These Are The Most Paused Movie Scenes In Hollywood Cinema History

Some of the most influential movie scenes occur so rapidly that you must pause them to understand what is happening. There are those movie scenes that we simply must pause, rewind, and watch again and again. If you enjoy watching movies, chances are good that you have done this yourself quite a few times. There is more to movies than just the plot, and Easter eggs are a creative way to reward viewers for taking the time to watch the movie. Thankfully, movies are now published on DVD/Blu-Ray and streaming services. This enables us to revisit those explicit scenes to confirm that what we saw was what we actually thought we had seen!

Scanners (1981)

Scanners have gained a sizable following since its 1981 premiere, despite not being the most well-known movie on this list. The film launched David Cronenberg’s career, largely focused on psychic abilities and how destructive they may be.

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Due to how graphic the next scene is, it has been repeatedly halted to catch the event. Without giving anything away, it involves someone’s head and happens so quickly that you must simply replay and pause to appreciate it fully.

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Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Fast Times at Ridgemont High is undoubtedly a famous coming-of-age film from the 1980s, while not being the best film of all time. Although there are some excellent performances, the most memorable sequence seems to be a really uninteresting one.

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It includes Linda, a character played by Phoebe Cates, who swims with her buddy Stacy. The part of the sequence where Linda ultimately ascends the steps and exits the pool is the most paused. We get a hint as to why.

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Basic Instinct (1992)

It must be undoubtedly one of the most recognizable and thought-provoking images in film history. Sharon Stone’s portrayal in Basic Instinct from 1992 undoubtedly garnered attention. The movie as a whole was ultimately eclipsed by this sequence and for obvious reasons.

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Stone’s leg crossover showed spectators much more than they had imagined entering the movie, despite the fact that she appeared to be fully clad. It’s remarkable how many viewers stopped watching the movie after this scene.

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Cabin in the Woods (2012)

One of the most paused scenes in cinema history, for various reasons, can be found in this film. Because of its meta-approach to the horror genre, Cabin in the Woods got high praise.

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A whiteboard with a list of the monsters the scientists are in control of can be seen during a scene where scientists are analyzing what might happen to the main characters. This sequence has been paused a lot by viewers who want to take a closer look at the monsters that are truly on the list.

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The Wizard of Oz (1939)

It is no secret that fans have seen numerous sinister allusions in the iconic film The Wizard of Oz from 1939. The most bizarre observation was undoubtedly made in the distance while Dorothy and her companions were traveling down the yellow brick road.

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According to the official account, the figure in the background was initially thought to be a bird, but many viewers now believe it to be a munchkin who hanged himself. This scene is given a really ominous twist by it!

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Teen Wolf (1985)

Michael J. Fox’s year was 1985, it can be said without a doubt. In addition to playing Marty McFly in Back to the Future, he also played the title role in the less popular but no less amusing Teen Wolf.

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The main character of Fox’s film ends up helping his team without adopting the wolf identity, which is quite predictable. However, the movie’s final celebratory sequence caught the attention of many viewers. A man with his pants down looks to be standing in the background!

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Fight Club (1999)

Of course, Fight Club by David Fincher is replete with graphic and inappropriate imagery. However, there are some shots that happen so quickly that trying to catch them by pausing the movie is practically a mission!

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Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt, appears in the film briefly before he is even given a fair introduction. However, it is actually a picture of him. You will miss the subliminal message in this movie if you blink. It’s one of the many Easter eggs.

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Psycho (1960)

Without Alfred Hitchcock’s timeless classic Psycho, the horror genre would not have appeared the same. If you have seen the movie, you already know how everything turns out since Anthony Perkins gave the spooky part of Norman Bates a genuine air of plausibility.

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Bates is detained and arrested in the 1960 film’s concluding moments. When Bates looks directly at the camera during the halted scene, viewers may momentarily make out the outline of a skull overlaid over his grinning face.

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The Lion King (1994)

In a scene from Disney’s The Lion King, Mufasa and Sarabi are seated on the rock where their son Simba was previously brought to them from the animal realm and they are stargazing.

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A common misconception is that the stars and dust will plainly form the letters of a three-letter word when you stop. It basically indicates what Mufasa and Sarabi did, in the beginning, to bring Simba into the world, but we won’t explain it to you. Another Disney quandary.

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Boogie Nights (1997)

The subject matter of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights makes it undeniably a distinctive film. The protagonist of the 1997 drama is Mark Wahlberg’s Dirk Diggler, an aspiring adult movie star who gradually becomes the center of attention—and for a very important reason.

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The sequence in the movie where Diggler bares all for the crew may have been the one that caused viewers to pause the most. What was underneath was actually artificial, it turned out. It was confirmed by the actor Mark Wahlberg.

