Die Hard (film series) reunite with separated wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) in Los Angeles at her company's Christmas party. Holly left to pursue her career with their two children, and uses her maiden name. At the fictional Nakatomi Plaza, East German terrorists break in and take the celebrants hostage. McClane escapes detection and hides throughout the building. He kills off the gang and learns their real plan, to steal $640 million in bearer bonds from the building's vault. In the finale, McClane shoots the terrorist leader, Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), out the window to fall thirty stories. It was released on July 15, 1988
Die Hard 2 a wide release in 2,507 theaters, making $21.7 million on its opening weekend. "Die Hard 2" has domestically made $117.5 million and $239.5 million worldwide making it one of the most profitable Christmas films, almost doubling that of "Die Hard". On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 68% based on 63 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "It lacks the fresh thrills of its predecessor, but "Die Hard 2" still works as an over-the-top – and reasonably taut – big-budget sequel, with plenty of set pieces to paper over the plot