Hey there, movie and series buffs! Have you ever watched a film or TV show and thought you had it all figured out, only to have your mind blown by a subtle detail that you missed? Well, you're not alone! In fact, some of the most talented creators in the
Entertainment industry have mastered the art of hiding important clues right under our noses.
From the tiniest Easter egg to the most significant plot twist, these creators know how to keep us on our toes. And let's be real, it's kind of exhilarating to catch those hidden details and feel like a detective, even if it's just from the comfort of our own couches.
So, grab some popcorn and get ready to have your mind blown as we dive into 19 movies and series where the creators left important details in plain sight, and we almost missed them. Trust us, you won't want to blink or you might just miss the big reveal.
#1 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Source: © Avatar: The Way of Water / 20th Century Studios
The Na'vi and their avatar counterparts have a slight difference in appearance, specifically in the number of fingers. While the Na'vi have four fingers, avatars have five. Jake and Neytiri's son, Lo'ak, inherited five fingers from his avatar DNA, causing him to feel imperfect and leading him to seek recognition from his father, which gets him into trouble.
#2 The Last of Us (2023—...)
Source: © The Last of Us / Sony Pictures Television and co-producers
In The Last of Us, episode 7 features Ellie wearing a T-shirt and sweater with shorter sleeves, highlighting that the events happened before the attack on her. This detail explains why she didn't need to hide any marks on her skin, which could have caused confusion about her being infected. And when Bella Ramsey was announced as Ellie, many fans were initially unhappy but soon changed their minds when they saw her in action.
#3 House of the Dragon (2022—...)
Source: © House of the Dragon / HBO and co-producers
If you've got a keen eye, you might have noticed Viserys' wardrobe changes as he aged in House of the Dragon. At first, he rocked square clothing, but later on, he switched to long robes that seemed to drag him down. It's a subtle way the show's costume designers showed Viserys' decline as a ruler.
#4 Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Source: © Everything Everywhere All at Once / A24 and co-producers
In Everything Everywhere All at Once, Michelle Yeoh character's daughter has a pig tattoo that represents her family. Why a pig, you might ask? Well, in Chinese, the symbol for "family" or "home" is a combination of the characters for "pig" and "roof." So, it's a clever nod to their heritage.
#5 The Menu (2022)
Source: © The Menu / Searchlight Pictures
In a newspaper article shown in the film, it is revealed that the chef used to work at a restaurant called Tantalus. This references a character from Greek mythology who was punished by the gods for his deception. The punishment involved standing in water beneath a fruit tree, where the fruit and water would always be just out of reach, similar to the chef losing his passion for food due to serving the rich.
#6 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Source: © Puss in Boots: The Last Wish / DreamWorks Animation
In Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, keep an eye on the empty glasses on the table when the Wolf makes his first appearance. Puss is on his 9th glass, with the others empty, representing the lives he's lost. The last glass is the one Death wants to claim personally. Don't miss this clever detail in the animated adventure!
#7 Disenchanted (2022)
Source: © The Little Mermaid / Walt Disney Pictures, © Disenchanted / Walt Disney Pictures
In Disenchanted (2022), keep an eye out for a reference to The Little Mermaid (1989). During a musical performance, Morgan hints that she feels uncomfortable in her surroundings, just like Ariel did in the animated classic. To make the reference even clearer, the movie copies a scene from The Little Mermaid where Ariel leans against a rock and a wave breaks behind her back.
#8 M3GAN (2022)
Source: © The Shining / Warner Bros., © M3GAN / Blumhouse Productions
In M3GAN, pay attention to the hallway scene right before the famous dance. It's reminiscent of the iconic twins from The Shining (1980), but it might not be just an Easter egg. Some viewers speculate that M3GAN deliberately positioned herself in the hallway to show that she's embraced her role as a villain.
#9 The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
Source: © The Banshees of Inisherin / Blueprint Pictures
In The Banshees of Inisherin, the beginning of the film features a bright and colorful palette that some viewers found cartoonish. But there's a reason for it! It reflects the main character's internal state before he faces the loss of his friend. Check out the story of Barry Keoghan, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in the film.
#10 Uncharted (2022)
Source: © Uncharted / Columbia Pictures
The actor Nolan North, who originally voiced the character of Nathan Drake in the Uncharted video game, makes a cameo appearance in the movie as a stranger who meets Nathan and Chloe on a beach and shares a similar experience.
#11 Smile (2022)
Source: © Smile / Temple Hill Entertainment and co-producers
In Smile, keep an eye out for the envelope in Rose's mail that reads "Last Chance." It's a subtle hint from the filmmakers that Rose needs to address the loss of her mother to avoid the influence of an evil entity. When her therapist calls, Rose hangs up, missing her last opportunity to confront her trauma.
#12 The Wonder (2022)
Source: © The Wonder / Element Pictures
It's clear that the people in that village are obsessed with green. I mean, they've painted everything from their walls to their doors in that color. Meanwhile, our girl, the main character, is just keeping it simple and wearing a blue dress that stands out like a sore thumb among all that greenery. It's like they're living in a world of green, and she's the one spot of blue that they can't ignore.
#13 Pinocchio (2022)
Source: © Pinocchio / Walt Disney Pictures and co-producers
In Pinocchio (2022), keep an eye on Honest John's outfit. His "cloak" is actually a shower curtain, the cuffs of his sleeves are made of doilies, and the "buttons" on his shirt are coins. This attention to detail highlights his deceitful character.
#14 The Amazing Maurice (2022)
Source: © The Amazing Maurice / Squeeze Studio Animation
In The Amazing Maurice (2022), keep an eye out for a tribute to author Terry Pratchett. In Boss Man's office, there's a bust of Pratchett, who wrote the book that the animated film is based on. Watch closely, and you might even see Maurice, the clever cat, sitting atop the bust at one point. It's a small but meaningful detail that pays homage to the beloved author and his fantastic storytelling.
#15 Triangle of Sadness (2022)
Source: © Triangle of Sadness / Imperative Entertainment and co-producers
The title of "Triangle of Sadness" comes from a term in the beauty industry that refers to the area between the eyebrows and the bridge of the nose where wrinkles can make someone appear sad. In the movie, it suggests the tendency of characters to create real problems for themselves instead of dealing with difficulties they already have.
#16 Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Source: © Glass Onion / Netflix and co-producers
In Glass Onion, Miles is dressed in a black turtleneck and jeans, just like Steve Jobs, and Andy mentions the "reality distortion field," which was a term used to describe Jobs' persuasive ability. The creators left this detail in plain sight, just like in 19 other movies and series where important details were almost missed.
#17 You (2018—...)
Source: © You / Alloy Entertainment and co-producers
Jenna Ortega's character Ellie in "You" had to escape at the end of season two, and while the creators wanted to continue her story in season four, Jenna was busy with another project - Wednesday. Although her character is not in season four, she is still mentioned as missing.
#18 Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical (2022)
Source: © Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical / TriStar Pictures
The sign "No Giraffes" on the school lawn at the beginning of the film is a reference to the previous adaptation of the book where the filmmakers were not allowed to have a giraffe on set. Later, when the students and Miss Honey take control of the institution, a giraffe appears next to the building as a nod to this previous obstacle.
#19 Jungle Cruise (2021)
Source: © Jungle Cruise / Walt Disney Pictures, © The African Queen / Romulus Films
Well, well, well, look who we have here. Lily Houghton, the protagonist of Jungle Cruise, shares a striking similarity with the legendary Katherine Hepburn, whose full name was Katherine Houghton Hepburn. And if that's not enough, both movies, Jungle Cruise and The African Queen, have a lot in common. Coincidence? I think not!