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Tron (1982)

Despite a sequel already being released, 1982’s Tron will always hold a special place in many people’s hearts due to the film’s undeniable arcade vibe. The actor who plays Ed Dillinger in the film, David Warner, may be seen playing the Pac-Man video game in one scene.

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Don’t you think we’re real? Take a look at the screenshot below to see the recognizable circular character munching on some yellow dots on the right. This is the epitome of authentic 1980s nostalgia.

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Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

People can’t help but rewind and replay one of the most humorous scenes from the opening episode of the Star Wars film series, A New Hope, over and over again. Stormtroopers can be seen entering the entrance in a scene midway through the movie.

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One of them unintentionally bangs their skull against the top of the door. It turns out that this was really a mistake that was included in the final product! The scene makes Stormtroopers seem relatable.

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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

A cute little Easter Egg was hidden in the corner of one of the sequences in the Galactic Senate, as many viewers of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace discovered. The same species of aliens that appear in E.T. can be seen cheering.

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It is possible that George Lucas did this to pay respect to Steven Spielberg when the director dressed up a toddler in a Yoda costume for Halloween in his film E.T.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

The quest to locate Luke Skywalker was the main motivation behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Then, in the dying seconds, Rey, our new hero, locates him, hiding out on a shady island amid the sea.

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The movie finishes literally on a cliffhanger when she hands him his lightsaber. But many have stopped when they first saw him because they think he’s standing next to a gravestone of some kind. We gotta keep our eyes open for these Easter eggs!

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Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

One of the most beautiful animated characters of all time is Jessica Rabbit, as is well known. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a movie. The woman with red hair and red clothing frequently causes people in her vicinity to pause and gaze.

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However, there is a point where the animated figure may divulge a little more information than viewers would have expected. Though it can be easy to forget, it is crucial to remind viewers that she is not real.

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The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

The Wolf of Wall Street is an epic Martin Scorsese film that takes some huge risks, no matter how you feel about it. Margot Robbie’s character flirts with Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort in one of the movie’s classic scenes, making viewers unable to keep their eyes open when this steamy scene reaches its boiling point – and pause it. Finally, Jordan tells “Naomi” his bodyguards can see what she’s doing, taking the sting out of the moment.

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Margot revealed that it was not easy for her to get up close and personal with Leonardo. The Wolf Of Wall Street marked her Hollywood debut. “acting in a love scene in front of ‘tons of people’ was uncomfortable.”, said Margot.

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Three Men and a Baby (1987)

It might be hard to imagine that Spock himself was the director of Three Men and a Baby. At the helm of the 1987 classic was Leonard Nimoy. Every time spectators saw the film, they couldn’t help but pause because of the Star Trek legend’s peculiar action in it.

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Ted Danson’s cardboard cutout stood in the background of a scene in which Nimoy was acting. Tom Selleck and Steve Guttenberg played the other two men. The movie is now an 80s classic.

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Sex/Life (2021)

There was no doubt that Netflix’s TV show Sex/Life would catch your attention. The one scene in particular, however, could not have predicted how spellbound we would all be. Those who have watched episode three already know the one, and those who have not probably will too. A little more than 19 minutes and 50 seconds into the third episode – but who’s counting? It shows Brad, Billie’s former lover, taking a shower at the gym. Your first thought is probably, “Good for him.”. It’s all about hygiene after a good workout. However, we did not expect Brad’s private parts to be fully displayed when he turned around.

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Even Euphoria would blush as the camera lingers. This is a lot, and we mean it in the most literal sense. Does this really happen, or is it an outtake from The Boys’ Love Sausage episode? Whatever the case, it’s no wonder Billie is obsessed with Brad.

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Jurassic World (2015)

There are many great situations and shots to pause and rewind to in the more current Jurassic Park films, even though purists may not quite enjoy them as much as the earlier ones.

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Consider this moment from Jurassic World, in which none other than Jimmy Buffet is seen escaping from a pterodactyl. He can still hold two drinks amid the mayhem, which further adds to the absurdity of the situation. It appears that nothing will halt the festivities!

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Iron Man (2008)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is renowned for connecting its films with several Easter Eggs and references. This was done in 2008 with Iron Man, the franchise’s first film.

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It is actually feasible to identify a very significant object that would end up appearing in many future films during a crucial sequence where Tony Stark is donning his iconic suit. This is, essentially, half of Captain America’s shield. At this point in the story, we assume that it was in the middle of production.

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Man of Steel (2013)

2013’s Man of Steel was another superhero film that debuted in a new cinematic world. While opinions on Henry Cavill’s Superman performance are divided, a significant sequence has an intriguing allusion to a different superhero that is very simple to miss.

