As a child of the ’80s, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of nostalgia when it comes to the pop culture references in “Ready Player One.” Having grown up watching Saturday morning cartoons and poring over comic books, the easter eggs in this movie transport me back to a simpler time.
In the film “Ready Player One,” which revolves around the search for Easter Eggs, similar to the novel of the same title by Ernest Cline, you’ll encounter numerous Easter eggs woven into the narrative. This movie is rich with pop culture references spanning from the late 1900s, including some dating back to the 1960s. Keep in mind that there might be hundreds of Easter eggs scattered throughout the film, but we have chosen to focus on 32 of the more elusive ones.
Pee-Wee Herman’s Bike
As a gamer born in the ’70s, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia when I come across references to beloved classics like “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” in modern media. In the case of “Ready Player One,” it’s a delightful surprise to see this iconic piece of my childhood make an appearance, even if it’s a subtle one.
Police Synchronicity Shirt
As a huge fan of this movie, I can’t help but notice how powerfully music sets the scene. The soundtrack is brimming with my favorite ’80s hits, and even some lesser-known tunes from the era are beautifully incorporated. When Wade (Tye Sheridan) makes his departure from home at the beginning, his neighbor adds an intriguing touch by donning a tee shirt emblazoned with The Police’s iconic “Synchronicity” album design from 1983.
Mortal Kombat Button
In the year 2045 of the future depicted in “Ready Player One,” people all around the world immerse themselves in The Oasis, an advanced virtual reality universe. However, Easter eggs aren’t limited to The Oasis alone. In reality, Toshiro (Win Morisaki) dons a Mortal Kombat emblem on his outfit. Additionally, he embellishes his goggles with a Batman logo.
Cocktails & Dreams Neon Sign
In some areas of the Oasis, you’ll find an abundance of ’80s allusions. The game is deeply rooted in its maker’s affinity for the ’80s, so many characters exhibit a strong attachment to that era’s pop culture. A subtle nod can be spotted at Aech’s hideout, where a neon sign for “Cocktails & Dreams” hangs – a reference to the bar Tom Cruise’s character opens in the 1988 film “Cocktail.”
Rush’s 2112 Album
If you’ve read the story, you’re aware that Rush, the renowned band, significantly influenced Halliday (played by Mark Rylance) during his younger years. Despite their absence from the film’s soundtrack, “Tom Sawyer,” one of their popular songs, was featured in the preview. However, Rush is still present in the movie in other ways. For instance, you can spot the cover of their album “2112” multiple times throughout the story, including in Halliday’s childhood bedroom at the end.
School House Rock
After finding the third key, Wade and Samantha, represented by Olivia Cooke from “House of the Dragon,” pondered over the third clue. Reminding us of “School House Rock,” where three is considered magical, they believed it could hold significance, so they jotted down their thoughts in a notepad.
Lost In Space Robot
As a big fan, I can’t help but notice one of the earliest pop culture nods in the film: a vintage robot toy from the classic 1960s TV series “Lost in Space.” Towards the movie’s end, Halliday casually holds it up in his reimagined childhood sanctuary. Although “Lost in Space” predates most of the other references, its enduring appeal persisted for generations. In fact, Netflix even gave a modern twist to the show with a Gen X-focused revival in 2018.
Simon Button
Since 1978, Milton Bradley has produced the popular electric game, Simon. This game has remained a success and held significance for Halliday. The game is depicted in one of his library scenes in the Oasis, and after his death, he’s shown wearing a Simon button during the announcement of the Easter egg game in the video.
Donkey Kong, Jr. Poster
In the novel “Ready Player One,” video games significantly impact the story and are frequently mentioned. A discreet allusion to one such game is the 1982 Nintendo title, Donkey Kong, Jr. This classic game makes an appearance on a bedroom wall in the digital world of the Oasis, subtly hinted at by an aggravated user.
