Renny Harlin Movies: Essential Films
This curated watch list highlights Renny Harlin's finest work during his 1990s peak, when he established himself as a master of big-budget action cinema. These four films represent his strongest contributions to the genre, showcasing his ability to deliver thrilling set pieces and maintain tension throughout.
Die Hard 2 proved he could handle a major franchise sequel, Cliffhanger demonstrated his skill with mountainside action and remains one of Stallone's best vehicles, while Deep Blue Sea delivered smart shark thrills. The Long Kiss Goodnight, though underappreciated at release, is now recognized as an intelligent action thriller with a career-best performance from Geena Davis.
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Die Hard 2
Off-duty cop John McClane finds himself battling terrorists who have seized control of Washington Dulles Airport's air traffic system on Christmas Eve. With his wife trapped on a circling plane above, McClane must stop the terrorists' plot to free a drug lord while dealing with incompetent local authorities.
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Cliffhanger
A former mountain ranger haunted by a tragic climbing accident is reluctantly called back to rescue stranded climbers, only to discover they're actually criminals searching for stolen money in the treacherous peaks.
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The Long Kiss Goodnight
A small-town schoolteacher with amnesia discovers she was once a deadly CIA assassin when violent incidents trigger memories of her forgotten past. She must team up with a private investigator to confront the people who tried to erase her identity.
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Deep Blue Sea
Scientists conducting Alzheimer's research on an underwater facility genetically enhance sharks' intelligence, but their experiment backfires when the super-smart predators turn deadly. When a storm damages their remote lab, the researchers must fight for survival against their own creations.
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Related Film Series
Die Hard
NYPD officer John McClane repeatedly battles terrorists in elaborate scenarios across 25 years of action cinema.
Nightmare on Elm Street
The iconic horror franchise following the burned child killer Freddy Krueger who stalks teenagers through their dreams.
The Exorcist
A horror franchise exploring demonic possession and faith, beginning with the groundbreaking 1973 film about a young girl's terrifying possession.
The Strangers
A horror franchise centered on masked home invaders who terrorize their victims with no apparent motive.
Other Film Series
Ana de Armas
Cuban-born actress who transitioned from Spanish television to become a Hollywood star through acclaimed performances in Blade Runner 2049, Knives Out, and Blonde.
Escape Plan
An action trilogy following security expert Ray Breslin as he infiltrates and escapes from increasingly dangerous high-tech prisons.
Grindhouse
An exploitation cinema tribute that began as a 2007 double feature and spawned multiple spin-off films from its fake trailers.
Taken
A retired CIA operative uses his particular set of skills to protect his family from increasingly dangerous threats across three action-packed films.
Universal Soldier
A sci-fi action franchise about reanimated soldiers turned into enhanced super-warriors, following multiple timelines and reboots across different continuities.
xXx
An action franchise about extreme sports athlete Xander Cage who becomes an unconventional government agent for high-stakes espionage missions.