Why it's so great: This John McTiernan-directed action film spawned a whole slew of imitators ("Speed," "Passenger 57," "Under Siege," etc.) due to its successful capitalization on the then-fresh idea of placing a regular Joe in an extraordinary situation. It also showcases several still-breathtaking action sequences and countless memorable lines. "Yippee ki yay, mother -!"

Remake-o-meter says: With little thought for the original's cleverness, there have been 3 sequels so far (with another likely on the way). Fox can milk the franchise all they want, but Bruce Willis is getting old, and the studio will eventually be forced to reboot with someone younger.