The Best Die Hard Rip-Off Is One You've Never Seen

Why Cliffhanger Is The Best Die Hard Copycat

The 1990s saw a boatload of Die Hard imitators but only a few that really did the premise justice - the 1995 Jean-Claude Van Damme actioner Sudden Death (Die Hard in an ice hockey stadium), and Jan de Bont's Keanu Reeves-led Speed the two most notable.

However, despite my love for the Muscles from Brussels and Theodore Logan himself, the Renny Harlin-directed Cliffhanger has always stood out as the best of the bunch - an adrenaline-fuelled, vertigo-laden vehicle for Sly to flex his muscles while pivoting into an era where it wasn't enough for action heroes to win anymore - they had to have their struggles too. It's a unique, glistening gem from Stallone's most forgettable decade, sandwiched awkwardly between the nadir of Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, and the charming but flawed Demolition Man.

As far as Die Hard copycats go Cliffhanger hasn't been largely forgotten, but coming in an era where Stallone was on a downward trajectory and all the Die Hard sequels themselves were still really strong, it'd be understandable if folks had missed it. However, those lucky enough to go see Cliffhanger (and plenty did at the time - it grossed $255 million at the box office) will be treated to a thrilling spin on the Die Hard formula, with Stallone playing an expert mountain rescuer forced to do battle with an insidious former British intelligence officer attempting to steal from the US treasury.

Cliffhanger is most noteworthy for its impeccable and brutal opening, as well as for featuring the most expensive aerial stunt of all time, which involved stuntman Simon Crane moving between two planes at high altitude (he was reportedly paid $1 million for accomplishing the feat). But the whole package itself is great, illustrating not only the brilliance of Sly, but also director Renny Harlin, whose other nineties action highlights include Die Hard 2 and The Long Kiss Goodnight.