Top 10 Movie References In Video Games

Top 10 Movie References in Video Games

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Hey, did you catch that? Welcome to Watchmojo.com, and today we're counting down our picks for the top ten movie references in video games. For this list, we’re looking at our favorite references to Hollywood movies in various video games. These references can come from anything, including quotes, recreations, or names.

Alfred Hitchcock's films are often considered to be some of the best thrillers of all time. It's fitting then that there's a reference to “Psycho” in a video game released over fifty years after the movie. The fittingly named Psycho Knife can be used to stab enemies, and as you could probably guess, it takes its name directly from the movie. Its appearance is almost identical to the one seen in the film, and the music that can be heard when it's fully charged is extremely similar to the movie’s iconic violin screech. And if you didn't fully grasp the overly-obvious references, “Norman B.” is engraved on the knife’s side, a clear nod to the movie’s antagonist, Norman Bates.

The Holy Hand Grenade is a weapon that can be acquired in many of the games throughout the “Worms” series. It serves as a regular hand grenade, but must come to a complete stop before exploding and comes equipped with a three second timer. Three seconds. Three. No more, no less. If this sounds familiar, you're obviously a fan of comedy, as the grenade is a clear reference to the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” In the movie, the grenade is considered to be a sacred relic and comes with its own religious passage. So the next time you're blowing up thine enemies, don't forget to say a quick prayer before chucking the sucker.

Blizzard Entertainment are obviously huge movie buffs, as both of their signature series' are littered with quotes and references. In Warcraft 3 as well as each Starcraft game, clicking on the same unit multiple times gets them to drop some pretty hilarious quotesduring gameplay. These references can range from Monty Python, Army of Darkness, Monty Python, The Lord of the Rings, Monty Python, X-Men, Monty Python, Army of Darkness and of course … MmmMars Attacks. By playing through the campaign modes you’ll also come across references to Star Trek and Aliens. We’d go on, but that’d probably need its own list.

#7: Multiple Quotes “Duke Nukem 3D” (1996)

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Just like our last entry, “Duke Nukem 3D” is almost more of a reference generator than a video game; there are so many movie quotes scattered throughout that it actually becomes a chore to keep track of them all. In the midst of destroying his enemies, Duke yells a variety of quotes that are ripped straight from the movies, including “hail to the king, baby” and “kick ass and chew bubble gum” references to “Army of Darkness” and “They Live,” respectively. There are many more, but we'd be here all day. Suffice it to say that if you're a fan of great shooters and a movie buff, you'll have the time of your life with “Duke Nukem 3D.”

While you'd think that “Metal Gear Solid” would reference James Bond or something to that nature, its influences and references actually point to “Escape from New York” and “Escape from L.A.,” a series of films starring Kurt Russell. In the movies, Russell plays a criminal named Snake Plissken. If that sounds familiar, it's because he shares not one, but two names with “Metal Gear Solid's” protagonist Solid Snake. Aside from the obvious “Snake” aspect of their names, Solid Snake also takes on the fake alias “Iroquois Pliskin” in “Sons of Liberty,” effectively completing the reference. Silly movies or not, can we all agree that Snake Plissken is one of the most badass names in existence?

In one of the many easter eggs littered throughout the game, the ending of “Thelma & Louise” is played out near Raton Canyon. If you fly to the correct location between the hours of 7 and 8 pm, you'll see an idling car on a rocky cliff surrounded by police. An officer makes his way towards the car before it accelerates off the cliff’s edge, wherein it explodes into a ball of fire in the canyon below. While the movie ends on an upbeat freeze frame, here you see the reality of Thelma and Louise’s actions, and it's none too pretty. Still, it’s a neat reference to the movie and a great easter egg to discover.

An awesome game and an awesome movie collide to make an awesome action sequence. In the climax of the film, fighter pilots lead by the President have to engage with a gigantic Alien Destroyer that can obliterate cities with a powerful weapon. On the game’s planet Katina, Fox and his pilot friends have to engage with a gigantic Mothership that can obliterate cities with a powerful weapon. If that doesn't convince you, we're also introduced to a character named Bill Grey on Katina, who shares a name with Robert Loggia's General William Grey from the movie. These can't be a coincidence. Now all we need is a sidekick sprouting really lame one-liners and we'd be all set.

#3: THEM!!! “Command & Conquer: Red Alert: Counterstrike” (1997)

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In order to access this secret mission, the “Counterstrike” expansion pack must be installed. This expansion, while good in its own right, is known primarily for its antagonists, the Giant Ants. These ants are a result of radiation poisoning, and they're tough sons of bitches. They're also undoubtedly a nod to the classic science fiction film “Them!”. In the film, gigantic radioactive ants are found in a New Mexico desert before going to war with humans in the sewers of L.A. The title of the mission, “It Came from Red Alert,” is also a nod to “It Came from the Desert,” a video game which was heavily influenced by the movie. Two references in one!

#2: The Matrix Bank Shootout “Conker's Bad Fur Day” (2001)

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This video game was chock full of movie references, including ones to “Jaws,” “Saving Private Ryan,” and “The Terminator.” However, it's this hilarious nod to “The Matrix” that stands out the most. Well, to call it a nod would be an understatement; it's more like blatant spoo. Conker enters the bank, clad in Neo’s signature leather outfit, and proceeds to act out the movie’s lobby scene verbatim, including pushing a guard and simultaneously firing two machine guns while cross-armed. Even the ominous, mechanical-sounding music is almost identical to the film's, foreshadowing the violence that is to come. By also dodging bullets like Neo, Conker completes the reference and sends the game off in style. Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. The Shining Fatality “Mortal Kombat X” (2015) Indiana Jones’s Skeleton “Fallout: New Vegas” (2010) Scarface Bathroom “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” (2002) Jason “Dead Island” (2011) Hat and Cane Aliens from “Spaceballs” “Aliens: Colonial Marines” (2013)

This video game was developed and published by none other than LucasArts themselves, so you know that there's bound to be some fantastic references to their movies. The best reference comes at the end of the game, when LeChuck reveals himself to be Guybrush’s brother in a twist ending, similar to the famous ending of “The Empire Strikes Back.” The dialogue throughout the scene is taken verbatim from the movie, including Darth Vader's sinister “Search your feelings, you know it to be true” and Luke’s infamous, whiny “nooooo!” Sure, that particular scene from the movie has been played out to death, but it's still fun to see such a direct and obvious spoof to it. Do you agree with our list? What is your favorite movie reference in a video game? For more referential top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to Watchmojo.com.