Was the Die Hard elevator explosion actually possible?

Rewatching Die Hard, I started questioning the elevator bomb scene—and I’m curious how people interpret it from a “film logic vs real-world physics” perspective.

McClane rigs C4 to a CRT monitor, drops it down an elevator shaft, and it detonates on impact—taking out the floor where the terrorists are positioned.

From a realism standpoint, a few things feel off:

First, the trigger. A CRT can store high voltage in its capacitors, but using that as an improvised ignition source is highly unpredictable. Without a proper firing mechanism or safety, he’s effectively wiring a live, unstable system directly into the explosive. That introduces a real risk of accidental detonation during setup rather than controlled timing.

Second, the blast behavior. C4 isn’t naturally directional unless it’s shaped. In a confined space like an elevator shaft, the energy would disperse in all directions and interact heavily with the shaft walls and structures rather than producing a clean, targeted blast onto a specific floor.

Third, the elevator car itself. Since the device lands on top of it, the blast would first impact the car’s structure. That would likely absorb and scatter a significant portion of the force before it could transfer cleanly into the floor below.

So instead of a precise strike, it seems like the more realistic outcome would be chaotic structural damage and unpredictable effects rather than neatly taking out the terrorists’ floor.

That said, this raises a bigger question: Is the scene meant to be taken literally, or is it more about visual storytelling—using the elevator shaft as a cinematic shortcut to deliver a “downward” explosion?

Curious how others interpret it.