8 Fun B-Movies in the Die Hard Style to Add to Your Watch List

      Casey Chong shares a collection of Die Hard-inspired films…

      The "Die Hard on a [fill in the setting]" subgenre made its presence known after director John McTiernan and then-television star Bruce Willis, renowned for Moonlighting, brought forth a new era of action films in 1988 with the original Die Hard, which achieved both critical and box office success. This film led to four sequels and inspired a wave of similar movies, including notable titles like Under Siege, Passenger 57, Speed, and The Rock. Simultaneously, the B-movie realm has produced its own share of Die Hard-like action films, which, although operating on smaller budgets than mainstream Hollywood blockbusters, have skillfully utilized their available resources to create engaging twists on the Die Hard concept. Here are eight films to add to your watch list…

      Security (2017)

      Canadian director Alain Desrochers follows the familiar Die Hard pattern in Security, featuring a formulaic storyline: Antonio Banderas plays an ex-Marine Corps Security captain who is desperate for a job and ends up as a mall security guard. However, his inaugural shift turns into a nightmare as a team of mercenaries, led by Charlie (Ben Kingsley), hunts for Jamie (Katherine Mary de la Rocha), a vital witness who narrowly escaped a near-death situation and finds refuge in the mall.

      The film quickly transitions into a “Die Hard in a mall” action scenario. Banderas’ Eddie Deacon emerges as a reluctant hero propelled by circumstance, demonstrating proficiency in weapon use and hand-to-hand combat. At 56, he convincingly portrays a fatigued character. With a runtime of approximately 90 minutes, Desrochers’ directorial approach prioritizes action over exposition, effectively keeping the pace brisk. The film excels in delivering decent action sequences staged with notable clarity, especially given its $15 million budget.

      No Contest (1995)

      Shannon Tweed stars as the unusual heroine in No Contest. Surprisingly, the former Playboy model-turned-actress, known for her erotic roles, performs convincingly in this action-forward role. She portrays Sharon Bell, a former beauty queen and martial arts expert who hosts a Miss Galaxy pageant when a group of terrorists, led by Oz (Andrew Dice Clay), hijack the building. The film echoes the first Die Hard, albeit with a reduced budget.

      While the story is straightforward and predictable, as Paul Lynch borrows freely from McTiernan’s 1988 classic, No Contest benefits from a solid cast. Besides Tweed, Andrew Dice Clay revels in his role as the main villain, while Roddy Piper plays Oz’s unstable henchman, Ice. Notably, for a B-movie, Lynch includes subtle details about Tweed’s character, making her a proactive force against the terrorists without falling into the trope of the indestructible action heroine. Lynch directed a sequel, No Contest II, the following year, featuring Tweed reprising her role.

      Command Performance (2009)

      Here's an interesting fact about Dolph Lundgren: he can actually play the drums in real life. This ability is showcased in Command Performance, where he portrays Joe, a former biker and current drummer for the rock band CMF. The narrative follows Joe and his bandmates as they open a concert in Moscow featuring the famous pop singer Venus (Melissa Smith). VIP attendees include the Russian president and his two daughters, who are fans of Venus. The film takes a “Die Hard at a rock concert” angle when terrorists hold them hostage and kill others brutally. Joe, as the reluctant hero, must rise to the occasion.

      Lundgren, also the director and co-writer, doesn't shy away from graphic violence, delivering a portrayal that is more brutal than the average Die Hard-style action film. There are moments where a villain is stabbed with a drumstick, and another meets their end via a broken electric guitar. Although the use of shaky camerawork can be frustrating, it contributes to a visceral sense of urgency in the film.

      Automatic (1995)

      In Automatic, Olivier Gruner takes on his third leading role, diving into sci-fi action territory after previously starring in Nemesis. This film mixes elements from Terminator, RoboCop, and Die Hard, with Gruner playing an android named J269, designed to protect humans from threats.

      After a company's executive attempts to assault a PR assistant (Daphne Ashbrook's Nora Rochester), J269 kills him, prompting the company's CEO (played by John Glover in a villainous role) to send mercenaries to eliminate both J269 and Rochester. Automatic showcases Gruner's martial arts prowess during its fight scenes, highlighting his agility in dispatching mercenaries. With a brief runtime of 86 minutes, director John Murlowski effectively gets straight to the point.

      Deadly Outbreak (1995)

      In Deadly Outbreak,