Hoping to spend Christmas reconciling with his estranged wife, police detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) arrives in Los Angeles at the tower block where she works. However, during the office’s holiday party, a group of thieves posing as terrorists seize control of the building and turn the partygoers into hostages – except for McClane.

Armed with little more than his wits, his police training, and a department-issue pistol, McClane does his best to stay alive, pick off the thieves, and save his wife.