What else could it have been, really? John McTiernan's bonafide masterpiece - that's right; it's a masterpiece - is without a doubt the most accomplished and downright entertaining action movie ever made, a relentless thriller that manages to implement mind-blowing set-pieces, an amazing, impossible to dislike hero, a brilliantly memorable antagonist, humour, and everything you could possibly want from an action film, whilst also clinging to the best loved staples of the genre in a smart way. And let's not forget the simple but undeniably genius premise: a cop finds himself trapped in a skyscraper where his wife works during a hostage takeover. And at Christmas time, no less! The premise makes for one of the most exciting action movie set-ups ever put to celluloid, of course; the confined location allows the story to movie at a brisk and never anything but thrilling pace, whilst the script itself is a marvel of action screenwriting. The beats are perfectly placed, the breathtaking set-pieces are separated between scenes that are either romantic or unexpected or frightening or funny, ensuring that we never lose interest or sight of the story for a second. And then there's John McClane, of course, embodied by Bruce Willis in his star-making role, and the unbeatable Alan Rickman as the villainous Hans Gruber, who rightfully earns his place as the best bad guy ever. Like this list? Which films have we missed? Let us know in the comments section below.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
