History Trivia / DieHard

* FilkSong: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTyw6cq86kY Guyz Nite's "Die Hard"]], which is even the fourth movie's DVD.

* FakeNationality: Besides Andreas Wisniewski (Tony) and Wilhelm von Homburg (James), none of the terrorists are actually German. Half-[[AvertedTrope averted]] with Hans Buhringer (Fritz), who's from Austria.

* AbilityOverAppearance: Only a couple of the actors who played the German terrorists were actually German and only a couple more could speak broken German. The actors were cast for their menacing appearances rather than their nationality. Nine of the twelve were over six feet tall.

** The giant teddy bear was later used in ''Film/TheHuntForTheRedOctober'', also directed by Creator/JohnMcTiernan.

* PropRecycling: [=McClane's=] Beretta 92F is the exact same Beretta used by Creator/MelGibson in ''Film/LethalWeapon1987'', modified with an extended slide catch and magazine release. It has since been retired to a museum display.

* PropRecycling: [=McClane's=] Beretta 92F is the exact same Beretta used by Creator/MelGibson in ''Film/LethalWeapon1987'', modified with an extended slide catch and magazine release It has since been retired to a museum display.

** In a way, the first movie also counts: the book that it's based on was a sequel to ''The Detective'', which was made into a film starring Music/FrankSinatra in 1968. ''Film/DieHard'' didn't come out for another two decades.

* TheForeignSubtitle:
** Portugal: ''Die Hard: Skyscraper Assault''

** Creator/JohnMcTiernan had wanted Ellis to be suave like Creator/CaryGrant, but Hart Bochner conceived of the character's motivations coming from cocaine use and insecurity. [=McTiernan=] hated the performance initially until he noticed Laurence Gordon and Joel Silver were entertained by Bochner's antics

** Also available are commemorative “Nakatomi Plaza Christmas Party 1988” t-shirts.

** [[https://twitter.com/chrismcquarrie/status/1077362045031350272 According to]] Creator/ChristopherMcQuarrie, the villains were originally going to wear camoflage gear. It was Creator/AlanRickman who suggested they wear suits, suggesting a potential meeting between the hero and villain.

** Spain: "Crystal Jungle" (same problem as in Poland).

** Surprisingly averted in Mexico where it was named "Duro de Matar", which is a direct and very accurate translation.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece:
** The references to [=VCRs=], and the fact that John [=McClane=] seems really uncomfortable using the computer monitor at the front desk of Nakatomi Plaza.
** Neither John nor anyone else in the building can call out after the bad guys cut the building's phone lines, because no one (other than Argyle) has a cell phone.
** When Sgt. Powell responds to dispatch about John's call from the Nakatomi Plaza, you can see a gas station price sign in the background: Unleaded 77 cents, Regular 74 cents. Even the existence of Regular leaded gasoline is itself an example after the banning of leaded automotive gasoline in the 1990s.
** During the beginning of the film, John having his service pistol with him on his flight to Los Angeles. Unthinkable in the modern day, but perfectly legal until 1994.
** Bearer bonds were already being phased out in the United States at the time the film came out, after a 1982 law severely restricted their issuance, for the exact reason depicted here: their untraceable nature made them ideal vessels for fraud, money laundering and other criminal activities. Today it's rare that bearer bonds are even honored in the U.S., much less new ones issued; other countries that still issue them have switched over to electronic versions, where fraud is (at least theoretically) easier to track and avoid.

* UsefulNotes/AFIS100YearsSeries:
** AFIS100Years100Thrills: #39
** AFIS100Years100HeroesAndVillains: #46 Villain, Hans Gruber

* AFIS100YearsSeries:

** Creator/KirstieAlley was considered for the role of Holly Gennaro-[=McClane=], but the producer of ''Series/{{Cheers}}'', James Burrows, wouldn't let her take the role. Creator/GlennClose, Creator/JamieLeeCurtis, Creator/GeenaDavis, Creator/SallyField, Creator/CarrieFisher, Creator/LindaHamilton, Creator/GoldieHawn, Creator/DianeKeaton, Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Creator/MerylStreep and Creator/DebraWinger were also considered for the role. But, Creator/BruceWillis rejected them, because he wanted Bonnie Bedelia to play her since he was a fan of her work.

* DivorcedInstallment: The film was was based on a book, ''Nothing Lasts Forever''. This book was a sequel to ''The Detective'', which had its own popular film adaptation in 1968, starring Music/FrankSinatra. When Sinatra declined to be in a film sequel, it was quickly retooled as a stand-alone work. Rumors that it was briefly intended as a sequel to ''Film/{{Commando}}'' was debunked by co-writer Steven de Souza, though Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger was also considered for the lead.

* WriteWhoYouKnow: The character of Hans Gruber is rumored to be based on author Roderick Thorp's father, a known tyrant amongst friends and family.

** Surprisingly averted in Mexico, where it was named "Duro de Matar", which is a direct and very accurate translation.

!!Trivia for the first''Die Hard'':

!!Trivia for ''Die Hard'':

* RunningTheAsylum: Arguably [[JustForFun/OneOfUs one of the biggest fans]] of the ''Die Hard'' franchise is... Bruce Willis. He apparently feels very strongly about not insulting the viewers' intelligence, and while his self-appointed "gatekeeper of the franchise" role [[WagTheDirector makes directors cry]], among other things it resulted in the villain of the fourth film actually getting a fully fleshed-out backstory (rather than what Willis described as a scene of "[=MySpace=] and cheerleader porn jokes").
* SequelGap:
** Twelve years between ''Film/DieHardWithAVengeance'' (1995) and ''Film/LiveFreeOrDieHard'' (2007) . There were only five from ''Film/DieHard2'' (1990) to ''Film/DieHardWithAVengeance'' (1995).
** In a way, the first movie also counts: the book that it's based on was a sequel to ''The Detective'', which was made into a film starring Music/FrankSinatra in 1968. ''Film/DieHard'' didn't come out for another two decades.

* WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants: Much of the script was improvised due to the constant screenplay tweaks that were being made during filming. In the commentary track, McTiernan nonchalantly points out there's no ambulance in the back of the terrorists' semi-tractor trailer when they arrive, since they hadn't thought of it yet.

* Die Hard 1-3 are three of the [[https://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/the-complete-list-of-movies-and-tv-shows-on-the-interna-1782918945 533 listed movies and Tv shows on board the International Space Station.]]

* Die Hard 1-3 are three of the 533 listed movies and Tv shows on board the International Space Station.

* Die Hard 1-2 are two of the 533 listed movies and Tv shows on board the International Space Station.