Editing Die Hard (section)

=== Influence on the film industry ===
[[File:Foxstudiosentrance.jpg|thumb|alt=Entrance to the studio lot of 20th Century Fox in Century City, California | The entrance of the Fox Studio Lot in [[Century City]], where a giant mural of John McClane crawling through a vent was erected as part of the film's 25th-anniversary celebration in 2013]]
Before ''Die Hard''{{'}}s release, Hollywood action films often starred muscle-bound men like Schwarzenegger and Stallone, who portrayed invincible, infallible, catchphrase-spouting heroes in unrealistic settings. Willis's portrayal of John McClane redefined the action genre, presenting a normal person with an average physique completely counter to that archetype. He is failing, both personally and professionally, and serves as a vulnerable, identifiable hero who openly sobs, admits his fear of death, and sustains lasting damage. Importantly, his one-liners do not come from a place of superiority over his foes, but as a nervous reaction to the extreme situation in which he finds himself, which he is only able to overcome through enduring suffering and using his own initiative.<ref name=Independent1/><ref name="EmpireRetro"/><ref name="AVNovel"/><ref name="AVClubRetro"/>

Similarly, Rickman's portrayal of Gruber redefined action villains who had previously been bland figures or eccentric madmen. Gruber ushered in the clever nemesis; he is an educated, intelligent villain, who serves as the antithesis of the hero.<ref name="EmpireRetro"/> He has been referred to as one of the most iconic villains in the genre.<ref name="AVClubRetro"/> ''Empire'' magazine called Gruber one of the finest villains since [[Darth Vader]]. Rickman described the role as a "huge event" in his life.<ref name="EmpireRetro"/> Though other more typical 1980s-style action films were released, the genre gradually shifted to a focus on smaller, more confined settings, everyman heroes, and charming villains with competent plans.<ref name="AVClubRetro"/>

''Die Hard'' raised Willis from television stardom to worldwide recognition and brought fame to Rickman.<ref name=Independent1/> Willis's salary was seen as the peak of the 1980s bidding wars between new and old managers vying for jobs. ''The New York Times'' described it as the salary equivalent of an "earthquake" and [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM/UA]] chairman [[Alan Ladd Jr.]] said that it threw "the business out of whack ... like everybody else in town, I was stunned." It was seen as the most substantial change to salaries since Dustin Hoffman was paid $5.5{{nbsp}}million to star in ''[[Tootsie]]'' (1982) at a time when top salaries ranged from $2{{nbsp}}million–$3{{nbsp}}million. It was expected that salaries for major stars would increase significantly to ensure they were paid more than a newer star like Willis.<ref name="NYTimesSalaryAftermath"/><ref name="LATimesSalaryAftermath"/> McTiernan transitioned his success into directing an adaptation of one of his favorite novels, ''[[The Hunt for Red October (film)|The Hunt for Red October]]'' (1990).<ref name="NYTimesMcTiernan"/> VelJohnson's performance resulted in his casting in the 1989–1998 sitcom ''[[Family Matters]]''.<ref name="SlashFilmVelJohnson"/>