Greatest Die Hard Quotes That Became Legendary

Ever since it hit screens in 1988, the Die Hard franchise has left an indelible mark on action cinema, establishing itself as a beloved classic that continues to resonate with audiences across generations. At the heart of this iconic series lies a collection of unforgettable Die Hard quotes and one-liners that have become synonymous with the action genre. From its charismatic protagonist, John McClane, to the cunning villains and supporting characters, each installment is laden with brilliantly crafted lines that have become ingrained in popular culture.

In exploring the Die Hard franchise’s best quotes, we delve into the enduring power of these lines, which have transcended the films to become part of the lexicon of action movie enthusiasts. We’ll revisit the gripping intensity of Bruce Willis’ portrayal of the wisecracking NYPD detective McClane and the moments when his heroic exploits are accentuated by clever quips that perfectly capture the essence of the character.

The original movie is a stone-cold classic that pits Willis’ McClane against Alan Rickman’s incredible movie villain Hans Gruber, a German criminal who takes control of Nakatomi Plaza. An action-packed thrill ride that changed the action movie genre for the better, Die Hard was a massive hit that took home around $140 million and turned Willis into a star.

As is often the case with this type of movie, a sequel was inevitable. Die Hard 2: Die Harder, came out two years later and is set in an airport and features McClane coming up against a group of mercenaries trying to free a Latin American dictator. Although not as well received as the original, it was still a box-office smash that led to a third film five years later; Die Hard With a Vengeance.

Arguably on par with the original, Die Hard With a Vengence finds McClane teaming up with shopowner Zeus Carver (Samuel L Jackson) as the two try and stop a terrorist known as Simon (Jeremy Irons) who makes the pair dash across New York solving various riddles to prevent hidden bombs from going off. One of the most successful films in the franchise making a whopping $366 million, Die Hard With a Vengence is one of the great 90s action flicks that helped Jackson gain more recognition as an actor.

12 years later Willis decided to return as McClane in Live Free or Die Hard, facing off against Timothy Olyphant’s cyber-terrorist. Willis’ final turn as McClane came in 2013s A Good Day To Die Hard, where McClane travels to Russia to bail his son (Jai Courtney) out of jail, only to find himself mixed up in a terrorist plot. The weakest film in the franchise is not great and was hated by critics, and rightly so. While talks of a sixth film have continued for years, since Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and retired from acting, any future Die Hard films have been put on the back burner.

As well as the incredible action set pieces, well-written characters, and devilish bad guys, it’s the writing that makes the Die Hard franchise so good. As we embark on this journey to celebrate the best quotes from the Die Hard franchise, it becomes evident that these lines have played a significant role in shaping the series’ identity. Whether they make us laugh, cheer, or contemplate, they have become a testament to the enduring appeal of a franchise that has solidified its place in the pantheon of action cinema.

1. Die Hard (1988)

1. “Yippee-ki-yay motherfucker!” – John McClane

2. “If this is your idea of Christmas, I gotta be here for New Year’s.” – Argyle

3. “Do you really think you have a chance against us Mr. Cowboy?” – Hans Gruber

4. “Welcome to the party pal.” – John McClane

5. “Now I have a machine gun. Ho, ho, ho.” – Hans Gruber

6. “Come out to the coast, we’ll get together, have a few laughs…” – John McClane

7. “Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except… the four assholes coming in the rear in standard two-by-two cover formation.” – Theo 

8. “Hans, bubby, I’m your white knight.” – Harry Ellis

9. “Yeah. I got invited to a Christmas party by mistake. Who knew?” – John McClane

10. “You asked for miracles, I give you… the FBI.” – Hans Gruber

11. “We’re gonna need some more FBI guys, I guess.” – Dwayne T Robinson

12. “I wanted this to be professional, efficient, adult, cooperative. Not a lot to ask. Alas, your Mr. Takagi did not see it that way… so he won’t be joining us for the rest of his life. We can go any way you want it. You can walk out of here or be carried out. But have no illusions. We are in charge.” – Hans Gruber

13. “I’m Agent Johnson, this is Special Agent Johnson. No relation.” – Special Agent Johnson

