A Good Day to Die Hard
Fifth and final Die Hard film, released in 2013.
A Good Day to Die Hard is a 2013 American action thriller film that serves as the fifth and final entry in the Die Hard series. John Moore directed it, Skip Woods wrote the script, and Bruce Willis appears as John McClane for the last time in the franchise. The story sends McClane to Russia to get his son Jack—an undercover CIA agent he hasn't seen in years—out of prison, only to get swept up in a worldwide terrorist plot. The cast also includes Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch, Cole Hauser, and Yulia Snigir.
Discussions about a fifth Die Hard movie started even before the fourth one, *Live Free or Die Hard*, came out. Willis said that film wouldn't be the last, but pre-production didn't begin until September 2011, when John Moore was officially named director. Filming kicked off in April 2012, mostly in Budapest, Hungary.
The film premiered in London on January 31, 2013, through 20th Century Fox, the same day a *Die Hard* mural was unveiled at the Fox Lot. It hit North American theaters on February 13, 2013. Unlike earlier movies in the series, critics panned it, but it still did well at the box office, earning $304.7 million on a $92 million budget. It was also the first film financed by TSG Entertainment, after 20th Century Fox ended its distribution deal with Dune Entertainment at the close of 2012.
In Moscow, corrupt Russian official Viktor Chagarin plans to force former billionaire and whistleblower Yuri Komarov into a rigged trial unless Komarov hands over a secret file that incriminates Chagarin. Meanwhile, Jack McClane, arrested after an assassination attempt, cuts a deal for a lighter sentence by agreeing to testify against Komarov. John McClane, a NYPD detective who hasn't spoken to his son in years, hears Jack is in trouble and flies to Russia. As John approaches the courthouse where Komarov is on trial, an explosion—set off by Chagarin's henchman Alik—rips through the building, and Jack escapes with Komarov. John confronts Jack, but their argument is interrupted when Alik and his men chase them through Moscow in an MRAP.
At a safe house, John learns Jack is a CIA operative who's been undercover for three years. Jack's partner, Mike Collins, demands the file's location from Komarov so the CIA can take down Chagarin. Komarov agrees only if he and his daughter get safe passage out of Russia.
Quick Facts
- Director
- John Moore
- Producer
- Alex Young / Wyck Godfrey
- Writer
- Skip Woods
- Based On
- Characters · Roderick Thorp
- Starring
- Bruce Willis / Jai Courtney / Sebastian Koch / Yulia Snigir / Rasha Bukvić / Cole Hauser / Amaury Nolasco / Sergei Kolesnikov
- Music
- Marco Beltrami
- Cinematography
- Jonathan Sela
- Editing
- Dan Zimmerman
- Studio
- Giant Pictures / Temple Hill Entertainment
- Distributor
- 20th Century Fox
- Released
- 31 January 2013 · Leicester Square · 2013 · 02 · 14 · United States
- Runtime
- 98 minutes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Talks of a fifth Die Hard film began before the release of Live Free or Die Hard, with Willis affirming that the latter would not be the last. Pre-production started in September 2011 when John Moore was announced as director. Filming began in April 2012, primarily in Budapest, Hungary. The film was originally titled Die Hard 24/7, sparking speculation of a crossover with the 24 series, but the title was later changed to A Good Day to Die Hard. Casting for Jack McClane considered Liam Hemsworth, Aaron Paul, and James Badge Dale before Jai Courtney was chosen. Mary Elizabeth Winstead reprised her role as Lucy, but her scenes were cut from the extended release. Production began in Hungary in April 2012, with Budapest standing in for Moscow. A fire broke out on set in July 2012 during an aerial stunt, but no one was injured. Director Moore used handheld cameras with long lenses to create a sense of disorientation. The film's audio was mixed in Dolby Atmos. Marco Beltrami returned to compose the score, incorporating Michael Kamen's themes from earlier films.
Reader's Guide
A Good Day to Die Hard premiered in London on January 31, 2013, and was released in North America on February 13, 2013. Unlike its predecessors, it received negative reviews from critics, but it was a box office success, grossing $304.7 million against a $92 million budget. It is the first film financed by TSG Entertainment after 20th Century Fox's departure from Dune Entertainment. The film marks Bruce Willis's final appearance as John McClane; he retired from acting in 2022 due to aphasia, later diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. Despite critical disappointment, the film completed the original Die Hard series and introduced the character of Jack McClane, setting up a potential new direction that was never realized. Its legacy is as the concluding chapter of a major action franchise, noted for its shift in setting and family dynamics.
Did You Know?
- The film was originally titled Die Hard 24/7, leading to speculation of a crossover with the TV series 24.
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead reprised her role as Lucy McClane, but all her scenes were cut from the extended release.
- Bruce Willis retired from acting in 2022 due to aphasia, later diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, making this his final film in the Die Hard series.
More in Characters & Cast
Elsewhere in Die Hard
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