The New York City cop John McClane arrives in Moscow to track down his son, Jack. McClane believes his son to be a criminal, so he is shocked when he learns that Jack is actually working undercover to protect Komarov, an informant for the Russian government. With their own lives on the line, McClane and Jack must overcome their differences to get Komarov to safety and thwart a potentially disastrous crime in the Chernobyl region.
As the nation prepares to celebrate Independence Day, veteran cop John McClane takes on another routine assignment: bringing in a hacker for questioning. Meanwhile, a tech-savvy villain named Thomas Gabriel launches an attack on America's computing infrastructure. As chaos descends around him, McClane must use old-fashioned methods to combat the high-tech menace.
The detective John McClane is now divorced, alcoholic and out of work after being fired for his reckless behavior and bad attitude. However, he's back in action when a cryptic terrorist takes New York City hostage in a deadly game of "Simon Says" and refuses to speak to anyone but McClane. Teaming up with a street-savvy electrician named Zeus Carver, McClane races through the city, trying to stay one step ahead of a murderous plot.
The detective John McClane becomes involved in another terrorist plot, this time at Washington Dulles International Airport, where he is waiting for his wife. That same night, the South American politician and drug trafficker Ramón Esperanza arrives in US custody. McClane springs into action when a traitorous ex-Colonel takes control of the airport and threatens to crash all incoming flights unless Esperanza is released.
New York City police officer John McClane visits his wife and two children on Christmas Eve. He joins her at a Christmas party at the headquarters of the Japanese-owned company she works for. But the festivities are interrupted by a group of terrorists who take over the exclusive skyscraper and everyone in it. Soon enough, McClane realizes that there is no one to save the hostages except him.