988

The Pitch:

John McClane is having the worst Christmas ever as he takes on terrorists in a Los Angeles highrise.

Why You Need It:

Yippie-ki-yay! Die Hard is one of best action movies of all time, the film that made Bruce Willis a bona-fide movie star and is a straight-up must-own for any action fan's collection. Unlike the Stallone and Schwarzenegger action heroes of the day, New York cop John McClane is all too human - he gets his ass kicked and makes some tough choices that don't always end well. He eventually saves the day, though, in one of the most gratifying climaxes in film history. Willis is fantastic, as is Alan Rickman as suave German thief-cum-terrorist Hans Gruber.

Talent:

John McTiernan (director), Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald Veljohnson, Paul Gleason, William Atherton, Hart Bochner, James Shigeta, De'voreaux White.