15 Easter Eggs That Movie Creators Used To Wink At Viewers

Movies are a place to hide creative Easter eggs, messages, or references – often to famous people from the past or some pieces of pop culture. Hidden in plain sight, these tidbits of information and references to films gone by are the ultimate reward for eagle-eyed viewers.
Most of us are casual viewers who just go along for the ride or a cinephile who’s tracking every detail in our heads and then comparing them to dozens of other movies we have seen. It’d be amazing if you spotted a good Easter egg in a movie or hidden details that not every viewer is able to catch at first glance. Maybe you’ve stumbled across a goldmine without even realizing it.
We’ve gathered some details that creators safely hide in famous movies and cartoons. You can see more in this article.

#1 Scream 5 (2022)

Source: © Scream 5 / Paramount Pictures and co-producers, © Scream / Dimension Films and co-producers

In this scene, a bag of grapes is seen on the table when characters are discussing what happened to their friend. It is a nod to the first one of the franchise.

#2 Ms. Marvel (2022)

Source: © Ms. Marvel / Marvel Studios, © Hawkeye / Marvel Studios and co-producers

In the end credits in “Ms. Marvel”, a truck with the caption “Trust A Bro” from Hawkeye can be seen.

#3 Toy Story of Terror (2013)

Source: © Toy Story of Terror / Disney Television Animation and co-producers, © Small Fry / Walt Disney Pictures and co-producers

In Toy Story of Terror, Bonnie wears a T-shirt with DJ Bluejay on it. It’s one of the toys Buzz met in Small Fry (2011).

#4 Violent Night (2022)

Source: © Violent Night / 87North Productions and co-producers

The name of the catering company “Farkus and Dill” is inspired by the bullies in “A Christmas Story”.

#5 Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)

Source: © Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio / Netflix Animation and co-producers

In the film, Geppetto’s son is named Carlo. it is a way to pay homage to Carlo “Collodi” Lorenzini, who wrote the original Pinocchio story in 1883.

#6 Futurama (1999-present)

Source: © Futurama / 20th Television Animation and co-producers

In the film, there are several references to the number 1729 called Hardy-Ramanujan number. The writers of this sci-fi sitcom are mathematicians with degrees in this and others.

#7 Ponyo (2008)

Source: © Gake no ue no Ponyo / Studio Ghibli and co-producers, © Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi / Studio Ghibli and co-producers

A toy that looks like the duck spirit from “Spirited Away” is seen in the nursing home.

#8 Aquaman (2018)

Source: © Aquaman / Warner Bros. and co-producers

The book The Dunwich Horror by H.P. Lovecraft can be noticed in “Aquaman” (2018). Director James Wan derived inspiration from this writer and wanted to pay tribute to him.

#9 Moon Knight (2022)

Source: © Moon Knight / Marvel Studios

It’s easy to spot a missed call from Duchamp when Steven is looking through Mark’s phone. In the comics, Duchamp is a French soldier who became friends with Mark.

#10 Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001)

Source: © Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius / Paramount Pictures and co-producers, © Star Trek / Paramount Television and co-producers

Character Libby used a special earpiece to control the communications of the spaceship. It’s a way to pay attribute to lieutenant Uhura from Star Trek (1966-1969).

#11 Uncharted (2022)

Source: © Uncharted / Columbia Pictures and co-producers, © Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull / Paramount Pictures and co-producers

The saying of Nate, “Nuns! Why does it always gotta be nuns?” is a reference to the iconic phrase Indiana Jones says in the first film, “Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes?”

#12 Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022)

Source: © Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile / Sony Pictures Animation and co-producers, © The Shining / Warner Bros. and co-producers

In the film, Josh wears a sweater similar to Danny’s in The Shining (1980).

#13 Wednesday (2022-present)

Source: © Wednesday / MGM Television and co-producers, © The Addams Family / Filmways

In a dance scene, Jenna Ortega’s character moved similar to Lisa Loring’s one in “The Addams Family” in the 1960s.

Source: © Wednesday / MGM Television and co-producers, © Beetle Juice / The Geffen Company

The mouse wears the same outfit as the main character in “Beetle Juice” (1988).

Source: © Wednesday / MGM Television and co-producers, © PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

The black ruffled dress Wednesday Addams wore at Nevermore Academy is strikingly similar to the red wedding dress put on by Winona Ryder’s character in Beetle Juice (1988).