Remake of ‘Die Hard’-Style ’90s Action Classic Suddenly Shoots to Success on Streaming

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Michael Jai White, a consistently excellent and yet often overlooked action star, is seeing a resurgence in popularity thanks to a recent streaming release. The movie puts White – known for roles in The Dark Knight and Spawn – in a high-stakes situation reminiscent of Die Hard, and it’s quickly climbing the streaming charts, proving why dedicated fans continue to appreciate his talent.

As a huge action movie fan, I really enjoyed this 2020 film directed by Dallas Jackson. It stars Michael Jai White as a former Special Forces officer – basically, the perfect action hero – who has to go in and save hostages when terrorists take over a basketball arena. It definitely gave me Die Hard vibes! The cast is great too, with Gary Owen (you might know him from Ride Along), Michael Eklund (Altered Carbon, Locked), and Marrese Crump (Black Panther, Warrior King 2).

“Welcome to Sudden Death” has a distinctly 90s feel because it’s a remake of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s 1995 action film, “Sudden Death.” The original starred Van Damme as a hero saving hockey fans, and this new version follows a similar premise with a different hero and sport. If you’re looking for an action movie that feels like a throwback to classics like “Die Hard,” with a “badass” lead in Michael Jai White, this might be it. Currently, “Welcome to Sudden Death” is ranked #4 alongside films like “Looper,” “Shadow Force,” “Flight Risk,” and “Ballerina.” You can find a summary of the plot below.

During a basketball game, a former Special Forces soldier finds himself battling a group of technologically skilled enemies after the team owner and his daughter are kidnapped.

Michael Jai White is Dominating Starz Right Now


© Quiver Distribution / Courtesy Everett Collection

Michael Jai White, a highly skilled actor and martial artist, now has two popular projects on Starz. In addition to Welcome to Sudden Death, he stars in Hostile Takeover, an action comedy that blends the styles of John Wick and Crank. Currently, Hostile Takeover is the second most-watched title on the streaming platform.

The action thriller Hostile Takeover, released earlier this year, was directed by Michael Hamilton-Wright, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Buron L. Warner. The film stars Dawn Olivieri, Aimee Stolte, Aleks Paunovic, and White. It’s described as a fast-paced, visually striking movie packed with action, mystery, and dark humor. The story centers around White, a highly skilled assassin, who starts attending a “Workaholics Anonymous” group as he questions his line of work. However, a dangerous crime syndicate discovers this meeting and, fearing he might betray them, decides to eliminate him – a decision they quickly regret.

In the upcoming action film Exit Protocol, Michael Jai White will be pursuing Dolph Lundgren. The story centers on a famous hitman who’s spent his career eliminating other assassins, but now wants to retire. Unfortunately, his organization won’t let him go, and he becomes the target himself. To survive, he’s forced to team up with someone he once tried to kill.

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2025-11-11 21:35