Die Hard with a Vengeance
Third Die Hard film, adapted from a spec script.
In 1995, John McTiernan directed and produced *Die Hard with a Vengeance*, the third film in the *Die Hard* series. Bruce Willis returns as NYPD Lieutenant John McClane, who gets pulled into a terrorist’s deadly game. The villain, calling himself “Simon” and played by Jeremy Irons, threatens to set off bombs across New York City unless McClane solves a series of puzzles. McClane is forced to team up with a shopkeeper named Zeus Carver, played by Samuel L. Jackson. Together, they uncover Simon’s real plan: to steal gold bullion from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The cast also includes Graham Greene, Colleen Camp, Larry Bryggman, Sam Phillips, and Tony Halme.
The screenplay came from a spec script by Jonathan Hensleigh. Unlike the first two *Die Hard* movies, this one wasn’t based on any existing book or story. It was also the first in the series not produced by Joel Silver and Lawrence Gordon, who had a falling out with Willis; instead, Andrew G. Vajna’s Cinergi Pictures handled production. Filming took place in New York City and South Carolina.
Released on May 19, 1995, by 20th Century Fox, the movie earned $366 million worldwide, making it the top-grossing film of the year. Critics initially gave it mixed reviews, but over time it has been re-evaluated positively and is now often considered the best sequel in the franchise. Two more sequels followed: *Live Free or Die Hard* in 2007 and *A Good Day to Die Hard* in 2013.
- Release year
- 1995
- Director
- John McTiernan
- Writer
- Jonathan Hensleigh
- Starring
- Bruce Willis, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L. Jackson
- Box office
- $366 million worldwide
- Franchise
- Die Hard film series
- Production company
- Cinergi Pictures
Lore & Background
Adapted from a spec script written by Hensleigh, Die Hard with a Vengeance was the first film in the series not directly based on a literary source material, and the first not to be produced by Joel Silver and Lawrence Gordon after both producers had a fall-out with Willis, instead being produced by Andrew G. Vajna’s Cinergi Pictures. Principal photography took place in New York City and South Carolina. The film was released on May 19, 1995 by 20th Century Fox and grossed $366 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year, and initially received mixed reviews from critics. However, the film has received positive reevaluation over time and is now largely considered the best sequel in the franchise. The film was followed by Live Free or Die Hard in 2007 and A Good Day to Die Hard in 2013.
Reader's Guide
Die Hard with a Vengeance marks a significant entry in the Die Hard series as the first installment not based on a literary source and the first produced without Joel Silver and Lawrence Gordon. Its plot, involving a terrorist forcing John McClane through a series of puzzles across New York City, was originally conceived as a standalone project titled Simon Says, intended as a Brandon Lee vehicle. After Lee's death, the script was rewritten as a Lethal Weapon sequel before being acquired by 20th Century Fox and adapted for Die Hard. The film's casting of Samuel L. Jackson as Zeus Carver came after Laurence Fishburne turned down the role; Jackson's performance in Pulp Fiction impressed producer Andy Vajna. The film was a commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1995, and has since been reevaluated positively, often regarded as the best sequel in the franchise.
Did You Know?
- The script was originally written as a Brandon Lee vehicle titled Simon Says.
- Laurence Fishburne was originally offered the role of Zeus Carver but wanted a higher fee.
- The film was the first in the Die Hard series not directly based on a literary source material.
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