Easter Eggs

An "easter egg" in a movie refers to a hidden, often subtle, and non-obvious element or detail intentionally placed by filmmakers. These elements are meant to be discovered by attentive and dedicated viewers, adding an element of fun, surprise, or insider knowledge to the film-watching experience. Easter eggs can take various forms, such as references to other movies or pop culture, hidden messages, inside jokes, or small details that offer a deeper connection to the story, characters, or the larger cinematic universe.

Here is a list of a few of my favourite easter eggs!

1. The Departed - X Marks The Spot

In the film, every on-screen death is subtly foreshadowed by the presence of the letter 'X,' which is not always obvious to spot. Whether it's the crossing of beams forming an X or the X-shaped pattern on the carpet, each appearance of this letter signals to the audience that a death is impending. To underscore this point, it's interesting to note that Mark Wahlberg's character, Sgt. Dignam, is the sole major character who never shares the screen with an X. As a result, he's the only character who manages to survive until the end.

Dir: Martin Scorsese

Release Date: 26th September 2006

Easter Egg: X signalling Death

2. Toy Story

Disney is renowned for incorporating references into its animated blockbusters. During the film's narrative, when the toys fall into the clutches of the evil, toy-destroying antagonist, Sid, and become captives in his room, keen-eyed viewers will observe an eerie resemblance to another infamous and inescapable setting - the Overlook Hotel. Also, the number 237 makes several appearances throughout the film, serving as a nod to the doomed room in the haunted hotel that tormented Jack in The Shining. A nod to the inescapable torment that Sid tries to place upon the toys, and also a tribute to the great director, Stanley Kubrick.

Dir: John Lasseter

Release Date: 22 March 1996

Easter Egg: The Shining Carpet

3. Fury and Winnfield Crossover

When Nick Fury meets his end in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (well, sort of), his departure represents one of the most poignant moments in the MCU. This end also offers one of the most marvellous easter eggs in recent film history. In the film's concluding scenes, as Fury stands before his own grave, the headstone bears an inscription that reads, "The path of the righteous man... Ezekiel 25:17." This is a direct homage to Jules Winnfield, the character portrayed by Jackson in Pulp Fiction, and his iconic monologue.

Dir: Anthony Russo

Release Date: 26 March 2014

Easter Egg: Homage to Pulp Fiction

4. Literal Easter Eggs

The film that's rumoured to have initiated the 'easter egg' is "Rocky Horror Picture Show." This cult classic is credited with introducing real Easter eggs onscreen. It is believed that the cast and crew organised an Easter egg hunt before production commenced. Surprisingly, three eggs remained hidden and made their way into the final film. If you examine the movie closely, you can spot one beneath Frank's throne, another in the main room, and the last one in the elevator. You can spot the one hidden beneath Frank's throne in the image above.

Dir: Jim Sharman

Release Date: 14 August 1975

Easter Egg: Literal Easter Eggs

5. Oranges

"The Godfather," a cult classic and often acclaimed as one of the greatest films in American cinema history, features some hidden delights planted by its director, Francis Ford Coppola.

Among these secrets, one of the most renowned is the use of oranges in the film. Whenever you catch sight of an orange, it serves as a foreboding omen, signalling the impending occurrence of death, betrayal, or a treacherous act.

Dir: Francis Ford Coppola

Release Date: 24 August 1972

Easter Egg: Oranges

I hope you enjoyed reading about a few of the most famous easter eggs in film culture! Let me know any of your favourites that I have missed in the comment section!

Kate x