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While fighting in orbit, Superman leaps past a satellite that just so happens to bear the Wayne Enterprises emblem. Naturally, this is a reference to Bruce Wayne, better known as Batman, who we meet in a few movies later.

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The Rescuers (1977)

Disney has a history of slipping weird extras into many of their films throughout the years for whatever unexplained reason. The “mouse” in the animated film The Rescuers made the decision to include some dubious scenes of particular people getting dressed in their room.

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How they got away with such a bizarre thing is beyond our comprehension. The mice do this as they glide by a structure in their abandoned sardine can. What a bizarre inclusion in a Disney film!

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Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

There is no disputing that Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first movie in the Indiana Jones series, has many memorable scenes. Dr. Rene Belloq is undoubtedly one of the vilest villains in the franchise. In the first film, Raul Freeman plays the villain.

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Belloq delivers some fantastic words at a classic pause, despite a fly being stuck in his mouth. That was some serious acting. Did Belloq eat a fly in Indiana Jones? Answer: No, it just flew away, but movie magic made it look like it did.

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Signs (2002)

The aliens are finally revealed, as anyone who has seen the classic M. Night Shyamalan film Signs knows well enough. But rather early on in the film, we have a very fleeting sight of them; in fact, it was so fleeting that the movie had to be stopped to get a good look.

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While it may not be the most obvious quality, this is done on purpose to anticipate their true disclosure later in the story.

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Burn After Reading (2008)

Burn After Reading does not deviate in the slightest from the Coen Brothers’ pattern of having brief violent scenes. Brad Pitt’s character is discovered hiding in his closet by George Clooney’s character in an odd sequence.

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He shoots him dead without any second thought. But because everything happens so quickly, pausing the action is actually necessary to catch any of the jumbled details. At first, we were not even certain he was dead! Brad’s character was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

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Finding Dory (2016)

Finding Dory, the long-awaited sequel to the big-screen sensation Finding Nemo, was finally released 13 years after Finding Nemo. One of the key antagonists from the first movie ended up making a surprise cameo, albeit in a fleeting background scene, which astonished many fans.

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In the moment where Dory is quarantined, a picture on the wall shows Darla, the scientist’s niece. One of Pixar’s many clever Easter eggs is this one. The movie was well received by Finding Nemo fans.

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Before I Go to Sleep (2014)

Fans were anxious to get a picture of one of Hollywood’s most gorgeous actresses when she was most vulnerable, just like so many other paused scenes on this list. Her character can be seen wandering around in Before I Go To Sleep in a sequence where she appears to be unclothed.

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Fans continued to pause and rewind the video to make sure the character was, in fact, wearing something during the scenario, even after it was proven that they were.

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The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist is undoubtedly the film on this list with the most startling, quick-fire imagery. If you enjoy the horror genre, there are numerous scenes in the film that you can pause and rewind to since it contains so many bizarre, frantic, and terrifying moments.

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However, viewers soon discovered that if they halted the film at the appropriate moment, they could see Pazuzu, the demon who controls Regan. Pazuzu is the demon of the southwest wind known for bringing famine during dry seasons and locusts during rainy seasons.

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Pulp Fiction (1994)

The Quentin Tarantino masterpiece Pulp Fiction is another film with a lot of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shots. The midsection of the narrative, when Bruce Willis’ character Butch is evading Marcellus Wallace, is arguably the most engaging.

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Many others paused and rewound the movie even though the shower scene is a fairly unimportant part of the story because they were certain they saw Willis in all his splendor when he emerged from the shower. We can vouch for the veracity of what they witnessed!

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Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

There are more Easter eggs and inside jokes in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy than you can shake a stick at. Escupimos en su Alimento was a restaurant that was specifically named with Spanish-speaking moviegoers in mind.

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The moniker literally translates to “we spit in your meal,” which is amusing for native speakers or a meritorious reward for those who took the time to pause and type the phrase into Google Translate. The movie has since then become a comedy cult classic.

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Toy Story 3 (2010)

In the original Toy Story from 1995, Buzz and Woody embark on a joint adventure that ends with Sid, a bad child who enjoys dismembering toys, and locking them up. When Sid appeared in Toy Story 3 as a garbage man, loyal viewers of the film series must have gasped.

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Sid is, and has always been, a piece of junk, contrary to the adage that you are only as good as your last job. Sid has seen again near the end of the film hitching a ride on his garbage truck to get home.

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Back To The Future (1985)

This smart sign change in Back to the Future will have been observed by 80s movie super sleuths pressing the pause and rewind buttons. Marty McFly and Doc Brown meet in Twin Pines Mall to embark on their 1955 time travel mission.

