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This book examines how American foreign policy and economic interests influenced the portrayal of international terrorism in Hollywood blockbuster films from the time of the Iran hostage crisis to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Part I defines modern international terrorism and how it relates to the United States, its news media, and its film industry. Part II covers depictions of terrorism during the waning Cold War, including films like Commando and Iron Eagle. Part III covers the Hollywood terrorist after the Cold War, including European terrorists in the Die Hard franchise, Passenger 57, Patriot Games, Blown Away, The Jackal and Ronin; fundamentalist Islamic terrorists in True Lies and Executive Decision; the return of the communist threat in Air Force One; and 9/11 foreshadowing in The Siege.

Cover -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Part I. Modern International Terrorism -- 1. International Terrorism and the News Media -- 2. International Terrorism and the United States -- 3. International Terrorism and the Hollywood Film Industry -- Part II. The Hollywood Terrorist and the Cold War Red Terror Network -- 4. International Terrorism in the Americas -- Invasion USA -- Commando -- 5. State Sponsored Middle Eastern Terrorism -- Iron Eagle -- The Delta Force -- Part III. The Hollywood Terrorist After the Cold War -- 6. "Yippee Ki- yay, Motherfucker" -- Die Hard (1988: #7) -- Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990: #7) -- Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995: #7) -- 7. Euroinvasion -- Passenger 57 -- Patriot Games -- Blown Away -- The Jackal -- Ronin -- 8. Hollywood's Version of Fundamentalist Islamic Terrorism -- True Lies -- Executive Decision -- 9. Return of the Communist Threat -- Air Force One -- 10. Predicting 9/11 -- Conclusion -- Chapter Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.