The 7 Best Pop Culture Easter Eggs of All Time

Any nerd will tell you — it’s a point of pride to spot the Easter eggs in a movie, show, or game. And as anyone who’s ever sat through something with a nerd will tell you, they sure love to announce each one. How many times has your dearest LOTR fan told you that Viggo Mortensen actually broke his toe kicking a helmet?

Pop culture is full of Easter eggs. The first Easter egg appeared in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, so named because the cast and crew had their own egg hunt behind the scenes. Except not every egg was discovered! Now, viewers can spot Easter eggs near the lab elevator, on a lamp, and in one other location (we won’t spoil it for anyone who needs a reason for a Rocky Horror rewatch).

What makes a good Easter egg? Well, they should be unexpected yet intentionally clever. That Starbucks cup in episode 4 of Game of Thrones is certainly fun, but it’s no match for hidden Konami codes or Mickey ears. Without further ado, let’s hunt down the best pop culture Easter eggs.

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C-3P0 and R2-D2 in Raiders of the Lost Ark

Of course this one makes the list! Star Wars™ and Indiana Jones are both owned by Lucasfilm. Also, our titular hero is played by Harrison Ford, who plays Han Solo™. Coincidence? We think not! Fittingly, then, the action-adventure movie Raiders of the Lost Ark references Episode IV: A New Hope™ in a fun way. Hidden in the temple’s hieroglyphics are the beloved droids R2-D2™ and C-3PO™. Those two are inseparable even in a fandom crossover!

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The Shiba Inu in Silent Hill 2

Silent Hill 2 is a survival horror video game published by Konami, the second in the Silent Hill franchise. In it, players must guide protagonist James Sunderland through a monster-filled town as he looks for his dead wife. While there are plenty of scary elements, the main objective is to solve puzzles and locate items rather than kill enemies. Such tasks are clearly grueling, yet we power through to help James.

As it turns out, however, the game was rigged from the start! After completing the three main endings in Silent Hill 2, if you create a new game file and play through as normal, you can discover a key inside a doghouse. This will eventually trigger a secret ending that reveals a Shiba Inu at a control panel was secretly behind all the horrors.

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Buzz Lightyear and the Incredibles in Finding Nemo

A lot of Disney’s Finding Nemo takes place in a dentist’s office. Look around the room and you’ll notice a few Disney Easter eggs. Buzz Lightyear is chilling next to the toy box. Additionally, one of the patients is reading a comic book which features the Incredibles family.

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That Infinity Gauntlet Fake Out

The MCU is perhaps best known for its cohesive universe. Even its most multiversal aspects tie into the main continuity. Everything is clean, concise, and matches down to every detail. So when Marvel already introduced the Infinity Gauntlet way back in Thor, before it was a significant object to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, that had to be addressed.

Thanos’ Infinity Gauntlet first appears in Odin’s gallery. Like any ruler, he has his prized treasure hoard. Well, Thor: Ragnarok pops his ego in a hilarious way, while also filling up a plot hole. Sauntering through her father’s trophy room, Hela declares the Infinity Gauntlet a fake and knocks it over. Take that, you bad dad!

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Pixar’s Pizza Planet Truck

Although most prominent in Toy Story, Pixar’s Pizza Planet delivery vehicle can be found somewhere in every single Pixar movie in some shape or form. This truck surely wanted to compete against Stan Lee for the title of cameo king!

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Wes Craven’s Cameo in Scream

Wes Craven is the creator of the original Nightmare on Elm Street film series. Of course, for better or worse, that universe expanded past his creative vision in various ways. In response, Wes Craven created Scream. The meta horror film verges on parody while also paying homage to what people truly love about slasher films.

The best part? Wes Craven himself appears as “Fred the Janitor.” Dressed in Freddy Krueger’s classic striped sweater and bowler hat, Fred looks and acts exactly like Freddy did in his own creepy hallway scene.

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All the DC Comics References in The Sandman

From the obvious ones like Batman action figures to the hidden Amazonian genealogy of Lyta Hall, The Sandman has plenty of references to its DC Comics origin. Characters such as John Dee/Doctor Destiny and Joanna Constantine are among the most notable. Others are used as in-world entertainment, such as Justice League collectibles and the Static Shock cartoon. You can read our more extensive breakdown of all these references in our All the DC Comics Easter Eggs in The Sandman Season 1 blog.

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What are your favorite pop culture Easter eggs? Share your picks at side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!