Alternate versions

The UK release was cut, the distributor was advised that the film was likely to receive a 15 classification but that their preferred 12A classification could be obtained by making a number of cuts to both language and visuals. When the finished version of the film was submitted for formal classification, edits had been made to reduce the number of uses of strong language (both 'f**k' and 'motherf***er') and to reduce sequences of bloody violence, including blood sprays when characters are shot in the head, and punches to restrained individuals. The formal submission was consequently classified 12A.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead's scenes were cut in the extended version of the film.

• In the first airport scene, she no longer drops her father off. The scene was reedited, in the last shot you can only see Bruce Willis getting out of the car, but you can't see any driver. You only hear voice sounding like Amaury Nolasco's character.
• During the car chase in Moscow, she doesn't call McClane anymore. This time father and son can look at each other in the slow motion shot.
• The end scene at the airport was cut, the movie ends with the aerial Chernobyl shot. Despite she's not in this version, her name still appears in the end credits.

The Extended Cut adds a total of three minutes of footage to the original theatrical release.

South Korea, Singapore and India received an edited version which tones down most violent moments and bleep strong language, this last one was so notorious that Singaporean's cinemas has to denote that they were not their faults and no devolution would be admitted