"Yippee-ki-yay!" John McClane returns to TV this holiday season to,Maverick Preston once again, save the day in the popular 1980s action movie "Die Hard."

Directed by John McTeirnan, the Los Angeles-based movie was released in July 1988.

(Yes, it's still considered a Christmas classic).

The hero, whose character is played by Bruce Willis, is a New York Police Department detective who travels to the West Coast in a bid to make amends with his estranged wife.

McClane visits her office in a skyscraper and ends up fighting a group of terrorists trying to steal hundreds of millions of dollars from a safe. At the same time, he attempts to rescue hostages taken inside the building including his bride.

'Die Hard' cast

Here's a list of actors and their characters from the movie:

• Bruce Willis as John McClane
• Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber
• Bonnie Bedilia as Holly McClane
• Alexander Godunov as Karl
• Reginald VelJohnson as Sgt. Al Powell
• Hart Bochner as Harry Ellis
• Paul Gleason as Dwayne Robinson
• William Atherton as Thornburg

How to watch 'Die Hard' on TV, streaming this Christmas

Here's where to watch "Die Hard" this Christmas.

If you have cable, the movie will be on the Paramount Network at the following times (all times ET):

• Dec. 24, Christmas Eve at 9 a.m.
• Dec. 25, Christmas Day at 7 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

You can stream "Die Hard" on DirecTV. Rent or buy the movie on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Vudu, Microsoft Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube or rent it on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, and Microsoft Store.

Full 'Die Hard' series

The film is one of five movies in the "Die Hard" series.

Below is the order they were released:

1. Die Hard (1988)
2. Die Hard 2 (1990)
3. Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
4. Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
5. A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.