Die Hard 2 (1990)

Die Hard 2, also known as Die Hard 2: Die Harder, is the high-octane sequel to the 1988 action classic. Directed by Renny Harlin, it reunites audiences with John McClane, the ever-relatable cop who once again finds himself in the wrong place at the worst possible time. Set during a snowstorm at Washington Dulles International Airport, this film delivers suspense, explosions, and Bruce Willis in full grimace mode.

Detailed Summary

The Setup: Déjà Vu at Dulles

It’s Christmas Eve again, and John McClane is once again not having a great holiday. Waiting for his wife Holly’s plane to land, McClane notices suspicious activity at Dulles Airport. Turns out, mercenaries led by ex-Colonel Stuart (William Sadler) are plotting to rescue drug lord General Esperanza, who is being extradited to the U.S.

McClane, always the eagle-eyed outsider, quickly realizes the airport police are compromised—or at least, clueless. He’s on his own again.

The Sabotage Begins

Stuart’s team seizes control of the airport’s communication systems, cutting off all contact with inbound flights. Planes, including Holly’s, are left circling with limited fuel. To make matters worse, Stuart demonstrates his seriousness by crashing a British passenger jet, killing everyone on board.

Meanwhile, McClane tangles with incompetent airport authority figures and FAA agents who don’t take him seriously. Despite this, he pieces together the true scale of the threat.

The “Special Forces” Twist

In an apparent turning point, a military counter-terror unit led by Major Grant is called in. McClane, skeptical, discovers that Grant’s men are secretly in league with Stuart. In one of the film’s tensest scenes, McClane finds that their guns are loaded with blanks—just a show.

Now fully alone, McClane is racing against time to stop the terrorists, rescue Esperanza before he escapes, and prevent multiple aircraft from falling out of the sky.

Snowmobiles and Explosions

As the tension mounts, McClane engages in gunfights in snowy terrain, snowmobile chases, and a harrowing mid-air confrontation. He ultimately hijacks a news helicopter to reach the villains’ getaway plane.

Movie Ending

In the explosive final act, McClane catches up to Stuart, Grant, Esperanza, and the rogue soldiers as they attempt to escape in a cargo plane. Clinging to the exterior of the aircraft, McClane manages to rip open a fuel line during the scuffle. Falling to the tarmac, he lights the trail of fuel on fire with a Zippo lighter and watches the entire plane explode in the air—taking all the antagonists with it.

The fiery explosion also acts as a beacon for the remaining circling planes, allowing them to land safely. Holly’s plane lands, and McClane is finally reunited with her. They embrace on the snowy runway while a news crew records the moment, much to McClane’s frustration. Cue the end credits.

No sequel bait, no cryptic hints—just a classic, action-packed finale.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Die Hard 2 does not have any post-credits scenes. This was before the Marvel era of after-credit world-building, so once the screen fades to black and the credits roll, you’re done.

Type of Movie

Die Hard 2 is a high-stakes action thriller with elements of crime, suspense, and disaster movie tropes. It sticks closely to the “one man against many” format, solidifying the Die Hard formula that would be repeated in future sequels.

Cast

• Bruce Willis as John McClane
• Bonnie Bedelia as Holly McClane
• William Sadler as Colonel Stuart
• Franco Nero as General Esperanza
• John Amos as Major Grant
• Dennis Franz as Captain Carmine Lorenzo
• Fred Dalton Thompson as Trudeau
• Art Evans as Barnes
• Reginald VelJohnson as Sgt. Al Powell (cameo)

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Michael Kamen, who also scored the first Die Hard. He blends orchestral suspense with moments of military percussion and tension-building cues. Kamen incorporates snippets of “Finlandia” by Sibelius and “Let It Snow!”, maintaining the holiday vibe amidst the chaos.

Filming Locations

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): Used for interior airport scenes.
• Stapleton International Airport in Denver (now defunct): Used for exterior shots of “Dulles.”
• Highlands Ranch, Colorado: Some snow-covered outdoor scenes filmed here.
• Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada: Used for snowy action sequences.

The airport setting was key to creating the film’s claustrophobic, high-stakes environment, while the snow-covered runways amplified the tension of planes running out of fuel.

Awards and Nominations

• Nominated for Best Action/Adventure Film at the Saturn Awards
• Won BMI Film Music Award for Michael Kamen
• Generally overlooked by major awards, but recognized in action and stunt categories

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Bruce Willis performed many of his own stunts, despite an on-set injury early in production.
• The snow in many scenes was created with shaved paper and potato flakes.
• William Sadler performed his nude tai chi scene completely seriously; the director encouraged it for shock value.
• Renny Harlin was simultaneously editing Die Hard 2 while shooting scenes, racing to meet the summer release deadline.
• The “blank bullet” twist was inspired by a real military training incident.

Inspirations and References

The film is loosely based on the novel 58 Minutes by Walter Wager, in which a cop has under an hour to save a plane—his daughter’s—from crashing due to a terrorist threat at an airport.

Differences include:

• The character names and plot details were altered to fit the Die Hard universe.
• The military conspiracy element is unique to the movie.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There were no major alternate endings publicly released. However, several deleted scenes exist, including:

• A longer scene of McClane investigating the baggage area.
• An extended confrontation with the airport police chief.
• More footage of Holly in the circling plane, increasing her tension.

These were trimmed for pacing.

Book Adaptations and Differences

As mentioned, the film was inspired by the novel 58 Minutes.
Key differences:

• The protagonist in the book is NYPD Captain Frank Malone.
• The stakes in the novel involve Malone’s daughter, not wife.
• The movie expands heavily with military conspiracy and more elaborate action sequences.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• McClane’s fight in the baggage area with two terrorists.
• The tragic explosion of the British passenger plane.
• The snowmobile chase and machine gun shootout.
• The final fight on the moving plane, ending with the dramatic Zippo explosion.

Iconic Quotes

• McClane: “How can the same s*** happen to the same guy twice?”
• Lorenzo: “You’re the wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
• McClane: “Story of my life.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• McClane uses a Zippo lighter just like he did in the first film.
• Sgt. Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson) returns in a brief cameo, linking the sequel directly to the original.
• The film takes place on Christmas Eve, continuing the Die Hard tradition of being an “accidental Christmas movie.”

Trivia

• Bruce Willis was paid $7.5 million, a massive payday at the time.
• The phrase “Die Harder” never appears in the film—it was just a marketing tagline.
• The film was released just two years after the original and rushed into production due to the first film’s massive success.
• William Sadler trained extensively for the role of Colonel Stuart to appear convincingly military.

Why Watch?

If you’re into tightly-paced action films where one man battles the odds in a confined setting, this is a classic. Die Hard 2 expands on the first film’s formula with more action, bigger stakes, snowy mayhem, and Bruce Willis in his wisecracking prime. It’s also one of the rare sequels that holds its own while still respecting the original.

Director’s Other Movies

• Cliffhanger (1993)
• The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
• Deep Blue Sea (1999)
• A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Die Hard (1988)
• Speed (1994)
• Air Force One (1997)
• Under Siege (1992)
• Executive Decision (1996)
• The Rock (1996)
• Olympus Has Fallen (2013)