Denzel Washington is a huge star in action movies, and his films are consistently among the best in the genre. While he’s known for hits like Man on Fire, the Equalizer movies, and The Book of Eli, one of his best – and most overlooked – films is actually Ricochet from 1991.
In Ricochet, a District Attorney named Washington faces off against a vengeful criminal he previously sent to prison. This action movie is often overlooked, but it’s actually a standout of its time. Interestingly, it quietly lays the groundwork for a shared universe, with surprising connections to the classic film Die Hard.
Ricochet Is a Secret Spiritual Sequel to Die Hard
Though never officially considered a sequel, Russell Mulcahy’s Ricochet clearly connects to a famous action movie. Before shared cinematic universes were common, Ricochet served as a strong follow-up, expertly reimagining the original’s style and themes with a new story and characters.
Steven E. de Souza, who helped write the original Die Hard and its 1990 sequel, Die Hard 2: Die Harder, also wrote Ricochet. Both Die Hard and Ricochet share a similar style: they’re full of inventive action sequences and feature characters who feel genuine and believable.
The back-and-forth between Denzel Washington and John Lithgow in Ricochet is incredibly engaging, reminiscent of the dynamic between Alan Rickman and Bruce Willis in Die Hard. The 1991 film is fast-moving, full of unexpected twists, and beautifully shot. Though Ricochet doesn’t stick to a single location like some other films, it does have some key elements in common, including a character who appears more than once.
Mary Ellen Trainor returns as reporter Gail Wallens in Ricochet, just as she did in Die Hard, and her role is even more important this time around. Because of this, and the fact that both films take place in Los Angeles around the same period, it’s likely Ricochet exists in the same universe as Die Hard—a concept that wouldn’t become common in movies for many years.
Ricochet and Die Hard Are in an Unexpected Cinematic Universe
Before shared cinematic universes became popular, many big blockbuster franchises already had subtle connections. These might include small characters showing up in different series, references to events in other movies, or similar themes and storylines – all used as playful acknowledgements between filmmakers in Hollywood.
In the past, connections between franchises felt more organic and allowed for greater creativity. Now, it often feels like franchises like G.I. Joe and Transformers are connected simply as a business tactic, which audiences dislike. The enjoyable link between Ricochet and Die Hard works so well because it doesn’t feel like it’s building towards something bigger – it just is a fun connection.
This isn’t a team-up between Denzel Washington and Bruce Willis. It’s simply a writer revisiting themes and styles from their earlier films, and there’s a refreshing quality to that—something you don’t see much of in Hollywood anymore.
While Ricochet isn’t a favorite, even among dedicated Denzel Washington fans, it’s still a good action thriller and a great example of how loosely connected movie franchises used to be.
Action movies were once full of original ideas and a unique vision from filmmakers, but today they often feel limited by studio decisions and what audiences expect.
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2026-02-22 02:10