MovieChat Forums > Lethal Weapon (1987) Discussion > When did Die Hard surpass this in popula...

When did Die Hard surpass this in popularity?

posted 3 years ago by kuatorises (7467)
13 replies | jump to latest

Maybe it was just me, but when I was a kid, even though I liked both movies, I vastly preferred this one to Die Hard. Lethal Weapon was HUGE for years, but Die Hard has far surpassed it in pop culture. Lethal Weapon doesn't even get mentioned as a Christmas movie, but Die Hard does. I find myself liking Die Hard more now too. I was watching Lethal Weapon over the weekend and struggling to pay attention; though sometimes I wonder if I have ADD. I might give it another shot since I was only half watching.

[–] Jones70 (6195) 2 years ago

Early 2000s I think.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 2 years ago

I must have posted this same question on another site, because I remember people answering and having this conversation. Most, if not all of them, told me Die Hard was always more popular. I was kinda shocked, because as far as I could see Die Hard was never the cult classic it was until at least the 00s. Christ, I've gone to local theaters that show it around Christmas.
I never remember hearing it about it THAT much growing up. Now it's everywhere.

Maybe I was wrong though, because it appears to have made more money and have higher reviews that Lethal Weapon.

[–] legnadibrom (5719) 2 years ago

DH cannot even be considered a cult classic due to its immense popularity

[–] FFNogoodnik (770) 2 years ago

I think the reason is the "Die Hard is A Christmas Movie" thing. Lethal Weapon, for some reason is not seen as a Christmas movie where Dir Hard for some reason "clearly is" and I just do not get that.

This is a post that I made on You Tube where I address my thoughts on the Die Hard/Lethal Weapon Christmas movie thing:
There is nothing other than the Christmas background that Die Hard has in common with what we generally consider to be Christmas films. While John does get back with his wife (temporarily as we find out in the sequels) he does not change anything to make that happen. I am not even sure if we are given a reason for the split except maybe that he wanted to stay in New York and maybe did not respect her work. If those are the reasons we never saw anything from him that changed that.

On the other hand Lethal Weapon has Riggs who at the start of the film is on the verge of commiting suicide because the loss of his wife has made him feel alone and that life is not worth it. He has to find reasons to go on everyday. Through the film though we see him basically find a new family in the Murtaughs who take him in. At the end of the film he give the bullet to Murtaugh because he no longer needs it. If the Christmas season is about family then Lethal Weapon is a Christmas Film.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Die hard is about one guy solving everything with anger and determination.
Lethal Weapon is about team work.

[–] Mustang (5239) 2 years ago

I was never big on Die Hard and I only ever watched the first sequel of DH. I like LW though even the ones with the ever annoying Joe Pesci.

[–] cyguration (3845) 2 years ago

You should definitely watch Die Hard With A Vengeance. That has to be the best third-entry in a trilogy ever made, because it actually manages to surpass the original!

It feels more adventure-y than the first film, and it's less over-the-top than the second film. Also, to the point of FFNogoodnik, it actually has McClane learning something and evolving along the way.

Plus, the villain plot -- while ridiculous -- is actually really smart (something John Cena's 12 Rounds aped unabashedly).

I think Lethal Weapon 1 & 2 > Die Hard 1 & 2, but Die Hard 3 > Every Lethal Weapon movie.

[–] mechajutaro (2788) 2 years ago

When did Die Hard surpass this in popularity?

Wouldn't say it surpassed Lethal Weapon, so much as it aged a lot better than LW did. Today, Martin Riggs comes across like a unintended self-parody of 80s action cliches

[–] scannerdarkly (1274) 2 years ago

Maybe people rate it higher because Diehard doesnt have a main character that is suicidal?

[–] kuatorises (7467) 2 years ago

I don't think that's it, but it Gibson could play a factor.

[–] scannerdarkly (1274) 2 years ago

Its just rough seeing that display of depression and suicidal ideation on the big screen. Its still a good movie, I have seen it many times. But is a much darker tone than Diehard is, which may factor into why its higher rated.

The pair of actors in both movies are great
Diehard= Bruce Willis and Reginald Vel Johnson (Carl Winslow!)
Lethal Weapon= Mel Gibson and Danny Glover

Both have humor and serious moments, both have interesting stories. But Diehard is funnier predicaments and not as dark in tone as Lethal Weapon.

[–] Redsfan001 (6006) 2 years ago

July 11, 1998.

The day after Lethal Weapon 4 was released.

[–] Cognoscente (2463) a year ago

Die Hard was more family-friendly...in a sense. Less rude (nude), and less drugs. It's also less depressing (no tear-jerking suicide attempt and no torture scene of the hero).