3. Die Hard
Screw A Christmas Story, any good action junkie would have Die Hard repeating for 24 straight hours on December 25th.
Director John McTiernan changed the 80’s action genre with the release of Die Hard, creating Bruce Willis’ most memorable and butt-kicking character to date.
What makes the whole ordeal such a rush stems from Die Hard‘s “one man versus the world” weight on character John McClane’s back, as he wittily plays it off with humor and bloody fight sequences. Our fearless hero would have a clever quip even staring down the barrel of twenty guns pointed directly at his head, and would probably piss on one of them for good measure.
Always tempting fate, McClane puts his life on the line while fighting a group of European terrorists not too keen on his expertise. Willis kicks ass and takes names, but more importantly for the adrenaline seekers in all of us is McClane’s refusal to show any fear or weakness, enduring physical abuse and mounting pain while still eliminating enemies one by one.
With Die Hard, John McClane established himself as the quintessential 80’s action hero, with only one or two other actors giving Willis a run for his money.