9. Die Hard 2 (1990)
The original
Die Hard was based on a novel, which created a problem when it came time for the inevitable sequel, given that it there wasn't one in book form. To counteract this problem, the producers opted to adapt a different novel by a different author - one lacking the John McClane character entirely - called
58 Minutes. This should have, in essence, separate
d Die Hard 2 from its predecessor enough for it to appear like a relatively "original" sequel. But the problem lies with the fact that
Die Hard was a "fish out of water" story - the wrong man caught in an explosive situation that he's forced to deal with. Had John McClane been some kind of supercop that purposely went looking for dangerous missions, a sequel might have seemed more logical. The fact that he gets caught up in
another terrorist plot (and at Christmas time, too) feels too unnatural and implausible. And that meta-line I mentioned in the intro? It only really serves to remind you that we're rehashing old ground for the sake of it.