Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)
75%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 3 nominations
Die Hard with a Vengeance benefits from Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson’s barbed interplay, but clatters to a bombastic finish in a vain effort to cover for an overall lack of fresh ideas
Die Hard With A Vengeance is like a roller coaster ride that never ends, but in a good way. Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis make a great duo, and the action scenes are so intense that you’ll feel like you’re right in the middle of it all. Sure, it’s not as good as the original, but it’s definitely better than Die Hard 2. Plus, who doesn’t love a good wisecrack from John McClane? Overall, it’s a fun and thrilling addition to the Die Hard franchise that’s worth watching.
Production Company(ies)
Fox 2000 Pictures, Chernin Entertainment, Levantine Films,
Distributor
20th Century Fox, Fox
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong violence and pervasive strong language
Year of Release
1995
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:2h 8m
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Language(s):English, German, Romanian
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 19, 1995 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 9, 1999
Genre(s)
Action/Adventure
Keyword(s)
Die Hard with a Vengeance, Bruce Willis, Samuel L Jackson, Jeremy Irons, John McTiernan, Roderick Thorp, Jonathan Hensleigh, Action, Adventure, R, Michael Tadross, 20th Century Fox, Fox, $99.5M, reviewed by David Hinckley, Ian Nathan, Ryan Gilbey, Michael Wilmington, Gene Siskel, Richard Corliss, Dennis Schwartz, Eddie Harrison, Mike Massie, Tom Meek, Jeff Simon, Leigh Paatsch, Detective, Hostage, Terrorism, New York City, Simon Says, Electrician, Murderous Plot, Divorced, Alcoholic, Fired, Reckless Behavior, Bad Attitude, Street-Savvy, Inspector, Explosions, Gunfights, Car Chases, Thriller, Tension, Buddy Film, Frenemy Chemistry, Flamboyant Antagonist, Intellectual, Morbidly Charming, Over-the-Top Intense Charm, Classic Action Star Charisma, Popcorn Saga
Worldwide gross: $366,101,666
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $719,887,617
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 169
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 78,504,647
US/Canada gross: $100,012,499
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $196,660,563
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 358
US/Canada opening weekend: $22,162,245
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $43,578,949
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 278
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $90,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $176,972,386
Production budget ranking: 161
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $95,299,630
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $447,615,600
ROI to date (est.): 164%
ROI ranking: 727
Jeremy Irons – Simon Gruber
Samuel L. Jackson – Zeus Carver
Graham Greene – Joe Lambert
Colleen Camp – Connie Kowalski
Larry Bryggman – Insp. Walter Cobb
Director(s)
John McTiernan
Writer(s)
Roderick Thorp, Jonathan Hensleigh
Producer(s)
Michael Tadross, John McTiernan
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (76) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (31)
Samuel L. Jackson ensures that Bruce Willis’ third stint as the ragged detective John McClane is a triumphant one.
May 7, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
David Hinckley
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
Die Hard With A Vengeance is better than Die Hard 2, but not as good as the peerless original.
April 2, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The first 40 minutes of the movie contain the most giddy and intoxicating action scenes you’ll find in any cinema this summer.
April 2, 2019
Ryan Gilbey
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This third installment is so loud, fast and full of chases that watching it is like being abandoned on a set of roller coaster tracks. You’re definitely not bored, but you’re not necessarily pleased.
April 2, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/4
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Watching Die Hard 3 is like moving along a conveyor belt with shocks applied to your brain every 10 minutes. It wore me out — and this from a critic who actually put Die Hard 2 on his “10 Best” list five years ago.
April 2, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Some movies ought to be reviewed not by critics but by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
April 2, 2019
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Doesn’t play as well as it does as a lone wolf vehicle.
November 26, 2021 | Rating: C+
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
…this second sequel certainly has a lot to offer, as long as coherence isn’t your bag…
June 19, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Eddie Harrison
film-authority.com
Fast-paced, regularly thrilling, and with a greater serving of wisecracks.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Irons is fabulous…
August 28, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Tom Meek
Cambridge Day
Maybe not movie bliss, as the original, unexpected “Die Hard” was, but semi-bliss, for sure. By all means go (as if I needed to tell you).
August 14, 2020 | Rating: 4/4
Jeff Simon
Buffalo News
A marked come-down from the excellence of Die Hards 1 and 2, but still an effective instalment for the franchise.
August 14, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)…
Plot
John McClane is now almost a full-blown alcoholic and is suspended from the NYPD. But when a bomb goes off in the Bonwit Teller Department Store the police go insane trying to figure out what’s going on. Soon, a man named Simon calls and asks for McClane. Simon tells Inspector Walter Cobb that McClane is going to play a game called “Simon Says”. He says that McClane is going to do the tasks he assigns him. If not, he’ll set off another bomb. With the help of a Harlem electrician, John McClane must race all over New York trying to figure out the frustrating puzzles that the crafty terrorist gives him. But when a bomb goes off in a subway station right by the Federal Reserve (the biggest gold storage in the world) things start to get heated.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The review mentions Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson’s “barbed interplay” as a benefit of the film.
John-McTiernan.jpg