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When McFly is being pursued later on in the film, he accidentally runs over one of the two pine trees. When he returns toward the end of the film, the mall’s name has been changed to represent McFly’s behavior, and the future has been altered.

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Frozen (2013)

Frozen is no exception to Disney’s penchant for incorporating subtle references that appeal to the adults who watch with their kids. There is a sense of déjà vu in this scene with Anna and Hans when they are talking about sandwiches. Yes, as you suspected! The sequence is an exact replica of one from Arrested Development.

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The Simpsons episode that the line appeared in further demonstrates how much the Disney authors enjoy Easter eggs. Fans are really happy about these little nuggets of laughs.

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Beauty And The Beast (1991)

Disney delivers yet another “blink, and you’ll miss it” moment, this time in the course of Beauty and the Beast. After attacking the castle with the townspeople, Gaston crosses the turrets in one of the film’s last sequences to engage the Beast in combat.

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Those who watched him carefully as he stumbled and ultimately fell to his death may have seen that the astute Disney cartoonists added little skulls to his pupils, hinting at his impending demise and possibly illustrating the evil within.

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Jurassic Park (1993)

Three different costume changes by the amazing Wayne Knight as Dennis Nedry pay homage to The Goonies’ Mikey, Mouth, and Chunk characters, giving spectators cause to click the stop button. Many Reddit users picked up on the allusion to the box office sensation The Goonies.

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Maybe this Easter egg was created by writer and director Steven Spielberg, who directed Jurassic Park and penned the script for The Goonies. Both movies are ultimate classics that every kid should watch early on.

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Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Wait, is that it? Bohemian Rhapsody’s appearance of Adam Lambert as a trucker, whom Freddie Mercury turns to while he is having identity issues, was one of the best cameos in recent cinematic history. Thanks to some creative makeup, bushy hair, and a mustache, Adam is hardly recognizable.

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The fact that Lambert has been filling in for Mercury as Queen’s lead touring singer since 2011 makes this cameo even more emotional. They may add hair and makeup, but we would recognize Lambert anywhere!

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Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

The high school scene in Spider-Man: Homecoming has a quiet but cool hidden element that is worth a moment’s reflection. The amazing Zendaya, who plays Michelle, is seen perched on the stands reading a book titled Of Human Bondage.

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W. Somerset Maugham published a book titled Of Human Bondage in 1915. It tells the tale of a young child who was abandoned and lived with his aunt and uncle. Sounds recognizable? This smart allusion was discovered and shared by many Reddit members.

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The Matrix (1999)

This scene from The Matrix is more of a trick of the trade that deserves a second look than it is an Easter egg. Neo grabs the doorknob to open it after Morpheus says, “I can only lead you to the door.”

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Although the cameramen set up this fantastic reflection shot, they could not completely conceal it. If you look closely, you can see that they actually covered it with a coat and a tie that identically matches the one Morpheus is sporting.

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Zootopia (2016)

One of the cutest and funniest animated movies of the past ten years is Zootopia, produced by Disney in 2016. A little rabbit named Judy Hopps joins the police force and succeeds over all difficulties. This adorable additional element caused many viewers to pause.

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These funny animal-based puns on well-known bands and celebrities, including Fleetwook Yak, Fur Fighters, Guns’n’Rodents, Kanine West, and Hyena Gomez, had everyone in stitches. Well played, Disney—some of them even sound better than their original names!

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Passengers (2016)

Passengers contain some major The Shining Easter eggs for observant Stanley Kubrick fans. According to reports, director Morten Tyldum is a major fan of director Stanley Kubrick and wanted his set design to show it.

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First of all, the robot bartender looks just like the one from The Shining, down to the waistcoat and bow tie. The carpet in the ship’s bar resembles the Overlook Hotel’s hallway carpet quite a bit. The robot was always drying glasses and doing small talk.

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The Crying Game (1992)

Both artistically and commercially, Neil Jordan’s thriller with a Northern Ireland setting was a smashing success. Nightclub singer Dil, portrayed by Jane Davidson, is in charge of the notorious sequence that caused people’s jaws to drop worldwide, despite the film being full of superb performances!

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After becoming close with a British soldier taken hostage by the IRA, Fergus visits London in search of his girlfriend Dil. When Dil revealed she was transsexual in a pivotal sequence, audiences all did a double take.

The Little Mermaid (1989)

The heyday of Disney, when 2-D animation was the standard, has long ago passed. The 1980s’ iconic Disney movie was The Little Mermaid. The movie contained a few references and offensive scenes even back in the day, let alone now.

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For instance, the spectator sees too much of Ariel entirely in a children’s movie when she is given human legs! We find it hard to comprehend that a Disney animated film could create material of this nature.