5 Subtle 'Blink-And-You-Miss-It' Movie Easter Eggs
Sometimes filmmakers leave hidden nods and references to other projects for the most observant fans to discover.
Dropping subtle references to other movies and franchises is a great way to surprise and entertain the most discerning fans, so filmmakers occasionally leave Easter eggs in their projects. So we picked five of the best that are both recognizable and not exactly "on the nose."
From Dusk till Dawn (1996) - Big Kahuna Burger
While Quentin Tarantino 's movies are known for having recurring fictional trademarks like Red Apple cigarettes, From Dusk Till Dawn only had him as writer and star, but not as director. However, it still featured the Big Kahuna burger, which had previously appeared in the famous scene from Pulp Fiction (1994).
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Star Wars Droids
While Steven Spielberg directed the iconic adventure film, it was George Lucas who came up with the idea in the first place, so it comes as no surprise that it pays homage to another of his great franchises. After Indiana Jones and Sallah discover the Ark of the Covenant, for a split second you can see familiar silhouettes on a golden column to the right of Jones, just before they remove the lid of the sarcophagus.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) - E.T.
Later, George also paid tribute to Spielberg by adding the aliens from his 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial as members of the Galactic Senate. They are seen after Padmé Amidala calls for a vote of no confidence in Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum.
Predator 2 (1990) - Xenomorph skull
After Lieutenant Mike Harrigan reaches the Predator ship at the climax of the movie, he encounters more of his kind. Curiously, on the trophy wall in the background is a familiar-looking elongated skull, which definitely belongs to the Xenomorph from the Alien movies. While some people believe that this scene gave birth to the Alien vs. Predator franchise, it actually happened a year earlier with a 1989 comic book.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) - Smilex
The name of the toothpaste company Charlie's father works for is a clear reference to the Smylex poison used by the Joker in the 1989 Batman movie, as both films were directed by none other than Tim Burton.