While there are many crossovers in the comic universe, as well in the world of television, such jumps in film are less frequent. Some films cross blatantly into the world of others, with other characters appearing for only a moment—Easter eggs if you will. For your pleasure we have included a few of our favorite crossovers that take a more subtle, clever approach... with one or two glaring picks thrown in for good measure.
11. Freddie vs. Jason
The Freddie/Jason crossover was actually in the works for some time before it was finally released in 2003. It's reasonable to surmise that with the failure of Jason Takes Manhatton and these films rehashing the same storyline over and over again, it was only a matter of time before studio execs would pair Freddie and Jason to make a quick buck. In this less-than-stellar crossover, we see the casting of a new Jason and Freddie that literally loses his head.
With Freddie and Jason having battled it out, one can only wonder when Michael Myers will come into the picture, although it may not be so easy with Halloween. The franchise is not owned by New Line.
10. Bugs Bunny & Mickey Mouse in Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Who Framed Roger Rabbit not only brought classic animation back into the spotlight, but it was the first, and only time Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse would make an appearance together on screen. Disney and Warner even argued that each character had to receive the same amount of screen time, down to the second.
Director Roger Zemeckis managed to not only bring these two iconic cartoon characters together, but also successfully incorporated the world of the Toons with that of the humans, creating some serious eye candy for audiences in 1988. Who Framed Roger Rabbit was a critical success, winning three Oscars, and nominated for a slew of other awards. In addition, the long-overdue sequel, Who Framed Roger Rabbit 2, is slated for a 2012 release.
9. Alabama, Mr. White, and Fabienne in True Romance, Reservoir Dogs, and Pulp Fiction
In True Romance, Alabama is a hooker that apparently almost, but didn’t, make it into Reservoir Dogs. In Reservoir Dogs, Mr. White has a flashback where he is asked about Alabama. In True Romance, Alabama exclaims, “Any time of day is good time for pie,” a line also uttered by Fabienne in Pulp Fiction.
True Romance, Reservoir Dogs, and Pulp Fiction are sort of a trilogy. While there are no brazen crossovers to speak of, Tarantino definitely makes an attempt at blending the three together through the above-mentioned references.
8. R2-D2 and Jaws theme music in Close Encounters of the Third Kind
In a Spielberg crossover (and a very early one at that), Star Wars’ R2-D2 can be seen hanging upside down from the mothership as it rises in front of Jillian in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. (There has apparently been one other sighting of the droid on the ship, but we cannot confirm it.) Time index to view is 1:54:03 to 1:54:05, depending on which version you are watching.
In addition to the droid sighting, the theme from Jaws can be heard briefly with the duet with the mothership. At the end of the segment, the tuba can be heard playing very low notes which sound oddly like the “dum, dum, dum, dum” of the Jaws theme.
7. Tony Stark in The Incredible Hulk
With an obvious lead-in to the upcoming Avengers film, Tony Stark appears in a bar with Gen. Thunderbolt Ross in the final sequence of The Incredible Hulk. With Iron Man being extremely successful, it only makes sense to tie the two movies together, and totally logical that the Hulk and Stark share the same universe.
With Thor slated to hit theaters in May and Captain America soon thereafter, the only thing missing is an Ant-Man/Wasp crossover before The Avengers debuts. What could be better? Why not include Sub-Mariner? After all, Cap might never have joined The Avengers had Prince Namor not found him frozen in the Arctic. The possibilities are endless!
6. R2-D2 & C3PO in Raiders of the Lost Ark
The Ark isn’t the only thing you’ll find in The Well of Souls. Indeed, in another tribute to Star Wars and George Lucas, Spielberg includes hieroglyphics in the shape of R2-D2 and C3PO (or is it Princess Leia?).
While this is not a particularly new discovery, it will make it harder to keep one’s attention tuned on the Ark as Indy lifts off the stone top. While R2-D2 doesn’t make number one on our list, he does take first prize for being the most prolific crossover.
5. Ray Nicolette (Michael Keaton) in Jackie Brown & Out of Sight
Michael Keaton occupied but one of the many universes of Quentin Tarantino, playing Ray Nicolette in Jackie Brown, a film adapted from the novel Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard. Ray Nicolette is an A.T.F. agent chasing stolen money and Jackie Brown, a woman too fast for Nicolette or anyone else for that matter.
Cut to Out of Sight, directed by Steven Soderbergh and taken from another Leonard novel. Keaton would reprise his role as Ray Nicolette, although in a much smaller capacity. According to Soderbergh, it was producer Stacey Sher’s idea to have Keaton return as the same character. In addition, Keaton apparently worked for free.
4. AVP - Alien vs. Predator - Alien skull in Predator 2
Sprung from the minds at Dark Horse Comics, Alien vs. Predator (Alien versus Predator if you’re reading the graphic novels) would eventually make it to the big screen, combining two of the most acclaimed extraterrestrial killers ever. It was perhaps a bit of foreshadowing when an Alien skull was seen perched in the trophy case aboard a Predator ship in Predator 2, making it the first Alien/Predator crossover in film.
Indeed, the Antarctic will never be the same after a group of scientists find a pyramid hidden beneath a whaling station (does this sound a lot like The Thing?). As the film continues, it turns out Predators were not new to our neck of the woods, creating a storyline that would help Universal cash in on an already healthy franchise. Slammed by many critics, AVP was a great crossover that was begging to be made.
3. R2-D2 in Star Trek
The Star Wars universe yet again finds its way into another film, this time with R2-D2 floating among the wreckage swirling around the U.S.S. Enterprise. As this would undoubtedly be a crossover too good for any of J.J. Abrams work on Lost, Alias, or Felicity, we’re happy he chose to wait for the most opportune moment.
While there were those that were somewhat skeptical of this Artoo spotting in the beginning, Paramount Pictures made it official when they announced a contest giving away a special prop from the movie to anyone able to locate this little Easter egg. Look for another R2-D2 spotting in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. This is a droid that is getting around.
2. CRM114 From Stanley Kubrick films in Back to the Future
In many of Kubrick’s films, the letters/numbers CRM114 are written across various objects for reasons unknown to everyone except possibly Stanley Kubrick. The letters/numbers appear In Dr. Strangelove(as possible code letters), and A Clockwork Orange as “serum 114.”
In Back to the Future, executive producer Steven Spielberg would briefly abandon his near-constant tributes to Star Wars, and instead pay honor to Kubrick. As Marty is plugging in his guitar, the letters/numbers CRM114 can be seen written on the amp.
1. ET in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
In Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace, George Lucas repays Steven Spielberg for his nod to Star Wars in E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. One can glimpse three lovable E.T.s in a Senate Pod during a debate in the Galactic Senate, while in another scene, there is a less-obvious shot of Elliott and E.T. cycling through the sky just behind the head of Qui-Gon Jinn.
It was only fitting that Lucas pay tribute to E.T., as a number of Yoda sightings pop up during E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, and Elliott loves playing with his Star Wars action figures. Yoda’s theme from The Empire Strikes Back can also be heard when E.T. spots Yoda while trick-or-treating. “Home, home, home!”
Though there is the joke in Last Action Hero about Stallone staring in T2 (I think it was) and the favor returned in Demolition Man when they mention Arnold had been president.
So really it's wide open for characters crossing over movies. The only one that mattered was Freddie vs Jason. How cool would it have been if the A team was on Knight Rider or some of the billzion cop shows main characters team up to put down a bad guy?
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Fun article, although it would've been nice to have some zoom in shots for the easter egg stuff.