If anything, the sequel’s more seasonal than the first one.
Following the monumental success of Die Hard, inevitable sequel Die Hard 2: Die Harder arrived in 1990, once again placing John McClane in the wrong place at the wrong time. This time, the action shifts from a Los Angeles skyscraper to the snowy chaos of Dulles International Airport on Christmas Eve, ramping up the stakes, the body count, and, crucially, the Christmas spirit.
Once again, Bruce Willis delivers a pitch-perfect performance as McClane, now waiting at the airport to pick up his wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia). But when rogue military operatives seize control of the air traffic control system during a winter storm, stranding planes—including Holly’s—in the air with dwindling fuel reserves, McClane finds himself battling not just the terrorists but the bureaucratic airport police too.
Where the first film toyed with its festive setting, Die Hard 2 fully embraces it, using the holiday backdrop to up the emotional stakes. From the snow-covered runways to the chaotic terminals, the seasonal atmosphere adds a layer of tension as the terrorists threaten to disrupt countless journeys home for the holidays. McClane’s sardonic observation, “How can the same shit happen to the same guy twice?”, lands with extra weight amid yuletide pandemonium. The stakes feel firmly rooted in the holiday setting in a way the original only hinted at, with snowstorms, stranded travellers, and even motor sled mayhem making the tension uniquely festive. It’s a wonder this movie doesn’t feature more prominently in the perennial “Is it a Christmas movie?” debates.
Renny Harlin’s direction ups the scale, trading the confined spaces of Nakatomi Plaza for the sprawling, wintry expanse of an airport. This shift allows for bigger action sequences, including a thrilling shootout on a moving baggage conveyor belt and a climactic showdown on the wing of a plane. Harlin leans confidently into the absurdity, delivering a film that’s more bombastic and less grounded than its predecessor but still undeniably entertaining. It’s an approach that cements Harlin’s flair for high-octane spectacle.
William Sadler’s Colonel Stuart makes for a competent villain, though he lacks the sheer charisma and memorable presence of Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber. Stuart’s cold, methodical approach suits the film’s militaristic tone, but his character feels somewhat underdeveloped and he doesn’t quite stand out enough from his army of henchman which includes recognisable faces like John Amos and Robert Patrick. Fortunately, the wider supporting cast—including Dennis Franz as a belligerent airport cop and Fred Thompson as the no-nonsense airport chief—injects the ensemble with extra character and energy, enhancing the film’s overall dynamics.
The film’s biggest strength lies in its commitment to giving fans more of what they loved about the original: inventive action, McClane’s sardonic wit, and a hero who feels perpetually out of his depth but never out of the fight. While the story doesn’t quite capture the perfect balance of tension and humour that defined Die Hard, it compensates with sheer spectacle and relentless pacing.
At times, Die Hard 2 leans a little too heavily on the formula of its predecessor, with a script that tries to replicate the clever dialogue and emotional beats of the first film but inevitably falls short of the same heights. The larger scope and more elaborate set pieces occasionally come at the expense of the intimate, against-the-odds tension that made the original so special.
Nevertheless, Die Hard 2: Die Harder leans hard into its Christmas setting and delivers a satisfying dose of holiday chaos. It may not have the same precision as its predecessor, but it still packs plenty of explosive fun. For fans of McClane’s brand of underdog heroics, it’s a seasonal sequel that proves lightning can indeed strike twice when it comes to festive action.
