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Hidden Movie Details That Will Change How You View Your Favorite Films

Darren Ryding May 19, 2022

31. Hello Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock was arguably the greatest American filmmaker in history. His many hits include ‘North by Northwest,’ ‘Psycho,’ and ‘The Birds.’ His films provided moments of agonizing tension and high drama. Meanwhile, Hitchcock had another trademark in all of his movies.

He ensured that he had a walk-on cameo in each of his films. Hitchcock never spoke in any of these scenes but just appeared briefly. It soon became something that audiences watched out for. But it’s easy for modern audiences to miss these hidden movie details (via Film Site).

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30. Righteous Man

One of Samuel Jackson’s greatest roles came in the Tarantino hit, ‘Pulp Fiction.’ He played Jules and had one of the most famous movie quotes of all time when he quoted Ezekiel 25: 17. The words read: “The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.”

Jackson also starred as Nick Fury in ‘The Avengers.’ When his character appears to die, his gravestone bore the same words. This was a clear reference to Jackson’s earlier film and a great cultural moment. Fans loved this because it connected both of their universes (via Independent).

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29. Al Mighty

‘Bruce Almighty’ was one of the most entertaining movies of 2003. Jim Carrey played the titular character who received divine powers after complaining about his life. Morgan Freeman also made the character of God iconic with his slick white suits (via TV Tropes).

Freeman appeared at random points throughout the film and its sequel, Evan Almighty. At one point, he pretends to be a waiter and wears the tag, “Al Mighty.” Nobody knew that he was God so it was a fun in-joke with the audience. It was a funny moment for the viewers.

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28. Matilda

The Joker is one of the most iconic villains in the history of comics and movies. Jack Nicholson’s depiction of the evil clown was the best until Heath Ledger came along. He was amazing in ‘The Dark Knight’ and even won a posthumous Oscar for his magnificent display (via Digital Spy).

In one scene, Ledger enters a hospital and wears a nurse’s uniform. The name tag reads Matilda and is the name of Ledger’s daughter. Most viewers wouldn’t have realized this when they watched the scene. But it’s one of those hidden movie moments that brings some extra meaning.

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27. Sid The Garbage Man

Toy Story 3 threw up another fun Easter Egg when it introduced Sid the garbage man. Many fans will remember him as the toy torturer from the original movie. He even wears the same t-shirt that he had when he was a child with its distinctive white skull (via Screenrant).

While some people may not think he’s doing much with his life, Sid appears to be content. He enjoyed breaking stuff as a child so this job suits him well. Meanwhile, he’s happily listening to his music as he does his work. In sum, Sid is living the dream.

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26. Ancient Callback

‘Aladdin’ is one of Disney’s most popular animated movies. It drew from ancient legends and became one of the most notable films of its era. Most people don’t think about historical accuracy when they watch it. But Aladdin has some surprising hidden movie details that reveal excellent research (via Common Sense Media).

One of these saw Aladdin throw an apple at his beloved Jasmine when he is courting her. In ancient times this was a real symbolic gesture of love. Apples represent fertility and have clear romantic allusions. It’s nice to see this feature in a children’s story because it offers more meaning.

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25. Fruit and Vegetables

Jim Carrey brought the wacky ‘Ace Ventura’ to life in 1994. This became arguably his most famous role because of his flamboyant style and colorful costume. However, one aspect of the series didn’t age well. It’s safe to say they’d approach the subject differently in the modern era.

Lt. Lois Einhorn is a transgender character but viewers don’t learn this until the end. There is a hint about Einhorn’s true nature in an earlier scene. A banana and two apples sit on the desk to foreshadow the big reveal. Maybe they shouldn’t have gone down this route (via BuzzFeed).

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24. Real Skeletons

It’s very expensive to make movies and that’s why studios attempt to cut costs when they can. However, this occurred unexpectedly in the horror flick ‘Poltergeist.’ At one point, Jobeth Williams finds herself in a swimming pool with several skeletons (via Mental Floss).

