Although it only reached number 40 on the Mainstream Rock chart at that time, it is one of Dio's most popular songs today.

[citation needed] Following the September 11 attacks, the song was placed on the list of post-9/11 inappropriate titles distributed by Clear Channel.

In March 2023, Rolling Stone ranked "Holy Diver" as the 9th greatest metal song of all time.

[4] The music video for "Holy Diver", directed and edited by Arthur Ellis, features Dio as a hairy barbarian adventuring through a desolate church (the then recently burnt-out St Mark's Church, Silvertown in east London, which is now a music venue).

This version of the song as well as the original composed by Dio are DLC for the guitar video game Rocksmith 2014.