Live Free or Die Hard

A blackout at the FBI kicks off a nationwide hunt for hackers. Detective John McClane is sent to bring hacker Matt Farrell to Washington, and the two become targets for assassins. Thomas Gabriel, a former government security expert, wants to bring down transport, power and finance in an operation called the "fire sale". John, an old-school guy in a digital world, needs Matt to understand what's going on. John's daughter, Lucy, also lands in the villain's path. The unlikely pair goes from a helicopter ambush to a truck-versus-fighter-jet duel.

1. ReferenceIt started as a magazine article

   The story is based on "A Farewell to Arms", a 1997 Wired article by John Carlin about hackers attacking US infrastructure. The title riffs on New Hampshire's motto, "Live Free or Die".

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2. Behind the scenesThe only PG-13 Die Hard

   It's the only Die Hard released in US theaters with a PG-13 rating. The unrated cut came later on home video. It was also the highest-grossing film in the series.

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3. CameoKevin Smith is Warlock

   Filmmaker Kevin Smith plays the hacker Warlock, who helps McClane and Farrell track down the villain. Smith made uncredited rewrites to his own scenes.

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