10 Insane Movie Stunts They Filmed FOR REAL

Another harbinger of action filmmaking excellence, the original Die Hard planted everyman protagonist John McClane (Bruce Willis) into the Nakatomi skyscraper against a group of professional burglars. It's a masterclass in stunt work and dramatic tension, with the main character having a sense of vulnerability that other action heroes lacked at the time.

With most of the terrorists taken out, it's just the German mastermind Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and his closest lieutenant left for the film's ultimate climax. With just a few bullets remaining, McClane is able to make use of his limited resources, but must grab his wife from the villain's grasp before they both plunge to the concrete below.

For this climactic moment, Rickman performed the stunt himself and dropped forty feet. From dangling out of the window to the drop itself, the camerawork is beautifully presented, but the reaction on Rickman's face speaks volumes. In a crafty move, director John McTiernan dropped the actor earlier than he expected, so the look of fear on Alan's face is genuine.

Alan Rickman showed just as much dedication to the physical side of the action as he did the acting, leaving audiences with an intense finale for his character. This firmly planted Die Hard among the very best productions of all time.