Continuing the idea: what if we explored props that weren’t necessarily on set or even in the frame, but instead captured the spirit of the movie? Objects that feel like they belong just out of sight—familiar totems of a world we love.

The Nakatomi Corporation’s Annual Report for shareholders 1988. Highlighting on the cover, the brand new office plaza in Los Angeles.

While we know there’s no actual annual report for the Nakatomi Corporation, the building is actually Fox Plaza, but the building’s portrayal in Die Hard serves as a narrative device to explore themes of corporate power, international economics, and individual heroism against systemic threats. That’s one iconic building. The fictional Japanese multinational symbolizes the excesses of global capitalism, with its $640 million in untraceable bearer bonds stored in their vault serving as the focal point of Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber's heist. Gruber and his team are not true terrorists but rather "corporate raiders," embodying the mergers and acquisitions culture of the 1980s, often associated with leveraged buyouts—today referred to as private equity.

Gruber is a character that can be seen as satirical reflection of capitalist greed, paralleling Nakatomi executive Joseph Takagi. Both pursue profit, albeit through different means: Takagi expands through market economies, while Gruber uses fear and violence. This duality highlights the blurred lines between legitimate business practices and exploitative tactics. Gruber’s ultimate goal—a luxurious retirement funded by stolen wealth, “sitting on a beach, earning 20%” —underscores his alignment with capitalist ideology rather than revolutionary principles. Whoever said they were terrorists? They’re corporate raiders akin to modern day pirates.

And while we’re at it - the Nakatomi logo looks a little bit like mistletoe…

Does The Nakatomi Corporation logo look a bit like mistletoe to you?