Real Name as an Alias: Holly uses her maiden name, Gennaro. This provides a minor plot point when Hans Gruber later discovers John's real name and doesn't realize the connection between John and Holly (for a while, anyway). Formula with a Twist: Ironically, Die Hard began as an ordinary action movie with a standard Action Hero. Throughout its Troubled Production, invoked Frank Sinatra, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, and other big action stars were all considered but turned it down. Bruce Willis' Everyman appearance is what helped shape the film into the Right Man in the Wrong Place story which would later spawn its own derivatives in the "Die Hard" on an X sub-genre.

Sweater - Now I Have a Machine Gun Ho-Ho-Ho Long Ugly Xmas Sweater - Now I Have a Machine Gun Ho-Ho-Ho Long

Professionals Do It on Desks: Two employees of Nakatomi are going at it on a desk when Hans Gruber's boys show up and drag them out with the rest of the hostages. Three of Hans' men are distracted long enough for John to escape. Criminal Craves Legitimacy: Hans' plan is fairly simple: make everyone think his crew are terrorists, steal 600 million dollars, fake their deaths, and then sit on a beach and earn 20% off their stolen (and believed destroyed) loot. One Drink Will Kill the Baby: Parodied: Holly's heavily pregnant secretary is leaving to go to the staff Christmas party, and wonders if a sip of alcohol will harm the baby. Wryly, Holly says "That baby's ready to tend bar."Brand X: Hans and Takagi both buy their suits at the fictional John Phillips tailors in London (presumably at Savile Row). I Do It For the Ho's Sweatshirt, Santa Hoes Shirt, Christmas Humor Shirt, Santa Christmas Shirt, Funny Christmas, Xmas Sarcastic Shirt, 236 Fake Shemp: For Fritz's death scene, Hans Buhringer wasn't called in that day of filming, as the filmmakers were already behind schedule, so they opted for 6'4 Native American stuntman Henry Kingi to double for him while wearing a wig. Buhringer joked that he never really died in the film as he wasn't an experienced actor at the time.

Die Hard (Film) - TV Tropes Die Hard (Film) - TV Tropes

Alarm SOS: John tries to get help to fight the terrorists by pulling the fire alarm, but the terrorists respond by calling 911 and telling them that it's a false alarm. Building of Adventure: Most of the film is set in or around a conveniently empty high-rise office building in Los Angeles' Century City district. Ballroom Blitz: Hans Gruber and his terrorists interrupt the Nakatomi company's Christmas party to take everyone hostage.Blatant Lies: "I promise I won't hurt you," as Tony is stalking McClane with a submachine gun. A moment later he opens fire on where he thinks John is hiding. Drugs Are Bad: Cocaine-using Ellis is portrayed as a smug loser in relation to this trope. When he meets John he "misses some" cocaine in his nose and John can barely contain his contempt when he points this out to Ellis. The last time he is seen with it is when he goes to talk to Hans. This goes ... poorly. Dutch Angle: Masterfully used by John McTiernan in the scene when Hans and John meet face to face for the first time. John McClane is unaware (or unsure) of Hans' identity, while Hans perfectly knows who John is. John decides to give Hans a gun to protect himself. For the whole movie McTiernan uses a straight angle for anything Hans-related (symbolizing Hans' straight, thought-out plan), and a Dutch angle for John (symbolizing his role as a fly in the ointment and his love for improvisation). Of course, Hans plans to shoot John, but you know before him that the gun is empty ... because the camera slowly tilts in the shot of Hans aiming at John. There is an odd Running Gag of John finding his eyes wandering to various attractive women, from smiling at a pretty stewardess on the plane to a lightly dressed woman jumping her boyfriend in the lobby and much later a poster of a topless woman in the maintenance hallways. At the least, the poster serves a purpose as John gets turned around in the chaos and used that poster to regain his bearings. An especially odd one comes after the initial takeover and John slips away into the offices still under construction, there is a brief shot where he looks across the street to see a woman undressing.