10 Legendary Films You Never Realised Were Based On Books

The details of Die Hard’s source material and its adaption are perhaps the most convoluted on this list.

The film is based on Roderick Thorp’s 1979 book Nothing Lasts Forever, which is a sequel to his 1966 novel The Detective. The Detective was made into a 1968 film starring Frank Sinatra, who declined to return for the sequel. This meant that the Joe Leland of the novel had to become John McClane and Die Hard had to be made a standalone feature.

Aside from removing the obvious references to The Detective, a fair amount of Die Hard still remains faithful to the book. Some of its most enduring sequences, such as C-4 explosives being dropped down an elevator shaft and McClane leaping from the roof of the plaza just ahead of a large explosion, are taken directly from the novel.

Some of the biggest changes made include expanding on characters that are present in the novel but were not as fleshed out as they are in the film. The detailed and tragic backstory of Police Sergeant Powell, McClane’s strongest ally, was invented for the film, as was the expanded role of the limousine driver and comic relief character Argyle.

It’s safe to say that this focus on character work elevates the film to true classic status.