18 quotes
John's Unique Ability to Frustrate Others
Ginny
God, that man looks really pissed.
[Karl smashes a table of glasses in fury]
Holly Gennero-McClane
He's still alive.
[smiling]
Ginny
What?
Holly Gennero-McClane
Only John can drive somebody that crazy.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Heist Justification and Consequences
John McClane
So that's what this is about? A fucking robbery?
Hans Gruber
Put down the gun.
[with his pistol pointed to Holly's head]
John McClane
Why'd you have to nuke the whole building, Hans?
Hans Gruber
Well, when you steal $600, you can just disappear. When you steal 600 million, they will find you, unless they think you're already dead. Put down... the gun.
Hans Gruber
Nein! Dies ist meins!
[to Eddie]
John McClane
You got me.
Hans Gruber
Still the cowboy, Mr. McClane. Americans, all alike. Well, this time John Wayne does not walk off into the sunset with ].
[[Grace Kelly]
John McClane
That's ], asshole.
[[W:Gary Cooper|Gary Cooper]
Hans Gruber
Enough jokes.
John McClane
You'd have made a pretty good cowboy yourself, Hans.
Hans Gruber
Oh, yes. What was it you said to me before? "Yippee ki-yay, motherfucker.
[draw his pistol away from Holly]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Memorable Quip About Saigon Experience
Big Johnson
Just like fuckin Saigon! Eh, Slick?
[whooping as their helicopter buzzes along just above street level]
Little Johnson
I was in junior high, dickhead!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Invitation to the Celebration
John McClane
Welcome to the party, pal!
[after dropping Marco's body onto Powell's car]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Exceptional Thief or Common Criminal?
Holly Gennero-McClane
After all your posturing, all your little speeches, you're nothing but a common thief.
[noticing Hans taking the bearer bonds]
Hans Gruber
I am an exceptional thief, Mrs. McClane. And since I'm moving up to kidnapping, you should be more polite!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Betting on McClane's Success
Sergeant Al Powell
Hey, John? John McClane, you still with us?
[over radio]
John McClane
Yeah. But ]. Chalk up two more bad guys.
[[W. C. Fields|all things being equal, I'd rather be in Philadelphia]
Sergeant Al Powell
Well, the boys down here will be glad to hear that. You know we got a pool going on you.
John McClane
What kind of odds am I getting?
Sergeant Al Powell
You don't wanna know.
John McClane
Put me down for twenty, I'm good for it.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Cop's Fight Against Terrorists in L.A.
Taglines
High above the city of L.A. a team of terrorists has seized a building, taken hostages and declared war. One man has managed to escape. An off-duty cop hiding somewhere inside. He's alone, tired... and the only chance anyone has got.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
FBI Response to Terrorist Incidents Explained
Theo
Those guys in the suits, I don't know who they are.
Hans Gruber
That's the FBI. They're ordering the others to cut the building's power. Regular as clockwork.
Theo
Or a time lock.
[grins in realization]
Hans Gruber
Precisely. The circuits that cannot be cut are cut automatically in response to a terrorist incident. You asked for miracles, Theo. I give you the F...B...I...
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Desperate Plea for Urgent Police Response
John McClane
Mayday, Mayday, emergency, anyone copy, channel nine. Terrorists have seized the Nakatomi Building, and are holding at least 30 people hostage. I repeat, unknown number of terrorists, six or more armed with automatic weapons at Nakatomi Plaza, Century City. Somebody answer me, Goddamn it!
[calling the police on a radio taken from the terrorists]
First LAPD Operator
It's the same address as that fire signal.
[to other operator]
Second LAPD Operator
I'll take this. Attention, whoever you are: this frequency is reserved for emergency calls only.
[to McClane]
John McClane
No fuckin shit, lady! Do I sound like I'm orderin a pizza?! They have already killed one hostage, they are fortifying their positions while you're jerkin me off on a radio! Now send the police down ASAP...
