Actor Bruce Willis stars in John McTiernan's 1988 film as police officer John McClane, who travels to Los Angeles to see his wife (Bonnie Bedelia) during her office's holiday party but soon finds himself fighting a group of criminals who hold his wife and others hostage in the office building. The crooks include Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). "Die Hard" was the first film Rickman starred in.
Arnold Schwarzenegger turned down the role that launched Willis' career as a action star and spawned four 'Die Hard' sequels.
Though the movie takes place at Christmas, the film was originally released in mid-July.
