Home / Arts and Entertainment / Die Hard's Nakatomi Plaza: The Real LA Skyscraper
Die Hard's Nakatomi Plaza: The Real LA Skyscraper
4 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Die Hard's fictional Nakatomi Plaza was filmed at the real Fox Plaza in Los Angeles.
- The 34-story building was partially under construction during filming.
- Filming loud scenes after hours angered building occupants and neighbors.
The skyscraper that served as the fictional Nakatomi Plaza in the action classic Die Hard is, in reality, the Fox Plaza. Located in Los Angeles's Century City neighborhood, this 34-story building was operational during filming, with several floors still under construction.
Cinematographer Jan de Bont noted that the partially unfinished nature of the building was ideal for shooting. The crew utilized the unbuilt floors as dynamic set pieces, allowing them to showcase the building's character. However, the film's frequent loud noises, including machine gun fire and explosions, proved disruptive to the building's working occupants.
To mitigate noise complaints, particularly from lawyers on the 25th floor, loud scenes had to be filmed after 5 p.m. This schedule, along with the nighttime lights, also caused friction with nearby neighbors. Today, the building, now known as 2121 Avenue of the Stars, continues to serve as an office space and is a pilgrimage site for Die Hard fans.
