Die Hard has been named the UK’s favorite action movie of all time, according to new national research. The 1988 all-out-action classic, starring Bruce Willis as a New York City police detective, took 18 percent of the vote, beating out competition from Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark and Tom Cruise favorite Top Gun (13 percent), according to the nationwide study carried out by Showcase Cinemas.
The research was based on a survey of 2000 respondents undertaken in March. The research was commissioned to celebrate the release of both Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, which are both set to hit the big screen this summer.
Not only was Die Hard voted the UK’s favorite, but Bruce Willis (55 percent) has been named the actor Brits most associate with the action genre. Tom Cruise (47 percent) landed in second spot ahead of the release of the seventh instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise and Fast & Furious star Jason Statham (40 percent) finished in third spot.
The survey also revealed suave secret agent James Bond (26 percent) is the nation’s favorite character from an action movie, with archelogy professor turned action hero Indiana Jones (23 percent) following narrowly behind and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s The Terminator rounding out the top three (12 percent).
Action movies are renowned for iconic fight scenes, and the UK has now named its favorite of all time, with the legendary final battle from the original Karate Kid coming out on top (11 percent).
Plot twists (41 percent) were voted the most important aspect of an action movie, while fight scenes (31 percent) and car chases (26 percent) also scored highly, with the iconic mini chase from The Italian Job named the nation’s favorite.
Jon Dixon, UK marketing director for Showcase Cinemas said, “Action movies are a staple of the big screen, which has been reflected in our survey with two thirds (62 percent) of respondents stating they are the most exciting genre to watch at the cinema.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the latest instalments from two classic franchises hit the big screen this year, as Tom Cruise and Harrison Ford reprise their roles as Ethan Hunt and Indiana Jones respectively. The pair are near synonymous with the genre and have gifted us so many iconic moments throughout the years, we can’t wait to see what comes next.”
The survey also revealed there’s no splitting the UK’s favorite villain from an action movie, with both The Joker and The Terminator receiving 28 percent of the vote.
Elsewhere, there was a generational divide when it comes to naming our favorite action movies. John Wick is the favorite for those aged 18 – 24, while The Dark Knight took top spot for 25 – 34 year olds, Die Hard resonated most with those aged 35 – 44 and 45s and above opted for Raiders of the Lost Ark as their number one.
Showcase Cinemas showcasecinemas.co.uk