When Die Hard hit theaters in 1988, it was a watershed moment for the film industry — and makers of action films in particular. The premise was so simple and so effective that screenwriters wasted almost no time in producing their own spins on it, with varying success. In the heyday of Die Hard knockoffs in the 1990s, there were so many writers speccing so many different “Die Hard on a…” scripts that producers groaned when they heard those first four words of the pitch. Nevertheless, the trend persists to modern-day, with perhaps the most significant examples from our decade being Olympus Has Fallen (2013) and White House Down (2013), both “Die Hard in the White House.”
If you’re a fan of the original film, you’re probably pretty particular when it comes to which knockoff’s you’ll give the time of day. Well, we’ve got you covered. Here are the top 10 Die Hard knockoffs from 1988 to 2020, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Non-Stop (2014) – 61%
This is hardly the only example of Die Hard on an airplane and it’s not even the best. It is, however, pretty darn okay. Starring Liam Neeson as alcoholic Air Marshal Bill Marks, it involves a bomb on a commercial flight from New York to London, a convoluted hostage crisis, and a plot to discredit Marks and frame him for the hijacking. All in all, it’s jam-packed — perhaps a little too much.
The film didn’t do too bad at the box office, returning $222 million on a $50 million budget — in this day and age, a perfectly respectable sum for a non-franchise action film.
The Rock (1996) – 66%
Michael Bay’s first film after the wild success of Bad Boys in 1995, The Rock is Die Hard on Alcatraz. Starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage as a federal prisoner and chemical weapons specialist respectively, it’s full of Bay’s signature pyrotechnics and massive action scenes.
The Rock grossed $335 million on a $75 million budget, with critical consensus emerging that, while it was an exciting thrill ride, it didn’t offer much in terms of intellectual engagement. It also featured performances from John Spencer (The West Wing), Michael Biehn (Aliens, The Terminator), and Ed Harris.
Cliffhanger (1993) – 68%
This film’s a little different from other Die Hard knockoffs — instead of taking place in an enclosed building or vehicle, it’s Die Hard on a mountain. Sylvester Stallone stars as Gabe Walker, a rescue ranger and ex-mountain climber haunted by the death of his best friend’s girlfriend. Walker becomes embroiled in the heist of a U.S. Treasury Plane after it crashes in the Rocky Mountains.
With John Lithgow as British bad guy Eric Qualen, Cliffhanger offers its fair share of thrills — and delivers on the tag line “Hang on.” As of 2019, there’s a remake in the works with an all-female cast, directed by up-and-coming director Ana Lily Amirpour.
TIE: Final Score (2018) – 69%
Final Score is not only a knockoff of Die Hard — it’s also a knockoff of another knockoff, Sudden Death (1995). The 1995 film stars Jean-Claude Van Damme fighting terrorists in a hockey rink. Final Score sees Dave Bautista doing the same thing at a soccer stadium. It’s no surprise, really, that this film only made $700,000 at the box office, against a $20 million budget.
Nevertheless, critics seem to have been satisfied enough with it, praising the choreography in the action scenes and lack of special effects. And since it was released the same day on streaming as it was in theaters, it’s tough to say how successful the film really was.
TIE: Snakes On A Plane (2006) – 69%
Perhaps the most iconic, if not the most well-known Die Hard knockoff, Snakes on a Plane doesn’t hide its true nature, but rather puts it all upfront in the title. Forget the terrorists, forget the hijackers. It’s about snakes on a plane. And star Samuel L. Jackson is tired of it.
Despite all the buzz that surrounded the film’s release, it had a disappointing performance at the box office, grossing only $62 million on a $33 million budget. However, considering the frequency with which it has since appeared on cable, it’s probably safe to say that the film made plenty in the long run.
Air Force One (1997) – 76%
Before there was Die Hard in the White House, there was Die Hard on Air Force One. Harrison Ford stars as U.S. President James Marshall, forced to act to protect his family and his country when his plane is taken over by Kazakhstani radicals disguised as journalists and embedded with the press corps.
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Generally acknowledged as one of the better Die Hard knockoffs and the best to take place on a plane (sorry, Con Air), Air Force One made $315 million on an $85 million budget. Critics seem to have agreed with audiences, at least for the most part, going so far as to call it smarter than other action schlock released in the same year.
TIE: Under Siege (1992) – 79%
In the discussion of Die Hard knockoffs, Under Siege tends to slip under the radar. Starring Steven Seagal as Casey Ryback – once a Navy SEAL, now a personal cook for the captain of a battleship — the film features a tense hijacking masterminded by ex-CIA officer Bill Strannix (Tommy Lee Jones) and hair-brained XO Peter Krill (Gary Busey). It’s one of Seagal’s only films every to be certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
At the time of its release, it was the most successful movie ever to be released without first being screened for critics. They mostly praised Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey’s performances as the villains, but still — a win across the board.
TIE: Dredd (2012) – 79%
Released in 2012, Dredd has no relation to the 1995 film Judge Dredd, which was panned by critics. The decision whether or not to call Dredd a knockoff of Die Hard is a tough one — it’s science fiction, not a straight-up action film, and doesn’t owe much more than its very basic premise to the 1988 film.
The film stars Karl Urban as Judge Dredd, a law enforcement officer in a dystopian future, who must fight his way through a mega-skyscraper filled with dangerous criminals. It’s bloody, and gritty, and features some great action sequences which have made it a fan favorite in the sci-fi community. As to whether it’s a true Die Hard knockoff … you decide.
Source Code (2011) – 92%
Source Code belongs with Dredd in the maybe knockoff, maybe not category. It takes place in an enclosed space — on a train — and in an enclosed time — a repeating loop of eight minutes in which Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) is tasked with hunting down and apprehending a dangerous bomber. With time travel as a central feature, this film is undeniably sci-fi, but it also delivers satisfying action thrills.
The film made $147 million on a $31 million budget and was well-received by critics and audiences alike. It was directed by Duncan Jones, son of the late singer-songwriter David Bowie.
Speed (1994) – 94%
Speed may be the least Die Hard of all the straight-up Die Hard knockoffs on this list, which is odd since its script was originally written as a sequel to the 1988 film. It was rejected for that purpose when Bruce Willis didn’t like the script, but it all turned out okay – Keanu Reeves jumped in and one of the best action movies of the 1990s was born.
It was a booming box office success, making $350 million on a $30 million budget, and features one of the most unique hostage situations in film history — a bus full of passengers that will explode if its speed drops below 50 miles per hour.
