2. Die Hard (1988)
You want to talk about awesome, textbook action flicks? Die Hard. You want to talk about truly iconic cinema franchises? Die Hard. You want to talk about style
and substance? You guessed it. Die Hard. What can you say about this incredible movie that hasnt already been said? Sure, its no Pride and Prejudice, and Willis performance isnt exactly Shakespeare, but as far as action movies go, Die Hard wrote and closed the god damn book. And this was the role for Willis, the one that saw him rise to Hollywood power, the one that saw him suddenly transformed into one of the hottest, most bankable stars of the nineties and beyond. Willis was cast perfectly as the uber-sarcastic, super-sardonic John McClane and although true, the performance isnt quite pandering to the Oscar panel, its still a textbook example of exactly how an action hero should be written, directed and performed.