Olympus Has Fallen

Olympus Has Fallen, released in 2013, is an action-thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua. The movie plunges viewers into a harrowing attack on the White House, code-named “Olympus,” and follows the desperate efforts of a disgraced Secret Service agent to save the President and prevent global catastrophe.

The story centers around Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), a former Secret Service agent who had been part of the President’s (Benjamin Asher, played by Aaron Eckhart) security detail. Following a tragic accident where he saved the President’s life but lost the First Lady, Banning is reassigned to a desk job. He carries the weight of guilt and regret, yearning for a chance to redeem himself.

That opportunity arrives in the form of a meticulously planned and ruthlessly executed terrorist attack on the White House. A North Korean terrorist group, led by the formidable Kang Yeonsak (Rick Yune), breaches security under the guise of a diplomatic visit. They quickly overwhelm the defenses, taking the President and several high-ranking officials hostage within the impenetrable Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC), also known as the bunker.

Banning, upon witnessing the unfolding chaos, instinctively rushes to the scene. His intimate knowledge of the White House layout and security protocols makes him the only one capable of navigating the building and potentially disrupting the terrorists’ plans. He becomes a one-man army, fighting his way through the White House, eliminating enemy combatants with brutal efficiency.

Meanwhile, outside the White House, Speaker of the House Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman) assumes the role of Acting President. He works with the Joint Chiefs and other advisors to assess the situation and formulate a response. However, Kang’s demands are steep: the withdrawal of US forces from the Korean Peninsula and the deactivation of the nation’s nuclear arsenal. Refusal, he threatens, will result in the execution of hostages, starting with the President.

As Banning progresses through the White House, he establishes contact with the Acting President and provides crucial intelligence about the terrorists’ objectives and capabilities. He works tirelessly to rescue hostages and disrupt Kang’s plans, facing overwhelming odds and intense firefights. He’s driven by his loyalty to the President and his unwavering dedication to protecting his country.

The climax of the film involves a tense standoff within the PEOC. Banning ultimately confronts Kang in a brutal showdown, freeing the President and preventing the activation of “Cerberus,” a device that would trigger the destruction of American nuclear missiles. He successfully eliminates the terrorist threat, restoring order to the White House and averting a global crisis.

Olympus Has Fallen is a high-octane action film that explores themes of patriotism, redemption, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity. While criticized for its over-the-top violence and predictable plot, the film resonated with audiences, leading to two sequels: London Has Fallen and Angel Has Fallen.