It truly stands among the most important action movies of the 1980s. The film avoids unnecessary complications; the story progresses so quickly that any stretches of disbelief don’t really register. Bruce Willis portrays the relatable everyman who is unexpectedly thrown into unleashing chaos and destruction, and he does it exceptionally well. Alan Rickman provides a superb foil as the German villain Hans Gruber, in a performance that almost makes you want him to succeed with his robbery. He also has a welcome moment dispatching the office creep, Ellis. The antagonists in *Die Hard* are more appealing than those found in many other films. They’re given room to be humorous and likable, which is beneficial because audiences spend considerable time with them; it's preferable that they aren't entirely unpleasant people. John McLane gets to indulge in something many young boys have fantasized about: dropping objects from the edge of tall buildings or down elevator shafts just to see what happens. He does so by using an office chair outfitted with a PC monitor and some C4, then watches as it falls and detonates, destroying an entire floor! Everything feels larger and more intense than in other action movies of that era. McLane delivers quips and eliminates opponents constantly, explosions occur frequently, all leading to a final act that is as skillfully paced and handled as any action sequence that followed. The film essentially created its own category; after its release came numerous sequels, along with many films described as "Die Hard on a..." or "Die Hard in a...", such as "**Speed**" and "**Under Siege**." It’s incredibly entertaining—a must-see!

Source on TMDB