Hard Image | Die

One of the most famous images in cinema history is the wide-eyed, terrified expression of Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) as he falls from the Nakatomi Plaza. To capture a genuine reaction, the stunt crew dropped Rickman 40 feet onto an air bag on the count of "two" instead of "three". The shock seen on screen is Rickman’s actual reaction to the unexpected drop. The "Everyman" Action Hero

: To capture the scale of the explosion behind McClane, the production used massive mortar hits on the actual building's roof, creating a real-life inferno for the camera. Die Hard image

The skyscraper featured in the film’s most explosive images wasn't a set; it was the Fox Plaza in Century City, Los Angeles, which was still under construction during filming. One of the most famous images in cinema