The Story Behind Bruce Willis’ Explosive Roof Jump Stunt In Die Hard

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As a die-hard fan of action movies and Christmas classics, I can confidently say that Bruce Willis’ performance in Die Hard is nothing short of legendary. But what truly sets this film apart from others is not just the adrenaline-pumping sequences or the iconic one-liners; it’s the fact that the man himself, Bruce Willis, took on some of the most dangerous stunts, including the nail-biting roof jump from the Nakatomi Plaza.

Among numerous factors, what makes Die Hard my top pick for the best Christmas movie ever is its thrilling scenes that also earned it the title of an action movie timeless classic, suitable for viewing beyond the festive season. For instance, John McClane’s (Bruce Willis) daring leap from the Nakatomi Plaza rooftop as a blazing inferno ignites behind him is one such memorable moment.

I suppose it wasn’t the actor in person but rather a skilled stuntman performing that daring act, correct? Oops! Allow me to correct myself. Shall we proceed to Double Jeopardy where the scores might take an interesting turn, or would you prefer to continue exploring how the thrilling scene from the cherished Christmas action movie was actually filmed instead?

Bruce Willis Performed The Die Hard Stunt Himself

Indeed, it is not a stunt performer you see on camera when New York City detective John McClane leaps from the exploding roof of the Los Angeles high-rise, but the lead star of the Die Hard cast himself, Bruce Willis. However, in reality, he did not brave 40 stories but jumped from the top of a five story parking garage. The actor recalled just how dangerous it was to film one of the most memorable scenes from one of the best Bruce Willis movies in the following quote from a 2007 Entertainment Weekly interview:

I’m currently standing on the roof, and they’re preparing a firehose around my body, also applying some unknown substance. I asked what it was for, and they replied it’s to prevent me from catching fire. They pointed out large plastic bags of gasoline nearby, mentioning that they plan to explode them as I jump off!

Listening to those words would undoubtedly be disheartening for any actor. However, it’s important to note that at that time, Willis was primarily recognized for his work in the romantic dramedy series “Moonlighting”, the 1987 romantic comedy “Blind Date”, and advertising campaigns for Seagram’s Golden Wine Coolers. Hence, this kind of action was entirely new to him. Intriguingly, the stunts seen in “Die Hard” marked his very first foray into such high-octane sequences.

The Roof Jump Stunt Was The First Die Hard Scene Bruce Willis Shot

During the same interview with Entertainment Weekly, Willis shared that the rooftop stunt in Die Hard was the initial scene filmed on the very first day of production. This choice was intentional, as suggested by this excerpt.

Eventually, I said, ‘What’s the reason for filming this sequence initially?’ To which they replied, ‘If your character met an untimely end in the final cut of the movie, it would be costly as we’d need to re-shoot everything involving a new actor due to the expense.’

He says this with a laugh but it reinforces just how much Willis (who was not even the bankable movie star this thriller would make him into yet) was willing to risk for the production. Not to mention, he came very close to meeting a bitter end, or at least a world of hurt, when filming the scene.

Bruce Willis Nearly Injured Himself Performing The Stunt

In the movie “Die Hard”, John McClane finds himself hanging precariously from the Nakatomi rooftop, with only a fire hose keeping him from plummeting to his doom. As he swings towards a lower floor and smashes through a window using a few bullets and his bare feet, luck was on his side as Bruce Willis, who played McClane, had an airbag for the stunt landing – though it wasn’t as dependable as hoped, as Willis himself revealed to Entertainment Weekly.

As soon as I leapt, the impact of the blast propelled me right up to the periphery of the airbag meant for my landing. Upon touching down, people quickly rushed towards me, and I anticipated they’d praise me with words like ‘Well done!’ or ‘Bravo!’. However, it turned out that they were checking if I was still alive, since I had nearly missed the airbag altogether.

Speaking about the movie promotion, Willis shared with Entertainment Tonight that if he’d watched the thrilling rooftop jump scene ahead of time, he likely would have been too terrified to film it. Moreover, he vowed never to perform such a daring stunt in a movie again, and who could argue with him?

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2024-12-28 20:07