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How To Write a Screenplay

Learn how to write a screenplay through detailed analysis of feature films.

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Die Hard Beat Sheet

May 4, 2012 By William Robert Rich 5 Comments

Written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E de Souza
Based on the novel Nothing Last Forever by Roderick Thorpe
Directed by John McTiernan
Running time: 128 minutes
Year: 1988

[Read more…]

Die Hard

September 25, 2011 By William Robert Rich 13 Comments

Yippee ki-yay, motherfucker!

Yeah, that’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Die Hard. Well, either that, or a man jumping off an exploding skyscraper roof with a firehouse tied around his waist. Maybe it just depends on my mood. Released back in 1988, this film kicked arse at the box office, spawned three four sequels, and as a result, has been ripped off more times than the white man at a Cherokee Nation casino:

  • Speed (1994) — Die Hard on a bus.
  • Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) — Die Hard on a boat.
  • Under Siege (1992) — Die Hard on a boat.
  • Executive Decision (1996) — Die Hard on a plane.
  • Con Air (1997) — Die Hard on a plane.
  • Air Force One (1997) — Die Hard on Air Force One.
  • Toy Soldiers (1991) — Die Hard in a boarding school.
  • Cliffhanger (1993)– Die Hard on a mountain.
  • Night at the Museum (2006)– Die Hard in a museum.
  • Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009) — Die Hard in a mall.

[Read more…]

Die Hard

June 27, 2011 By William Robert Rich Leave a Comment

Die Hard Script Hans Gruber

Our general rule is look at the structure of Die Hard, and if you’re not doing that, you’re probably wrong. 1

~Thomas Lennon

  • Find the Die Hard script at IMSDb.
  • Download ScreenplayHowTo’s Die Hard screenplay analysis (PDF).

Click here to go back to our Die Hard script analysis page for an extensive write-up on both the film and script.

Visit our Screenplay Analysis section for breakdowns on some of my favorites. If you have any questions, shoot me an email — rr at screenplayhowto dot com.

  • Gladiator Script Analysis
  • The Shawshank Redemption Script Analysis
  • Good Will Hunting Script Analysis
  • Network Script Analysis
  • The Big Lebowski Script Analysis
  • Risky Business Script Analysis
  • Die Hard Script Analysis
  • Zombieland Script Analysis
  1. Ryan, Kyle. “Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant | TV | Interview | The A.V. Club.” The A.V. Club. 21 July 2011. Link. ↩

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