Spaceballs Winnebago
Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs movie was rich with Mel Brooks’ signature humor, such as the protagonists traveling in a shabby spaceship resembling a large ’70s RV. You can find a full-sized replica of this spaceship in Aech’s workshop during Art3mis and Parzival’s online chat.
Ratner’s Restaurant
Some attentive viewers familiar with the historical New York City may spot Ratner’s, the renowned kosher dairy eatery, during the car race scene. Situated on Delancey Street and Second Avenue, Ratner’s was a beloved institution that attracted both movie stars and celebrities, as well as ordinary New Yorkers. The restaurant, which had been in operation for nearly a century before closing in 2002, was a popular fixture in the East Village.
Joust Sticker
As a devoted gamer immersed in the captivating world of “Ready Player One,” I can’t help but be reminded of the significant influence classic video games, particularly those hailing from the 1980s, hold within this thrilling narrative. In the opening moments of the movie, as I prepare to embark on my journey into the Oasis, I carefully don my goggles – a subtle nod to viewers who pay close attention will recognize the emblem on them: none other than Joust.
Ace Chemicals
At the start of the film, the car race serves as the initial hurdle in the competition. This opening sequence is filled with hidden references, or easter eggs, and one such reference is an Ace Chemicals plant. Notably, this building is where the Joker’s transformation into his iconic persona took place in Batman comics, following his accidental fall into a vat of chemicals.
Jack Burton’s Truck
At this point in the race through New York City, particularly as it approaches Chinatown, Jack Burton’s semi-truck from “Big Trouble In Little China” becomes a significant hindrance to contend with, much like Jack would warn: “Be mindful of my truck!”
Speed Racer’s Mach 5
During the race, as the contenders take their positions, notable cultural iconic cars appear on the track, including Speed Racer’s renowned Mach 5. Later on, we discover that this very car belongs to Daito and is kept in the Oasis.
Dead Kennedy’s Logo Patch
When we encounter the authentic Aech, portrayed by Helen (Lena Waithe), she dons an antiquated military jacket embellished with various patches. Among these are the emblems for Wonder Woman and Thundercats, along with a few others. However, the most striking patch is that of the iconic punk band The Dead Kennedys, placed next to the Wonder Woman insignia.
The Knight Rider Delorean
Parzival’s DeLorean includes a couple of well-known pop culture references. The car’s most evident homage is to “Back to the Future,” as indicated by the red light at the front – a nod to K.ITT from “Knight Rider.” An additional tribute lies in Parzival’s acquisition of the “Zemeckis Cube,” which allows time reversal for 30 seconds, honoring Robert Zemeckis, the director of “Back to the Future.” However, it’s important to note that in the book, an extra modification is added – a Ghostbusters logo. This addition isn’t present in the movie adaptation.
Holy Hand Grenade
The Holy Hand Grenade mentioned in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” is a well-known reference, but its deeper meaning isn’t immediately clear. This explosive device is linked to Arthurian legend, as is Wade’s gamer tag, Parzival – a name borrowed from another knight of King Arthur’s round table who doesn’t feature in the Monty Python film.
Marvin The Martian Statuette
In one of Halliday’s memories stored in his brain’s archive, there’s a cluttered floor with numerous items. Among these is a miniature statuette of Marvin The Martian, a character hailing from the classic Looney Tunes series.
Goldie Wilson For Mayor Poster
I’ve noticed an intriguing connection between “Back to the Future” and “Ready Player One.” In Aech’s hideout, as Parzival prepares for his date with Art3mis, there’s a “Goldie Wilson For Mayor” poster on one wall. This is an Easter egg that might not be immediately obvious to fans. On the mirror’s other side, there’s a “Wil Wheaton For President” poster in the same style – a clever nod to the book where Wil Wheaton, famed Star Trek actor, plays the role of the OASIS Council’s Vice President.
