The second Die Hard film in the franchise, Die Hard 2 also takes place on Christmas Eve, two years after the first one, and this time John is meeting his wife, Holly (Hello? Christmas!) at the airport in Washington, D.C. Sadly, her plane is hijacked by some former Special Forces guys, and, of course, John is the only one who can save her.

This follow up to the first is not as good as its predecessor. The story just seemed a little off, there’s not enough to compel you through the more than two hours it takes to resolve the conflict, and the bad guy is just not impressive. 

Now, there’s no arguing that the third, fourth, or fifth films in the Die Hard franchise have anything to do with Christmas. But the third one, Die Hard with a Vengeance, is worth watching every year after the first two for the star power alone.

Of course Willis is back as McClane. This time, he’s in New York City, unemployed, divorced, and soaked in alcohol when the latest bad guy, played by the magnificent Jeremy Irons tugs on his chain. And to help him? Samuel Jackson!