Archie Leach Makes an Appearance
A recurring Hollywood reference appeared in Howard Hawks’s His Girl Friday (1940). Cary Grant’s character quips: “The last man who said that to me was Archie Leach just a week before he cut his throat!” In Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), Grant's character is seen in a cemetery with a gravestone bearing the name Archie Leach. Additionally, in Charles Crichton’s A Fish Called Wanda (1988), John Cleese’s character is named Archie Leach. Archie Leach was Cary Grant’s birth name, a less glamorous name compared to "Cary Grant." These instances exemplify Hollywood's acknowledgment of stars' name changes and the obscuring of their ordinary origins.
A Tribute to Technoblade
During a screening of A Minecraft Movie, a scene featuring a pig wearing a crown prompted a collective "Awww" from the audience. This pig was identified as the profile picture of Technoblade, a popular Minecraft YouTuber who passed away in 2022. This inclusion served as a tribute to Technoblade and recognized the YouTube community's contribution to the game's popularity.
Arnie Does the Bard
Fake trailers are a popular way for the movie industry to engage in self-reference. Among these, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Hamlet from 1993’s Last Action Hero stands out. This trailer is a blend of high and low culture, depicting Schwarzenegger as a Uzi-wielding Hamlet, delivering lines such as “Not to be!” The concept extends to the idea of Schwarzenegger in King Lear, reimagining the classic play with action elements.
Arnie Does Kurosawa
Last Action Hero is a parody of the action genre filled with references to other films. While audiences may recognize nods to Basic Instinct, Amadeus, and The Seventh Seal, the film also pays homage to Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low (1963). The reference involves Arnold Schwarzenegger spotting pink smoke from incinerated banknotes, mirroring a scene in Kurosawa's film where burning briefcases create a similar visual effect.
A History Lesson From Pixar
Pixar films often include references to cinema history. In Monsters, Inc. (2001), the restaurant Harryhausen’s is named after Ray Harryhausen, the animator behind Jason and the Argonauts. This detail highlights the studio's appreciation for film history and adds layers to their movies.
Idina Menzel Channels Broadway in Wicked
The film adaptation of Wicked includes a cameo by Idina Menzel, the original Elphaba from the Broadway production. Menzel sings the "ah-ah-ah-ah" notes from "Defying Gravity," a nod to the musical's fanbase. Cynthia Erivo later reprises these notes in the film, maintaining their impact.
Alien Meets Predator – For the First Time
Predator 2 features a scene where Danny Glover’s character, Lieutenant Harrigan, discovers a wall of trophies on the Predator's spaceship. Among these trophies is the skull of a xenomorph from the Alien franchise. This reference suggested a shared cinematic universe, predating the Alien vs. Predator films.
Objects May Be Closer Than They Appear
Director Steven Spielberg frequently uses a "monster-in-the-rearview-mirror" shot in his summer films. This shot, notable in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, involves a character noticing a pursuing entity in their rearview mirror. Examples include Duel, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Jurassic Park, often accompanied by the warning "objects may be closer than they appear."
Darcy Resurrected
In Bridget Jones 4, Leo Woodall emerges from a pool in a wet white shirt, reminiscent of Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy. The film includes nostalgic elements for fans, such as blue soup cocktails, awkward dinner parties, Bridget’s knowledge of Chechnya, large underwear, and a snowy kiss at the end. Darcy’s son wearing his father’s reindeer jumper is a particularly special detail.
The Boy in Death in Venice Ages Into a Human Sacrifice
Björn Andrésen, who played a sailor in Luchino Visconti’s Death in Venice (1971) at age 15, appeared in Ari Aster’s Midsommar as a sacrificial victim. This casting choice represents a notable example of a casting reference, with Andrésen's character meeting a violent end, contrasting with his earlier role.
Zombie Bike Messenger Delivers the Goods
Shaun of the Dead, created by the team behind Spaced, includes a subtle reference to the sitcom. Among the zombies, a zombified version of Tyres, the bike messenger from Spaced, appears wearing his cycling cap and headphones.
Lego Alfred Gives a Bat-Biography
The Lego Batman Movie (2017) features a meta montage where Alfred recalls Batman’s "weird phases," referencing previous cinematic Batman iterations, including the 1966 series and the Bat-nipple costumes. This scene canonizes every previous Batman film as mere footnotes in the Lego Batman's life, portraying them as chaotic fashion choices.