14. “Just a fly in the ointment, Hans. The monkey in the wrench. The pain in the ass.” – John McClane

15. “I am an exceptional thief, Mrs. McClane. And since I’m moving up to kidnapping, you should be more polite.” – Hans Gruber 

16. “Does it sound like I’m ordering a pizza!” – John McClane

17. “Nice suit. John Philips, London. I have two myself.” – Hans Gruber

18. “Only John can drive someone that crazy.” – Holly Gennaro McClane

19. “From up here it doesn’t look like you’re in charge of jack shit!” – John McClane

20. “Mr. Takagi, I could talk about industrialization and men’s fashion all day. However, I am far more interested in the 100 million dollars in negotiable bearer bonds hidden in your vault… and the computer controls the vault.” – Hans Gruber

21. “Now I know what a TV dinner feels like.” – John McClane

22. “That’s a nice suit. It’d be a shame to ruin it.” – Hans Gruber

23. “Thanks for the advice.” – John McLane

24. “You Americans are all alike. Well, this time John Wayne does not walk off into the sunset with Grace Kelly.” – Hans Gruber

25. “Sorry, Hans. Wrong guess. Would you like to go for double jeopardy where the scores can really change?” – John McClane 

26. “You are most troublesome for a security guard.” – Hans Gruber

27. “Nine million terrorists in the world and I gotta kill one with feet smaller than my sister.” – John McClane 

28. “But, you have me at a loss. You know my name but who are you? Just another American who saw too many movies as a child? Another orphan of a bankrupt culture who thinks he’s John Wayne? Rambo? Marshal Dillon?” – Hans Gruber

29. “I was always kinda partial to Roy Rogers actually. I really like those sequined shirts.” – John McClane 

2. Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)

30. “Oh man, I can’t fucking believe this. Another basement, another elevator. How can the same shit happen to the same guy twice?” – John McClane

31. “You are in my little pond now, and I am the big fish that runs it.” – Carmine Lorenzo

32. “Just once, I’d like a regular, normal Christmas. Eggnog, a fuckin’ Christmas tree, a little turkey. But, no. I gotta crawl around in this motherfuckin’ tin can.” – John McClane

33. Sergeant Al Powell: “You’re not pissing in somebody’s pool, are you?”

John McLane: “Yeah, and I’m fresh outta chlorine.”

34. “Holly! Here’s your fucking landing light. Whoo!” – John McClane

35. Samantha Coleman: “You give me this story and I’ll have your baby.”

John McClane: “That’s not the kind of ride I’m looking for.”

36. Major Grant: “You’re the wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

John McClane: “Story of my life.”

37. “Hey, Carmine, let me ask you something. What sets off the metal detectors first? The lead in your ass or the shit in your brains?” – John McClane

38. Marvin – “You like it, huh? How ’bout you give me twenty bucks for it?”

John McClane – “How ’bout I let you live?”

Marvin – “Man knows how to bargain.”

39. “You’re supposed to stay in your seat until the plane reaches the terminal. No frequent flier mileage for you.” – John McClane

40. “As far as I’m concerned, progress peaked with frozen pizza.” – John McClane

41. John McClane – “That punk pulled a Glock 7 on me. You know what that is? It’s a porcelain gun made in Germany. Doesn’t show up on your airport X-ray machines, here, and it cost more than you make in a month.”

Carmine Lorenzo – “You’d be a surprised what I make in a month.”

John McClane – If it’s more than a dollar ninety-eight I’d be very surprised.”

42. John McClane – “Guess I was wrong about you. You’re not such an asshole after all.”

Major Grant – “Oh, you were right. I’m just your kind of asshole.”

3. Die Hard With a Vengence (1995)

43. “You having a nice day, sir? You feeling all right? Not to get too personal, but a white man standing in the middle of Harlem wearing a sign that says “I hate niggers” has either got some serious personal issues, or not all his dogs are barking. Hey! I’m talking to you! Now you’ve got about ten seconds before those guys see you, and when they do they will kill you, you understand? You are about to have a very bad day.” – Zeus Carver

44. “The only thing better than blowing up 100 billion dollars worth of gold is making people think you did.” – John McClane

45.  Zeus Carver: “You know this guy Simon we’re talking to?”

John McClane: “Yeah. I threw his little brother off the thirty-second floor of Nakatomi Towers out in LA I guess he’s a little pissed off about it.”

