Twelve terrorists. One cop. The odds are against John McClane... that's just the way he likes it.

Facing Christmas 3,000 miles from his estranged wife and two children, New York policeman John McClane (Bruce Willis) flies to L.A. bearing presents and hoping to patch up his marriage. Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) is in L.A. as well, but he's not there to give out presents. He's there to take: more than $600 million in bearer bonds from the Nakatomi Corporation, where McClane's wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) is an executive. When the takeover becomes hostile, it's up to John McClane to take on the terrorists–but not without a sense of humor.