It’s a creepy moment but there’s something even darker about this scene. Williams didn’t know this at the time but the skeletons were real. It was cheaper to get them from a medical school than to buy artificial ones. This is one of those hidden movie details that she wished she didn’t hear.

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23. X Marks The Spot

‘The Departed’ was a great police thriller with sublime performances. It also drew inspiration from ‘The Godfather’ with one of its hidden movie details. We already examined how the latter used oranges to symbolize a character’s impending death. ‘The Departed’ also visibly marked a character death.

However, they used the letter “X” instead of delicious fruit. This is clear in every scene before somebody dies. It’s easy to miss when the viewer is unaware. But after learning about it, this recurring detail becomes as clear as day (via Cinema Blend).

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22. Mulan Wok

‘Lilo and Stitch’ is a movie about the friendship between a small Hawaiian girl and an alien. It’s a weird movie and it shouldn’t work but it does. This is a touching story that is poignant and has a heavier tone than some Disney films. But it also has some great hidden movie details.

At one point, after Stitch’s adoption, they walk down the high street. Then they pass their local Chinese restaurant. This may not seem important but the name is notable: “Mulan’s Wok.” Mulan is another iconic Disney movie with one of its greatest heroines (via Collider).

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21. Count To Three

Everybody loves ‘Die Hard’ because it’s a brilliant and fun action flick. Every Christmas, viewers watch John McClane fight terrorists and rescue hostages. It never becomes old because it’s a timeless story. Alan Rickman is also excellent as the evil main villain Hans Gruber (via The Conversation).

In Rickman’s final scene, he falls to his death. However, this is one of the hidden movie details that fans won’t be aware of. The stunt director said he’d count down from three. But he tricked Rickman and dropped him early. This produced an expression of genuine terror because Rickman didn’t expect it.

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20. Universal Exports

James Bond continues to flourish as one of the world’s biggest movie franchises. Seven actors played the British spy throughout the series. Most of the films stand alone but there are still some details that reemerge. One of these came in ‘Quantum of Solace’ (2008).

Bond uses a business card under the name of R. Sterling. Most viewers wouldn’t have batted an eyelid but this wasn’t the first name Sterling appeared. Roger Moore also used the name Robert Sterling in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me.’ It was a direct reference to the previous movie (What Culture).

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19. No More Music

‘Mulan’ is the classic tale of a Chinese girl who becomes her nation’s biggest hero. All Disney animations are deeper than people expect. They’re full of hidden movie details and messages. They also make some interesting stylistic choices that improve the quality of the film.

One notable aspect occurs after the first half. Mulan and her companions discover a destroyed village. Before this, there were songs and music throughout But it symbolizes a change in tone and there is no more music from this point. It’s a subtle shift but a great one (via Collider).

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18. Boromir’s Bracers

‘The Lord of the Rings’ movie trilogy broke new ground for the fantasy genre. it was one of the most epic movie events audiences ever saw in cinemas. Meanwhile, there were many hidden movie details throughout that some viewers took note of (via Screenrant).

At the end of the first movie ‘The Fellowship of the Ring,’ the death of Sean Bean’s Boromir was very emotional. Later, fans noted that Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) wore his friend’s bracers for the remaining films. It was a nice connection between the two characters because it ensured that Boromir’s spirit lived on.

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17. Don’t Blink

The T-1000 is a terrifying robot assassin who appears in the early ’90s ‘Terminator 2.’ Robert Patrick played him with great skill and brought extraordinary attention to detail. One notable aspect of this character is his ability to fire a gun without blinking. This is a very disturbing feat because it brings the robotic nature to life.

Patrick revealed that he practiced this on the firing range until he was able to pull it off. He fired multiple shots in a row without blinking despite the gun’s recoil. This is much more difficult than it may seem but Patrick took the extra step to make T-1000 feel real (via Screenrant).

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16. Pan African Flag

‘Black Panther’ is one of the most important movies of all time. That’s because it offered hope for Black people around the world. It gave “Wakanda” an inclusive meaning for everybody of African descent on the planet. This film was also full of hidden details (via Genius Levels).

