Editing Die Hard (section)

===Cultural influence===
In 2017, ''Die Hard'' was selected by the United States [[Library of Congress]] to be preserved in the [[National Film Registry]] for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref name="NationalFilmRegistry"/><ref name="LOC"/> In July 2007, Bruce Willis donated the undershirt worn in the film to the [[National Museum of American History]] at the [[Smithsonian Institution]].<ref name="Smithsonian"/> The blood and sweat-stained shirt is considered iconic, an emblem of McClane's difference from archetypal, invincible heroes.<ref name=Independent1/> Fox Plaza has become a popular tourist attraction, although the building itself cannot be toured.<ref name="Gizmodo"/> A floor used for filming became Ronald Reagan's office. When his head of staff toured the under-construction area, it was littered with broken glass and cartridge cases.<ref name="THRReagan"/> A giant mural depicting McClane's crawl through a Nakatomi Plaza vent was erected at the Fox Studio lot in Century City to celebrate the film's 25th anniversary in 2013.<ref name="USATOdayPopCulture"/>

One of the most influential films of the 1980s, ''Die Hard'' served as the blueprint for action films that came after, especially throughout the 1990s.<ref name="TheGuardianThemes"/> The term "''Die Hard'' on/in a..." has become shorthand to describe a lone, everyman hero who must overcome an overwhelming opposing force in a relatively small and confined location.<ref name=Independent1/><ref name="TheGuardianThemes"/> Examples include: ''[[Under Siege]]'' (1992, "''Die Hard'' on a battleship"); ''[[Cliffhanger (film)|Cliffhanger]]'' (1993, "''Die Hard'' on a mountain"); ''[[Speed (1994 film)|Speed]]'' (1994, "''Die Hard'' on a bus"); and ''[[Con Air]]'' or ''[[Air Force One (film)|Air Force One]]'' (1997, "''Die Hard'' on a plane").<ref name=Independent1/><ref name="TheGuardianThemes"/><ref name="AVClubRetro"/> Willis himself recalled being pitched a film that was "''Die Hard'' in a skyscraper". He said he was sure it had already been done.<ref name=Independent1/> It was not until the 1996 action-thriller film ''[[The Rock (film)|The Rock]]'' ("''Die Hard'' on [[Alcatraz Island]]"), that the tone of action films changed significantly, and the increasing use of CGI effects allowed films to move beyond the limitations of real locations and practical stunts. Writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'' in 2018, Scott Tobias observed that none of these later films readily captured the complete effectiveness of the ''Die Hard'' story.<ref name="TheGuardianThemes"/>

The film has been a source of inspiration for filmmakers including: [[Lexi Alexander]], [[Darren Aronofsky]], [[Brad Bird]], [[Joe Carnahan]], [[Gareth Evans (director)|Gareth Evans]], [[Barry Jenkins]], [[Joe Lynch (director)|Joe Lynch]], [[Paul Scheer]], [[Brian Taylor (filmmaker)|Brian Taylor]], [[Dan Trachtenberg]], [[Colin Trevorrow]], and [[Paul W. S. Anderson]].<ref name="SlashFilmDirectors"/><ref name="BarryJenkins"/><ref name="RollingStoneBird"/> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], it was among the action films director [[James Gunn]] recommended people watch.<ref name="IGNGunn"/> The film's popularity has seen it referenced across a wide variety of media, including TV shows, films; video games; music; and novels. It has even been referenced in media targeted at children.<ref name="USATOdayPopCulture"/><ref name="PopCultureNovels"/> Willis cameos as McClane in the 1993 parody film ''[[Loaded Weapon 1]]''.<ref name="VarietyLoaded"/>

There has been much debate over whether ''Die Hard'' is a [[Christmas film]]. Those in favor argue that the Christmas setting is sufficient to qualify it as a Christmas film. Those opposed argue that it is an action film whose events happen to take place at Christmas.<ref name="BBC3Xmas"/><ref name="CBCChristmas"/> A 2017 [[YouGov]] poll of over 5,000 British citizens determined that only 31% believed that ''Die Hard'' is a Christmas film; those who did skewed under the age of 24, while those opposed were mainly over 50.<ref name="YouGovPoll"/><ref name="YouGovIndependent"/> A similar 2018 [[Morning Consult]] poll of 2,200 American citizens determined that only 25% supported its status as a Christmas film. Those aged between 30 and 44, who were young during the peak of the film's popularity, were most in favor.<ref name="MorningCall"/> De Souza and Stuart support it being a Christmas film, while Willis feels it is not.<ref name="CastNewman"/><ref name="IndependentXmas"/><ref name="EWXmas"/><ref name="WaPoXmas"/> On the film's 30th anniversary in 2018, 20th Century Fox stated that it was "the greatest Christmas story ever told", releasing a re-edited ''Die Hard'' trailer that portrays it as a traditional Christmas film. According to De Souza, Silver predicted the film would be played at [[Christmas and holiday season|Christmastime]] for years.<ref name="WaPoXmas"/><ref name="RadioTimesXmas"/><ref name="ObserverXmas"/>