Summer is a time of longer, carefree days. It’s also given us some memorable blockbusters over the years. As we head into the summer of 2025, doubtless you’re excited about all the blockbusters that are coming to theaters the next few months. But what about some of the blockbusters of the past? Over the next couple of months, I’ll be looking at some classic summer releases that are hitting milestone anniversaries this year. Today, it’s the third installment in the Die Hard franchise.
Die Hard With A Vengeance
Why it stands out
Die Hard is one of the most popular action films of all time. It’s also one of the best Christmas films of all time. It inspired a direct sequel that tried to capture that same energy and set up, taking the action to Christmas in the Washington D.C. airport. It’s fine, but it doesn’t live up to the original.
For the third installment, they decided to change the game. We still have John McClane (Bruce Willis) at the heart of the film, but nearly everything else about it is different. He’s split up from Holly, who doesn’t even appear in the film. He’s circling the drain personally, which is impacting him professionally as he’s returned to the New York Police Department. And, oh yeah, this takes place in the middle of the summer.
In fact, as the film kicks off, we hear “Summer in the City” playing, an indication that we’re in for something different. As New York comes under attack from a terrorist, police scramble for answers. That leads to a demand that McClane play a game with them in order for the violence to end. It’s in the course of his first task that McClane crosses paths with Zeus (Samuel L. Jackson), forcing them to be paired together.
What I love about this film is that it changes up the formula. I’ve long enjoyed Die Hard and have appreciated many of the entries in the franchise. This is a close second in the franchise rankings precisely because it builds a different, yet compelling story. The back-and-forth between Willis and Jackson is also a big part of what works here. They are a lot of fun together.
But the final piece that cements this as a great follow-up is the villain. Here, we get a bad guy played by Jeremy Irons. His performance alone is great, but the callbacks to Hans Gruber from the first film make this a lot of fun. I enjoy the ride here, and I think action fans will enjoy it, too.
This was a great entry into the summer of 1995 at the movies. If you haven’t seen it, there’s no better time to embrace it than this summer as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Where to find it: Die Hard: With a Vengeance is available to rent or buy on Prime Video and Fandango.
Original Release Date: May 19, 1995