All the Movie References from "Ready Player One" You May Have Missed If You’re Under 20

Ready Player One might be intended for a young audience but some of its references scream "Middle-Aged Man".

Steven Spielberg's '80s homage Ready Player One (RP1) has just been released and it's littered with Easter eggs (which, in this instance, means pop culture references).

The film is set in 2045, where virtual reality has become the best way to escape the banality of the real world. OASIS is one of these immersive virtual reality universes that people often escape to, and it's where Ohio teenager Wade (whose gamer handle is Parzival) embarks on a treasure hunt left behind by OASIS' creator, James Halliday. 

Along the way, we meet his gang, which consists of Samantha (a.k.a. Art3mis), Helen ('Aech', pronounced 'H'), Akihide ('Sho') and Toshiro ('Daito').

And, did we already mention that it's basically a movie made up of pop culture references from other movies?

While most of them may seem familiar to the average teenage viewer, there are whole scenes that reference niche films and music that many people under the age of 20 will never have heard of (myself included).

But, instead of providing a whole list of the minor mentions and references in the film (that would amount to a thick pile of printed pages), we'll just round up the substantial ones that your parents or older companions laughed at.

Yes, there will be some mild spoilers ahead.

1. The Shining (1980)

When does it appear?

A very long homage to Stanley Kubrick's The Shining appears as the second level to Halliday's Easter egg hunt. The gang must go navigate the film's location, a haunted hotel, to find the second key. 

What's the reference?

While The Shining is regularly spoofed in shows and films (you will know the classic line: "Here's Johnny!"), the references shown in RP1 come from some of the less-talked-about scenes.

Aside from the creepy twin girls and the wave of elevator blood, RP1 also shows The Shining's zombie-like lady in the bathroom and the typewriter that contributes to the madness of Jack Nicholson's character, as well as the eerie group photo from the final scene (though Nicholson is replaced by Halliday in RP1). It's almost as if Spielberg lifted and condensed the whole film and placed it in this scene.

If you don't think you have the stomach for this classic psychological horror anytime soon, try out The Simpsons' rendition of it.

2. Back to the Future (1985)

When does it appear?

At least two times, actually. During the first level's race, Wade's vehicle of choice is the famous DeLorean. The second appearance is when Wade uses a Rubik's Cube (called a 'Zemeckis' Cube' here) that rewinds time.

What's the reference?

The appearance of the DeLorean is an obvious nod to the Back to the Future series' iconic car, but less obvious is the Zemeckis' Cube. Robert Zemeckis was the director of the trilogy, so this was a subtle shoutout to him.

3. The Iron Giant (1999)

When does it appear?

When Wade shows Samantha the workshop, and later on when Helen becomes the Iron Giant.

What's the reference?

While the OG film flopped and was totally forgotten about apart from its small cult following, The Iron Giant's director, Brad Bird, and voice actor, Vin Diesel, went on to have pretty successful careers.

This wasn't a subtle reference like the others Spielberg added in. The Iron Giant's role in the film is actually pretty integral in the final battle outside of Castle Doom, when it tries to take down Mechagodzilla. Perhaps it's a way of re-introducing the critcally-acclaimed movie that history forgot.

4. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

When does it appear?

If, like me, you didn't quite catch this one, it's when Wade dresses up for his date with Samantha at the nightclub... as Buckaroo Banzai himself. The outfit is a loose tie and popped-collar suit jacket.

What's the reference?

The referenced film is a science fiction cult classic that both Wade and Samantha from RP1 appreciate. Buckaroo is a genius who has to save the world from aliens which, in a way, parallels Wade's story.

5. Saturday Night Fever (1978)

When does it appear?

This scene appears when Wade and Samantha decide to take a "leap" into the dance floor/vortex at the nightclub.

What's the reference?

Wade changes the music to the iconic Bee Gee's song "Stayin' Alive", which features in Saturday Night Live. Wade and Samantha mimic the corny '70s moves that John Travolta unleashed on the disco-ball lit dancefloor.

6. Gundam (1979)

When does it appear?

In the battle scene outside Castle Doom when Daito whips out the iconic Mobile Suit.

What's the reference?

No, it's not Transformers (although, it does seem similar). Gundam is a popular anime series that spawned movies, shows and manga, so its appearance in RP1 is pretty warranted.

So, there you go. We hope we've brought you up to speed on all these nostalgic references. Vulture's thoughtfully provided a full list of all the Easter eggs that appear throughout the film if you want to nerd it out.

Can you catch 'em all?

You catch Ready Player One in cinemas around Australia now.

Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures