If you enjoyed the high-octane action and thrilling premise of the 2013 film White House Down, you’re in luck – there are plenty of other great movies that deliver a similar mix of intense thrills, explosive set pieces, and heroic characters battling against impossible odds. Starring Channing Tatum as an aspiring Secret Service agent who must protect the President (Jamie Foxx) when terrorists attack the White House, White House Down is a fun, Die Hard-inspired romp that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
For fans looking for more of the same, here are 16 of the best movies like White House Down that are sure to get your pulse pounding. From classic 80s and 90s action flicks to more recent blockbusters, these films all share DNA with White House Down‘s “one man against an army” setup and deliver a comparable level of popcorn entertainment. Let’s count them down:
1. Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Olympus Has Fallen came out the same year as White House Down and shares an extremely similar premise. When the White House (codenamed “Olympus”) is captured by North Korean terrorists and the President is taken hostage, it’s up to disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning to save the day. Gerard Butler stars as the tough-as-nails hero in this action-packed thriller.
The movie follows Banning as he finds himself trapped alone inside the White House after the complex is overtaken. With national security teams scrambling to respond, Banning’s inside knowledge as a former guard becomes invaluable as he works to rescue the President. Full of intense gunfights and brutal hand-to-hand combat, Olympus Has Fallen delivers pulse-pounding excitement from start to finish.
2. London Has Fallen (2016)
IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
A sequel to Olympus Has Fallen, London Has Fallen moves the action to the UK after the British Prime Minister passes away under mysterious circumstances. World leaders gather in London for his funeral, but what begins as the most protected event on the planet soon turns into a deadly plot to assassinate the dignitaries and unleash devastation.
Only three people have a hope of stopping the terrorist mastermind behind the attack: U.S. President Benjamin Asher, his formidable Secret Service head Mike Banning, and a British MI-6 agent. The explosive set pieces sprawl across London landmarks as Banning and Asher fight to survive one of the city’s darkest days. London Has Fallen amps up the destruction for a bigger, bolder sequel.
3. Angel Has Fallen (2019)
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
The third entry in the Has Fallen series, Angel Has Fallen sees Gerard Butler return as unstoppable Secret Service Agent Mike Banning. This time, the danger hits closer to home when Banning himself is framed for an assassination attempt on U.S. President Allan Trumbull.
Now a fugitive from his own agency and the FBI, Banning must evade capture long enough to uncover the real threat and protect the President. Angel Has Fallen adds a new twist to the franchise’s formula by making Banning both the hunted and the hunter in a race against time. With the odds stacked against him, Banning must risk it all to clear his name and find the true culprits.
4. Air Force One (1997)
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Air Force One stars Harrison Ford as U.S. President James Marshall, who faces a crisis at 30,000 feet when his plane is hijacked by Russian neo-nationalists. With his wife and daughter on board, President Marshall must transform into an action hero to save his family and the other hostages.
As a former soldier and Medal of Honor recipient, Marshall opts to stay on the plane to fight back against the terrorists led by the ruthless Ivan Korshunov. Air Force One delivers a tense cat-and-mouse game inside the claustrophobic setting of the presidential aircraft, with Ford’s everyman charm anchoring the high-flying heroics. Gary Oldman also shines as the villainous Korshunov.
5. In the Line of Fire (1993)
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Clint Eastwood stars as veteran Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan in this gripping thriller. Horrigan is still haunted by his failure to save John F. Kennedy from assassination decades earlier. Now he faces a new threat in the form of a psychotic former CIA assassin with a deadly grudge against the current President.
As the crazed killer taunts Horrigan with phone calls and a twisted “game” of cat and mouse, the aging agent must confront his past demons to stop history from tragically repeating. In the Line of Fire is a smart, suspenseful thriller anchored by strong performances from both Eastwood and John Malkovich as the villain. It’s a more realistic take on the “Die Hard in the White House” concept.
6. Die Hard (1988)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Although not specifically about an attack on the White House, Die Hard is the quintessential “one man army” action movie that inspired countless imitators, including White House Down and Olympus Has Fallen. Bruce Willis’ wisecracking everyman hero John McClane must singlehandedly stop a group of terrorists who take over an LA skyscraper on Christmas Eve.
The original Die Hard remains the gold standard, with Willis’ iconic performance, Alan Rickman’s scene-stealing villain, and a perfect blend of humor, heart and explosive set pieces. If White House Down felt like “Die Hard in the White House”, that’s because Die Hard perfected the formula that action movies are still following decades later.
7. Speed (1994)
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Speed kicks the Die Hard formula into high gear by setting its action on a bus that will explode if it drops below 50 miles per hour. Keanu Reeves stars as a young SWAT officer who must board the bus to save the passengers from a bomber holding them hostage.
Like White House Down, Speed has a high-concept premise that keeps the thrills coming fast and furious. It’s a master class in sustaining tension, with Reeves and Sandra Bullock having great chemistry as the leads. Speed is a defining 90s action classic that still holds up today.
8. Under Siege (1992)
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Under Siege could be described as “Die Hard on a battleship”, with Steven Seagal starring as Casey Ryback, a Navy SEAL turned cook who must stop a group of mercenaries who take over the USS Missouri on its final voyage. Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey chew the scenery as the villainous brothers leading the attack.
While it follows a very familiar formula, Under Siege executes it well, with plenty of martial arts action from Seagal and some impressive stunts on the battleship. It’s an entertaining military riff on the classic Die Hard premise.
9. Passenger 57 (1992)
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
Passenger 57 stars Wesley Snipes as John Cutter, an airline security expert who must take down a group of terrorists who hijack a plane to free their captured leader. Snipes’ charisma carries the movie as he fights the bad guys and tries to safely land the plane.
Although it’s not the most original or deep thriller, Passenger 57 delivers solid action and one of Snipes’ better star vehicles. It’s another effective “Die Hard on a _” riff with a fun cast that includes Bruce Payne and Elizabeth Hurley.
10. Executive Decision (1996)
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Executive Decision is a clever twist on the Die Hard/Air Force One formula, with Kurt Russell starring as a U.S. Army Intelligence consultant who unexpectedly has to take charge when a plane is hijacked by Islamic terrorists. Steven Seagal appears in an extended cameo as the leader of a Special Forces team.
Executive Decision builds suspense not just from the action, but from the problem-solving Russell and his team must do to secretly board and infiltrate the moving plane. The movie also features an early lead role for Halle Berry as a stewardess on the flight. It’s a smart, well-crafted thriller that puts a fresh spin on a familiar premise.
11. The Rock (1996)
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
The Rock moves the Die Hard premise to the famous Alcatraz Island, where a rogue general and his team of mercenaries have taken hostages and aimed chemical weapons at San Francisco. The only hope is an unlikely team: an FBI chemical weapons expert played by Nicolas Cage and the only Alcatraz inmate to ever escape the island, played by Sean Connery.
Directed by Michael Bay, The Rock is a stellar action movie that makes the most of its unique setting and odd couple leads. Cage and Connery have terrific buddy chemistry, while Ed Harris brings nuance to his sympathetic villain. With a great mix of humor and over-the-top action, The Rock is a hugely entertaining riff on the Die Hard formula.
12. Sudden Death (1995)
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
Sudden Death stars Jean-Claude Van Damme as a firefighter who stumbles upon a terrorist plot to hold the U.S. Vice President hostage during a Stanley Cup hockey game. The movie makes strong use of its unique arena setting as Van Damme fights to stop the villains and save the VP.
While Sudden Death is one of the more shamelessly derivative Die Hard clones, it’s still an entertaining showcase for Van Damme’s charms and fighting skills. Powers Boothe also stands out as the hammy main villain. For fans of 90s action cheese, Sudden Death is a fun entry in the Die Hard-inspired subgenre.
13. Skyscraper (2018)
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
Skyscraper stars Dwayne Johnson as a security consultant and former FBI agent who must save his family from a burning supertall skyscraper overtaken by terrorists and thieves. With his prosthetic leg and duct tape ingenuity, Johnson makes for a slightly different kind of action hero.
Clearly inspired by Die Hard and The Towering Inferno, Skyscraper is a love letter to old-school disaster movies, updated with cutting-edge special effects. Johnson’s natural charisma keeps you engaged even when the plot gets silly. Skyscraper doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s a well-crafted popcorn flick that delivers vertigo-inducing thrills.
14. The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
A remake of the 1974 thriller, The Taking of Pelham 123 stars Denzel Washington as a New York City subway dispatcher who must match wits with a criminal mastermind played by John Travolta. Travolta’s villain hijacks a subway train and holds the passengers for ransom.
Washington and Travolta make for a strong duo, and director Tony Scott keeps the tension high with his signature flashy style. Although not as iconic as the original, this remake is a solid thriller that updates the story for modern audiences. It’s another effective variation on the Die Hard formula.
15. Broken Arrow (1996)
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
Broken Arrow stars Christian Slater as a young Air Force pilot who must stop his mentor, played by John Travolta, from stealing nuclear warheads. Travolta gleefully hams it up as the scenery-chewing villain with his own twisted motives.
The movie delivers some impressive aerial action and fun macho banter between Slater and Travolta. Broken Arrow may be silly at times, but it’s an entertaining military riff on Die Hard with some unique flourishes. It’s worth watching for Travolta’s delightfully over-the-top bad guy turn.
16. Cliffhanger (1993)
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
Cliffhanger stars Sylvester Stallone as a haunted mountain climber who gets caught up in a heist gone wrong in the Rocky Mountains. John Lithgow plays the ruthless thief searching for his lost loot, but he didn’t count on Stallone’s Gabe Walker standing in his way.
The mountain setting gives Cliffhanger a different flavor than most Die Hard imitators, with suspenseful climbing sequences and dizzying helicopter stunts. Lithgow is clearly having a blast as the villain, while Stallone makes for a slightly more vulnerable hero than usual. Cliffhanger is a worthy entry in the 90s action canon.
Whether it’s Die Hard on a plane, bus, battleship, or mountain, the movies on this list all deliver high-octane thrills in the spirit of White House Down. With their charming everyman heroes, colorful villains, and clever set pieces, these films prove why the Die Hard formula has remained so enduring and entertaining for decades. If you love action movies with a sense of humor and plenty of explosions, you can’t go wrong with any of these White House Down-inspired flicks.