One of these featured symbolism in plain sight. Three of the movie’s main characters stood side-by-side wearing green, black, and red. This may not seem noteworthy but it is important because it’s the color of the Pan-African flag. It’s a nice touch in this special movie.

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15. Real Witches

The ‘Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them’ series is a Harry Potter prequel. Most viewers and critics agree that they aren’t as good as the original movies. But they’re still well-made with some interesting hidden movie details and messages. One of these came when Tina shouted the following names.

She shouted “Mercy Lewis” and “Deliverance Dane.” These names mean nothing to most people in modern society. But they have relevance because they were real people. Both of them were involved in the Salem Witch Trials with the former a notorious accuser (via History).

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14. I’m Just a Coffee Shop

Quentin Tarantino’s universe is one of the most intricate in film. There are allusions to different characters across multiple films. Meanwhile, the same brand of cigarettes and other items feature in all of his movies. He has his trademarks and he doesn’t shy away from them.

Furthermore, Tarantino enjoys silly jokes. One of these pops up in Pulp Fiction. A character says “I’m just a coffee shop…” when a gun attack interrupts him. Later, in the credits, Tarantino lists the actor’s as playing ” Coffee Shop.” It’s incredibly dumb but funny at the same time (via Reddit).

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13. Dreamworks Logo

‘The Road to El Dorado’ is one of the most underrated Dreamworks animations. It has a great story and beautiful artwork but many people forget it exists. That’s a shame because it is worth watching. There are also a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments (via CBR).

In one scene, a shaman flicks through his book of spells. This seems relatively innocuous except for one jarring moment. It stops briefly on an intricate picture of a moon and fisherman. That’s right, the studio cleverly incorporated its logo into the movie.

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12. Warning Message

We already spoke about the Starbucks cups in every ‘Fight Club’ scene. But they went even further with their hidden movie details and jokes. One of these appeared on the DVD release. Usually, films feature a warning that tells viewers not to illegally copy or distribute it.

However, this movie went in a different direction. It tells the viewer that by reading the message they’re wasting their life. It advises them to skip ahead and do something meaningful. This fits well with the overall theme of the film and is typical of Fight Club (via Lit Hub).

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11. Meet The Riddler

‘The Batman’ became the latest installment of the saga in 2022. The caped hero remains one of the most popular superheroes and is very lucrative. This new movie saw Batman take on one of his creepiest foes, ‘The Riddler.’ Paul Dano had a great performance as the disturbed villain.

Unlike the Marvel movies, ‘The Batman’ didn’t have a post-credits end scene. However, it did provide the opportunity for bonus material. A URL features at the end of the movie. If fans follow it they access the Riddler’s website with some interesting content (via Games Radar).

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10. Silent Django

Quentin Tarantino made his first foray into Westerns with ‘Django Unchained.’ This saw an escaped slave take his revenge in a gripping and tense action thriller. Meanwhile, he drew influences from the original Django (1996), which was one of the most violent films of its era (via Hollywood Reporter).

Tarantino revered Sergio Corbucci’s masterpiece and wanted to have an Easter egg in his movie. We see Jamie Foxx’s Django sitting beside another man in a saloon. This was Franco Nero who played the original Django in Corbucci’s classic western. He doesn’t speak but it’s a great moment.

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9. Strong Focus

Sometimes movies make dumb in-jokes that make people roll their eyes. One of these occurred in ‘Spiderman 2’ with Toby McGuire. He delivers a cheesy line about needing a strong focus before jumping off a building. Then he soars off the side of the tower onto a vehicle below.

But the wild part is that he lands on a Ford Focus car. Furthermore, he doesn’t damage it despite the heavy impact. It’s a funny detail as well as a cheesy pun that most people wouldn’t register. This one requires viewers to pay a lot of attention or they’d miss it (via iFunny).

