10 Action Movie Scenes So Unbelievable They're Actually Awesome

When a military fighter jet mistakenly sets its target at a trailer truck being driven by John McClane, it’s David vs. Goliath except if Goliath had a machine gun instead of a sword.

Audiences gravitate towards underdogs and Die Hard 4.0 uses this to help sell the improbable moment. McClane outruns a skyway and avoids being blown to bits by the jet’s powerful guns and missiles. He even jumps from the truck to the plane. This generates suspense by showing just how outmatched the trailer truck is that all McClane can do is attempt to survive. With each improbable escape the stakes are raised.

It helps of course that the destruction and explosions are pretty to look at and Bruce Willis’s performance hits just the right note of unshakable determination and "I'm screwed." But it is ultimately our connection to the character that makes it work. We are firmly on John Mclane's side so when a fortuitous piece of debris damages the plane and gives him an opening we gladly cheer him on. Yes he survived through movie magic but that's good enough for us.