Second LAPD Operator
Sir, I've already told you: this is a reserved channel. If this is an emergency call, dial 911 on your telephone. Otherwise, I'll report this as an FCC violation.
[interrupting]
John McClane
Fine, report me! Come the fuck down here and arrest me! Just send the police now!
Second LAPD Operator
See if a black-and-white can drive by.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Sheer Adventure in 40 Stories
Taglines
40 Stories of Sheer Adventure
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A lone hero's critical opportunity
Taglines
He's the only chance anyone has got.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Christmas Eve Action on the Fortieth Floor
Taglines
It's Christmas Eve In L.A. And The Party Action's About To Explode... On The Fortieth Floor!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Suspense and Adventure on Every Level
Taglines
40 Stories High — with Suspense, Excitement and Adventure on every level!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Authority Challenged Amid Crisis
Deputy Chief Dwayne Robinson
I got a hundred people down here and they're all covered in glass!
John McClane
Glass? Who gives a shit about glass? Who the fuck is this?
Deputy Chief Dwayne Robinson
This is Deputy Chief of Police Dwayne T. Robinson, and I am in charge of this situation.
John McClane
Oh, you're in charge? Well, I got some bad news for you, Dwayne. From up here it doesn't look like you're in charge of jack shit.
Deputy Chief Dwayne Robinson
You listen to me, you little asshole—
John McClane
Asshole"? I'm not the one who just got butt-fucked on national TV, Dwayne! Now, you listen to me, jerk-off. If you're not a part of the solution, you're a part of the problem. Quit being a part of the fuckin problem and put the other guy back on!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Game of Wits and Taunts
Hans Gruber
I thought I told all of you, I want radio silence until further no--
John McClane
Ooh, I'm very sorry Hans. I didn't get that message. Maybe you should've put it on the bulletin board. I figured since I've waxed Tony and Marco and his friend here, I figured you and Karl and Franco might be a little lonely, so I decided to give you a call.
Karl Vreski
How does he know so much about--?
[to Hans; Hans shushes Karl, then back to his walkie-talkie]
Hans Gruber
That's very kind of you. I assume you are our mysterious party crasher. You are most troublesome for a security guard.
John McClane
Sorry, Hans, wrong guess. Would you like to go for ] where the scores can really change? Hmm, these are very bad for you.
[imitates buzzer; [w:Jeopardy!#Double Jeopardy! Round|Double Jeopardy; reaches into a terrorist's backpack, and pulls out a box of cigarettes]
Hans Gruber
Who are you, then?
John McClane
Just a fly in the ointment, Hans. The monkey in the wrench. The pain in the ass. Whoa.
[pulls out an explosive from a terrorist's backpack]
Hans Gruber
Check on all the others. Don’t use the radio. See if he’s lying about Marco and find out that anyone else is missing. Mr. Mystery Guest? Are you still there?
[Karl and Franco leave as McClane puts the explosive in his backpack before picking up his gun before walking away]
John McClane
Yeah, I'm still here. Unless you wanna open the front door for me.
Hans Gruber
Uh, no, I'm afraid not. But you have me at a loss. You know my name, but who are you? Just another American who saw too many movies as a child? Another orphan of a bankrupt culture who thinks he's ]? ]? ]?
[[John Wayne; [John Rambo|Rambo; [w:Marshal Matt Dillon|Marshall Dillon]
John McClane
I was always kinda partial to ], actually. I really liked those sequined shirts.
[[w:Roy Rogers|Roy Rogers]
Hans Gruber
Do you really think you have a chance against us, Mister Cowboy?
John McClane
Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker.
[quietly; walks through a door and out of sight]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Advice on Taking Action
Marco
You are done now! No more table! Where are you going, pal?! Next time you have a chance to kill someone, don't hesitate.
John McClane
Thanks for the advice.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Against the Odds: John McClane's Challenge
Taglines
Thirteen terrorists. One cop. The odds are against John McClane... That's just the way he likes it.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Suspense and Adventure at Every Level
Taglines
Suspense, Excitement, Adventure, On every level!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.