Die Hard 2 (1990)
76%RT Audience Score: 70%
Awards & Nominations: 2 nominations
It lacks the fresh thrills of its predecessor, but Die Hard 2 still works as an over-the-top — and reasonably taut — big-budget sequel, with plenty of set pieces to paper over the plot deficiencies
Die Hard 2 is the kind of movie that makes you want to jump off a building, but in a good way. It’s like a rollercoaster ride that you don’t want to end, even though you’re screaming your head off the whole time. The action is so over-the-top that it’s almost cartoonish, but that’s what makes it so much fun. Bruce Willis is at his best as John McClane, the wisecracking cop who just can’t catch a break. Sure, the plot might be a little far-fetched, but who cares when you’re having this much fun? If you’re looking for a movie that will get your heart racing and your adrenaline pumping, Die Hard 2 is the one for you. Yippee-ki-yay, motherf***er!
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros.,
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
1990
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:2h 4m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 4, 1990 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 9, 1999
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $117,540,947
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $117,540,947
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Bonnie Bedelia – Holly Gennero McClane
William Atherton – Richard Thornburg
Reginald VelJohnson – Sgt. Al Powell
Franco Nero – Gen. Ramon Esperanza
William Sadler – Col. Stuart
Director(s)
Renny Harlin
Writer(s)
Walter Wager, Steven E. de Souza, Doug Richardson
Producer(s)
Charles Gordon, Lawrence Gordon, Joel Silver
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (64) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (20)
The filmmakers know the audience is challenging them to top themselves, and they’ve risen to the bait. Harlin and company build suspense the old-fashioned way. They earn it.
February 6, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
This is the most cheerfully preposterous film of a jaw-dropping summer, which is not to say it’s not fun, it’s simply orchestrated Looney Tunes.
April 3, 2015
Sheila Benson
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The summer’s best sequel and most satisfying blockbuster has finally arrived. Die Hard 2 is a blast.
April 3, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Even when the script wanders into cynical overkill, Harlin makes sure the violence has some impact, some moral consequence, by sketching in characters for a few representative victims.
April 3, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
Dave Kehr
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
The filmmakers seem to be operating under the assumption that the way you top a successful movie is by making one that’s louder, cruder and more violent.
April 3, 2015 | Rating: 2/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
The screenplay is precariously supported by the chips on John McClane’s shoulders. Fortunately, it is also designed to Willis’ unique specs.
April 3, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Packs plenty of punch, heavy-hitting adventure, and explosions galore.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
In a summer of wildly violent action films, ‘Die Hard 2’ stands out. It is the best action movie since ‘Lethal Weapon II,’ as vastly entertaining, exciting and improbable.
January 3, 2018 | Rating: B+
George Anderson
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Even in the action genre, there is such a thing as overkill. Die Hard 2: Die Harder pleads guilty to the charge but has enough redeeming plot twists to compensate for the excess.
April 3, 2015
Candice Russell
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Though it has an inventive and unexpected plot twist, Die Hard 2 lacks credibility. “Die Hard” was that rare modern action picture with a wholly believable plot.
April 3, 2015 | Rating: 2.5/4
Gary Thompson
Philadelphia Daily News
One might think a movie with a reported budget of $62 million would have had a few bucks to spend on a gaffe spotter.
April 3, 2015
Ralph Novak
People Magazine
As vapid as it is violent.
April 3, 2015
David Sterritt
Christian Science Monitor…
Plot
After the terrifying events in LA, John McClane (Willis) is about to go through it all again. A team of terrorists, led by Col. Stuart (Sadler) is holding the entire airport hostage. The terrorists are planning to rescue a drug lord from justice. In order to do so, they have seized control of all electrical equipment affecting all planes. With no runway lights available, all aircraft have to remain in the air, with fuel running low, McClane will need to be fast.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film in the Fresh Kernels database.
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