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 (film series) elements in the story too closely resembled the September 11 attacks. "A Good Day to Die Hard" was the first film in the series to come from an original screenplay, and not be based upon any prior works. The original screenplay was penned by Skip Woods. Although the first "Die Hard" has been credited as one of the greatest action movies of all time, critical reaction to its sequels has varied. The original "Die Hard" received substantial praise. Pete Croatto of FilmCritic.com called the film "a perfect action movie in every detail, the kind of movie that makes your summer