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8. EVA Pod

George Lucas loves making references to Steven Spielberg’s movies. However, he also includes Easter eggs from other big hits. One of these included the iconic 2001: A Space Odyssey. This film was a true masterpiece and changed the landscape for science-fiction in cinema.

Keen-eyed fans will notice that an EVA pod sits in a junkyard in ‘The Phantom Menace.’ Lucas paid tribute to Stanley Kubrick’s feature by including the machine. It’s a nice touch but one that many viewers are oblivious about. But those who know about it love this special detail (via Digital Spy).

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7. Cars Canyon

Pixar always knocks it out of the park and Cars was no exception. This brilliant animated movie saw a charming story about a bunch of cars and their dreams. The best thing about this film was the level of detail because of everything related to automobiles and vehicles (via Inside The Magic).

Even the surrounding landscapes had a mechanical influence. One of the hidden movie details that some fans may not have caught was the Cars Canyon. All of the rock formations were in the form of old, classic vehicles. It’s a nice touch that adds a little extra to the experience.

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6. Corn Field

Christopher Nolan is one of the most innovative auteur directors on the planet. He seems obsessed with achieving high levels of detail and realism. His movie, Interstellar is a great case study because most of the science is accurate. He consulted physicians and astronomers because he wanted it to feel authentic.

Furthermore, Nolan refused to compromise on mundane aspects of the movie. In one scene, a car drives through a cornfield that he planted specifically for the film. After they finished, Nolan sold the cornfield and even made a profit. It’s one of the most lucrative hidden movie details in this guide (via Cinema Blend).

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5. Lone Pine Mall

Some people thought that they saw a mistake toward the end of the original ‘Back to the Future.’ They saw an example of brilliant continuity. Marty’s adventures begin beside the Twin Pines Mall in his hometown. However, when he returned it was now the Lone Pine Mall.

But this is a subtle nod to the fact that he crashed into a farmer’s tree during his time travels. It’s easy to forget about but the writers remembered. This is one of those great hidden movie details that make fans appreciate how much effort is put into filmmaking (via Joe UK).

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4. Broken Toe

Viggo Mortensen went to extreme lengths to ensure that audiences believed his depiction of Aragorn in ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ The Danish actor slept in stables and carried his sword everywhere because he wanted to capture a weather-beaten look (via Den of Geek).

In one scene, he kicks an orc’s helmet and yells in agonized frustration. However, viewers didn’t realize that his pain was genuine. Mortensen thought that it was a foam helmet but it was metal. He broke his toe in the process but the director kept the shot because of his sacrifice.

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3. 30 Minutes

‘Fargo’ was one of the best American movies ever. This quirky classic saw an all-star cast deliver phenomenal performances. Despite the dark humor, it was also very intelligent with some great moments. One of these came in the 30th minute of the film (via The Guardian).

There were exactly 30 minutes left in the movies when Steve Buscemi delivered a classic line. He said: “30 minutes Jerry, we wrap this thing up.” The timing was brilliant because it was perfectly on point. There were plenty of smart references and hidden movie details.

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2. Tarantino’s Hands

‘Inglorious Basterds’ was one of Quentin Tarantino’s wildest films. It provided an alternative history of Nazi Germany with some surreal moments. In one scene, Christoph Waltz chokes Diane Kruger with his bare hands. However, there’s more to this than meets the eye (via NME).

That’s because Waltz’s efforts didn’t satisfy Tarantino. Instead, the director decided to step in and choked the German actress with his hands. In the film, viewers witness Tarantino’s hands and not Waltz’s because that’s what he went with. It was creepy but she consented to the situation.

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1. Purple Lightsaber

Samuel L. Jackson’s Mace Windu became one of the most popular and recognizable Stars Wars characters. That’s because he was the only Jedi with a purple lightsaber. Furthermore, Samuel L. Jackson played him with his customary swagger. But there’s more to that lightsaber than just its color.

Jackson requested the unique color because he wanted to stand out on the battlefield. George Lucas obliged and they came up with his trademark purple. Meanwhile, Jackson asked the props people to customize it with a special message: “Bad Motherf***er.”

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