Greatest American Hero Logo Sticker
One of the most elusive Easter eggs is the “Greatest American Hero” decal on Artemis’ Akira bicycle. Although it exists, locating it can be quite a challenge. The “Greatest American Hero” holds a significant place in the cultural consciousness of Gen X, despite the show having only been on air for 45 episodes. However, its iconic theme song continues to resonate strongly.
He-Man Lunch Box
In the beginning of “Ready Player One” (the movie), Wade prepares to step into the Oasis for the first time. He places his glasses on a vintage 1980s He-Man lunch box – a popular possession among the trendy kids back then.
The A-Team Van
In various episodes of “The A-Team” television series, the iconic van they drove was among the most impressive vehicles in Hollywood lore. Thus, it was only natural that it joined the starting lineup for this race.
Jack Slater Marquee
I’m currently delving into some intriguing layers of cinematic nostalgia! The billboard outside our local cinema proudly displays the title “Jack Slater,” featuring none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead role. This isn’t just any movie, but a nod to another film-within-a-film from the ’90s – “The Last Action Hero.” And let me tell you, the soundtrack of this cinematic gem is filled with awesome ’80s tunes, much like in “Ready Player One.”
Christine
Among the impressive cars in the racing scene, Christine from the film “Christine” might be the most challenging to recognize. This is fitting since, like another movie based on a Stephen King novel, “The Shining,” which significantly influences the plot, presents one of the competitors’ obstacles to overcome.
A Madball
In the 1980s, there were numerous popular toy trends. Among them were Cabbage Patch Kids, Pound Puppies, Koosh balls, and, as depicted in “Ready Player One,” Madballs. Madballs, which are soft, squeezable balls with unappealing faces, gained significant popularity for a brief period in the heart of the decade. In the film, Art3mis hurls a “Dust Brain” variation of a Madball at Mecagodzilla, causing Nolan Sorrento’s (Ben Mendelsohn) avatar to explode.
RoboCop
In the film “Ready Player One,” Peter Weller portrays two different characters, one of which is RoboCop. During a date with Art3mis, Parzival disguises himself as Buckaroo Bonzai. As Parzival strolls through the Oasis prior to this event, an avatar representing RoboCop passes by him unnoticed in a fleeting scene.
Silver Cup Studios
In the movie, a fast-paced car chase scene in New York City passes by several famous NYC symbols. Notable landmarks such as Wall Street, Chinatown, and the Empire State Building are featured, along with an under-the-radar location – Silver Cup Studios. The distinctive Silver Cup Studios sign in Queens is recognized by locals and devotees of “The Highlander,” as it gets destroyed during the epic showdown in this classic sci-fi fantasy film. Although “The Highlander” doesn’t have a significant presence in the cinematic adaptation of “Ready Player One,” it is quite prominent in the novel.
Leonardo The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle
In the vibrant world of the Oasis, there are countless entertaining avatars, more than I can name here. One particularly enjoyable character bumped into Parzival. It was none other than Leonardo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He passed by without a word or recognition, merely flashing a smile as he went on with his day in the Oasis.
Freddy Krueger
Admittedly, Freddy Krueger’s appearance in “Ready Player One” is more noticeable than some other Easter eggs. With the film being filled with references to the 1980s, Freddy is just one of several horror icons from that era making an appearance, joined by Jason and Chucky among others.
1960s Batmobile
Among the various Batmobiles that could have been selected, it’s fitting that filmmaker Steven Spielberg opted for the one featured in the 1960s TV series. Keep in mind, prior to Tim Burton’s 1989 “Batman” release, the depiction of Batman by Adam West was the most iconic live-action portrayal. Using anything else would have felt out of place.
1980s Cereal Boxes
In “Ready Player One,” the narrative effectively leverages nostalgia to captivate audiences, be it in a positive or negative manner. Nothing evokes nostalgia quite like the image of children cozily seated in front of their TVs, munching on large bowls of sweet cereals as they watch their beloved Saturday morning cartoons. Naturally, the inclusion of iconic cereal box designs was essential to truly immerse us in this cherished experience.
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2024-07-17 00:38