Zeus Carver: “Wait a minute. You mean to tell me I’m in this shit ’cause some white cop threw some white asshole’s brother off a roof?”

46. Zeus Carver: “Why you keep calling me Jésus? I look Puerto Rican to you?”

John McClane: “Guy back there called you Jésus.”

Zeus Carver: “He didn’t say Jésus. He said, ‘Hey, Zeus!’ My name is Zeus.

John McClane: “Zeus?”

Zeus Carver: “Yeah, Zeus! As in, father of Apollo? Mt. Olympus? Don’t fuck with me or I’ll shove a lightning bolt up your ass? Zeus! You got a problem with that?”

47. “No guts. No glory.” – Charlie Weiss

48. Simon Gruber: “John… in the back of the truck you’re driving, there’s 13 billion dollars worth in gold bullion. I wonder would a deal be out of the question?”

John McClane: “Yeah, I got a deal for you. Crawl out from that rock you’re hiding under, and I’ll drive this truck up your ass.”

Simon Gruber: “How colorful.”

49. Inspector Walter Cobb: “We’ll be back to pick you up in fifteen minutes.”

John McClane: “Take your time. I expect to be dead in four.”

50. “Hi, fellas. Mickey O’Brien, aqueduct security. Hey, listen, we got a report of a guy coming through here with, uh, eight reindeer. Yeah, they said he was a jolly, old, fat guy with a snowy, white beard. Cute little red and white suit. I’m surprised you didn’t see him.” – John McClane

51. “Said Simple Simon to the pieman going to the fair, “Give me your pies…or I’ll cave your head in.” – Simon Gruber

52. “Attention! Attention! Nils is dead! I repeat, Nils is dead, fuck-head. So is his pal, and those four guys from the East German All-Stars, your boys down at the bank? They’re gonna be a little late.” – John McClane

53. “If killing you was all I wanted, you’d be dead by now.” – Simon Gruber

4. Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

54. “You know what you get for being a hero? Nothin’. You get shot at. You get a little pat on the back. You get divorced. Your wife can’t remember your last name. Your kids don’t want to talk to you. You get to eat a lot of meals by yourself.” – John McClane

55. “The news is completely manipulated. Everything you hear, every single day is designed by corporate media to do one thing only. To keep you living in fear.” – Matthew Farrell

56. “Hundreds of thousands of people get killed by cars every year. That’s just like four more.” – John McClane

57. “You’re a Timex watch in a digital age.” – Thomas Gabriel

58. “I know I’m not as smart as you guys with all this computer shit. But, hey… I’m still alive, ain’t I? I mean, you’ve got to be running out of bad guys by now, right? Huh? Gabriel? Honestly, you can tell me. I mean, how does that work? Got some kind of service or something? Some kind of 800 number? 1-800-HENCHMEN? Oh, you know what? I bet you’re still on hold with, “Can I get another dead Asian hooker bitch over here right away?” – John McClane

59. Matt Farrell: “You just killed a helicopter with a car!”

John McClane: “I was out of bullets.”

60. “Mai? Oh, yeah. Little Asian chick, likes to kick people? I don’t think she’s gonna be talkin’ to anybody for a really long time. Last time I saw her she was at the bottom of a elevator shaft with an SUV rammed up her ass.” – John McClane

5. A Good Day To Die Hard (2012)

61. “The shit we do for our kids. Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker.” – John McClane

62. John McClane: “What’s with the ‘John’ shit? What happened to ‘dad?'”

Jack McClane: “That’s a good question.”

63. “I’m on fucking vacation.” – John McClane

64. John McClane: “You got a plan?”

Jack McClane:  Not really. I kinda thought we would just wing it, you know. Running in, guns blazing! Make it up as we go.”

65. “Me and my boy here, we’re gonna put a whuppin’ on ya!” – John McClane

66. Jack McClane: “Hey, lemme ask you something. Do you go looking for trouble, or does it always find you?”

John McClane: “You know, after all these years, I’m still asking myself the same question.”