John McTieran’s directing career started off with one action blockbuster hit after another, yet later he found himself in prison and bankrupt leaving behind a trail of duds.
John McTiernan is one of the most influential action filmmakers of his generation. Educated at the American Film Institute and influenced by European cinematic style, he made his name with a trio of groundbreaking action films–Predator, Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October.
His later output was a mixture of successes and failures, including Last Action Hero, one of the most colossal misfires in Hollywood history. His career and personal life unravelled when he was indicted and briefly imprisoned for involvement in a wiretapping scandal.
Here are a few of his best:
- Die Hard (1988): This is arguably his most famous film, a Christmas classic that redefined the action genre.
- Predator (1987): A sci-fi action masterpiece featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger battling an alien hunter.
- The Hunt for Red October (1990): A tense Cold War thriller with a stellar cast, including Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin.
These films showcase McTiernan’s talent for creating thrilling and suspenseful action sequences while also developing compelling characters.
- Early Life and Education: McTiernan attended the Juilliard School in New York City and later earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the AFI Conservatory.
- Breakthrough: His career took off in the late 1980s with a string of successful action movies.
Box Office Hits:
- Die Hard (1988)
- Predator (1987)
- The Hunt for Red October (1990)
- Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)
- The Thomas Crown Affair (remake from 1999)
Box Office Bombs:
- Nomads (1986)
- The Last Action Hero (1993)
- Medicine Man (1992)
- The 13th Warrior (1999)
- Rollerball (remake from 2002)
- Basic (2003)
