13 Movie Easter Eggs That Cleverly Reference Other Films

You'll never miss these little hidden gems again.

1. Charlie's Angels references E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Paramount Pictures

In the scene after Drew Barrymore's character, Dylan Sanders, is shot out of a window she goes to a neighbor’s house looking for help, if you look closely at the scene there is both an E.T. poster and toy next to the TV, and the boys are eating E.T.'s favorite candy, Reese’s Pieces. Also, the house used for the scene is the same house E.T. was filmed in. A nice little tribute to the film that made Barrymore a star.

2. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark references Star Wars: A New Hope

LucasFilm/ Disney / Via scifi.stackexchange.com

R2-D2 and C-3PO are depicted among the hieroglyphics on the Ark of the Covenant -- the gag makes sense since they are both George Lucas films.

3. Jurassic Park references Jaws

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

Jaws can be seen playing for a quick second on one of Nedry’s computer screens. This is a nice little nod to Steven Spielberg's first blockbuster film -- that was also the first summer blockbuster movie ever. And, of course, Jurassic Park would become another Spielberg summer blockbuster.

4. Rango references Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Paramount Pictures

In the beginning of the film, Rango hits the windshield of a red convertible with Duke and Gonzo from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas inside.

Not too much of a coincidence since both Rango and Fear and Loathing are Johnny Depp films. There is even a strange fan theory that Rango is actually just a hallucination Duke has.

5. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory references Batman

Warner Bros.

Charlie's father works at a toothpaste factory that makes Smilex toothpaste, which is the same name of the chemical the Joker tries to kill the people of Gotham in Batman. Of course the connection is an easy one since Tim Burton directed both films.

6. Romy and Michele's High School Reunion references Pulp Fiction

Buena Vista Pictures

An ad for Red Apple Cigarettes, the brand of cigarettes used throughout Pulp Fiction, can be seen in the background early in the film.

The ad was a nod to Mira Sorvino's (Romy) then-boyfriend, Quentin Tarantino.

7. Toy Story 3 references WALL•E

Disney/ Pixar / Via djbarchs.wordpress.com

Buzz Lightyear is powered by Buy n Large batteries, which is the same company that eventually takes over the world in WALL•E. Of course Pixar is known for its clever Easter eggs, but it also ties in to the insane theory that all Pixar films exist in the same universe.

8. Man of Steel references Batman

Warner Bros. / Via screenrant.com

A Batman poster is hidden in the background of Man of Steel. According to the film's director Zack Snyder, the gag was put in there by the visual effects company, who also happened to do the visual effects for the Dark Knight movies.

9. Star Trek Into Darkness references Star Wars

Paramount Pictures / Via hollywoodreporter.com

R2-D2 makes a quick cameo in the scene after the Vengeance fires on the Enterprise.

There was also an R2-D2 cameo in the first J.J. Abrams Star Trek film.

10. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace references 2001: A Space Odyssey

LucasFilm/ Disney

George Lucas paid tribute to 2001: A Space Odyssey by placing one of the EVA Pods from the film in the junkyard scene.

11. Fight Club references Seven Years In Tibet

CineFix / Via youtube.com

Brad Pitt's film Seven Years In Tibet is on the movie marquee in a background scene in Fight Club.

In a later scene, co-star Ed Norton's film The People vs. Larry Flynt can be seen on a movie marquee in the background.

12. Big Hero 6 references Frozen

Disney / Via theanimatedfilmindustry.wordpress.com

A statue of Prince Hans is destroyed during the training scene at Fred's house.

13. Back to the Future Part II references Back to the Future

Universal Pictures

The movie pays homage to itself in the scene where Marty looks into the window of the antique store, both his jean jacket and the JVC camera from the first film are seen among the items being sold.