Disney’s 5-Part Classic Action Franchise Officially Returns With Exciting New Release

Published Oct 11, 2026, 11:07 AM EDT

Hannah Gearan (she/her) is has been writing for ScreenRant for over three years. Her deep cinema love traces back to age 11, when she equipped herself with a spiral-bound notebook, rated all the films she watched, and declared herself a critic. About a decade later, she received a BA from Wesleyan University, where she studied Film, Environmental Studies, and Writing. Hannah’s short film, Toxic Faucets, has screened at numerous film festivals, including the Independent Film Festival of Boston (IFFBoston). As a Movie News writer now, she draws upon her vast experience studying, making, and analyzing film as she approaches dynamic breaking stories. 

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Die Hard may not be getting another sequel, but it is getting one form of new release.

Led by Bruce Willis, the Die Hard franchise kicked off in 1988 with the eponymous film. In the action flick, Willis originated the role of John McClane, an NYPD officer who has to save dozens when terrorists take over a Los Angeles skyscraper. The movie was extremely successful, grossing $143 million worldwide on a $28 million budget and spawning four sequels. The most recent installment of the series came in 2013, with A Good Day to Die Hard.

An official Disney press release has confirmed that the Die Hard franchise will be getting a re-release in a new format. On December 1, Die Hard sequels Die Hard 2 and Die Hard with a Vengeance will join the original movie in getting 4K Ultra HD treatment. The last two films in the franchise, Die Hard, Live Free and A Good Day to Die Hard, will be getting new artwork on their digital retailers on the same day.

These updated Die Hard looks come right in time for the winter holidays, feeding into the ever-present debate on whether the it is a Christmas movie. The franchise's debut is set entirely on Christmas Eve, with the hostage situation happening at a Christmas party. However, being a blood-soaked, high-octane action thriller, it does not bring the same jubilant festive joy as counterparts like Elf or A Christmas Story. Nonetheless, the presence of Christmas trees and Santa hats has led many to deem it an unconventional holiday classic.

Scratch & Peek

Scratch& Peek

Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.

Streaming trends have historically allowed audiences to weigh in on this debate. Without fail, Die Hard ends up trending on the charts nearly every year come December. There is clearly a market for this unconventional Christmas movie. Such audiences will have ample opportunity to appreciate the franchise, this time at an even higher quality, as the original trilogy becomes available on 4K Ultra HD.

The legacy of Die Hard is now wrapped up in the ongoing fanfare of beloved actor Willis. In 2022, the actor was diagnosed with aphasia and later dementia, a shock to many of his fans that know and love him. He resultantly retired from acting that same year. Audiences may not get to see new Willis content, but through the ongoing appreciation for movies like Die Hard, his fans can continue to celebrate his powerful film legacy.

Die Hard