Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
People Believe They’ve Noticed Art References In Popular Movies, Share 30 Side-By-Side Pics On Twitter
You get some popcorn and press "play." As the film is rolling, you suddenly realize that particular shot… you’ve seen it somewhere before. Call it déjà vu or a glitch in the matrix, but what if sometimes, it’s actually true?
This Twitter thread initiated by @THECOCODIARY compiled some of the most interesting examples of artistic references spotted in movies—from cult films that bear a striking resemblance to the surreal paintings of Rene Magritte, to Lars von Trier’s scene from Melancholia looking as if was taken from the iconic painting by John Everett Millais, Ophelia.
The thread has since gone viral with 133.9k likes and 36.8k retweets, and Bored Panda reached out to its author Coco, who said it started with a post she saw last year about The Lighthouse and its art references. “I started doing research to see if other movies had references too. And I found a lot, a lot of movies and references. I didn’t want to keep this little discovery for myself, so I created this thread.”
Read the full interview below, and don’t forget to upvote your favorite references shared in the thread.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
FunFactBot Requiem 4 years ago
(I don’t wanna do fun facts or jojo references anymore. Comment on my latest post and reccomend what I should do instead that won’t get boring)
RELATED:
#2
FunFactBot Requiem 4 years ago
(I don’t wanna do fun facts or jojo references anymore. Comment on my latest post and reccomend what I should do instead that won’t get boring)
#3
Lea S. 3 years ago
???? These are art references people noticed. If it was noticed - it counts.
Load More Replies...
Anastasis Tsaklis 4 years ago (edited)
By Milo? Who is Milo? Not an Ancient artist my friend! Do you mean Venus Of Milos island? (Venus de milo) now in louvre
The author of the viral thread, Coco, said that she couldn’t believe the thread would blow up as much and as fast as it did. “The thread even appeared on my dearest friend’s timeline. I guess it’s the power of Twitter to make everything viral!”
When asked whether Coco thinks the references were coincidental or deliberate, she said that the ones inspired by René Magritte's and Vincent Van Gogh's paintings were probably done on purpose. “Throughout my research, I realized how much René Magritte inspired the cinema industry. I think also that some of them are simply coincidental, and aren’t they fascinating?”
Coco’s favorite references are the ones from The Truman Show and The Fifth Element. “It's just genius to choose Architecture au clair de lune by René Magritte for this scene with Jim Carrey going up the stairs.” Moreover, “Jean-Paul Gaultier for his spring/summer 1998 collection was fully inspired by Frida Kahlo’s unique style. And I’m convinced that he was inspired by her for Leeloo’s (Milla Jovovich’s character) costume.”
#4
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
This appears so regularly, in The End of Violence e.g. And Simpsons have it at least once.
Kaleb Prichard (MiraiKuma) 4 years ago
They did this in That 70's Show as well. https://www.google.com/search?q=edward+hopper+that+70%27s+show&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk00dCdfUXe0dBtirUfvQUaJHz_-DkA:1607372633174&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi0msnW2bztAhXXHM0KHZXHDdgQ_AUoAXoECBEQAw&biw=1920&bih=938#imgrc=MFXP9NcbfR1UpM
Robert Catte 4 years ago
Update: My score has improved to -30! : ) Keep up the great work and keep on upvoting my comments! Also, on a totally unrelated note, there's a book series I read once where a bunch of kids go into paintings and stuff and try to rescue this guy's son or something. I forgot the name, and I need your help to find it. Tell me when you know!
#5
Navy Blue Bandana 4 years ago (edited)
*SPOILER ALERT* ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ I find this one especially interesting. I never noticed this before, but I think the image of a skull is foreshadowing of Alma's death.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Imagine on right is one of the best "trick of the eye" you'll ever encounter, IMHO.
Malakai 4 years ago
That's the point. It's expressing the idea of 'vanitas vanitatum', which is I believe the theme of 'the emptiness of vanity'--if you do a google search of that term, you'll find many similarly themed artworks of beautiful women juxtaposed with skulls in some fashion, implying them to be vain or prideful and how in the end all beauty withers away. I'm not sure where the theme first originated, but this is the cleverest implementation of it I've seen
Load More Replies... #6
chi-wei shen 4 years ago
Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange is one of the most memorable villains in movie history.
#7
Aragorn II Elessar 4 years ago
Comment and interact as just another person on Bored Panda.
Load More Replies... #8
tuzdayschild 4 years ago
Most of these scenes are influenced by art. This one is a flat out recreation.
Grumble O'Pug 4 years ago
You'd think the cinematographer would have tried a little harder with the lighting.
#9
#10
R. Lynx 4 years ago
It was mentioned in the film that this was what the murderer was mimicking. Point of fact, a lot of different classic art is being brought in and mentioned in the films (including Japanese traditional art) as well as the books. 'The Red Dragon' is in of itself a reference to the William Blake painting.
R. Lynx 4 years ago
The Hannibal Lector series of books that is, by Thomas Harris.
Load More Replies... #11
Jennie Jingles 4 years ago
It's deliberate - Sarah has the poster of it in her bedroom at the beginning of the film, along with toys & puppets of various characters and elements she encounters in the labyrinth, and a photo of her mother with David Bowie.
Sarcastic Panda 4 years ago
one of my teachers had that portrait up on his wall. he was one of my favourite teachers so now when i see that i think of him
#12
Idaaoyama 4 years ago
The black rectangle is just ridiculous here. God forbid an underage person sees boobs painted by one of the moc iconic painters of the XX century.
Load More Replies...
Cathy Jo Baker 4 years ago
That's one of my faves by Frida. And yes, it is depressing.
Load More Replies... Kisses4Katie 4 years ago
We've gotta get away from nudity being offensive. Especially in cases like this, breastfeeding, and just existing but nude.
#13
Jumilicious 4 years ago
That would be the actual nightmare. The artist is Swiss and the German word is "Nachtmahr". A "Mahr" is a demon or a goblin who haunts people at night. Some art critics say the painting was inspired by Germanic legends about demons, where men where visited by horses and witches at night while women were suspected to occasionally sleep with the devil.
Load More Replies... #14
#15
#16
Grumble O'Pug 4 years ago
Ingres was a lovely back fetishist. Having seen several in person, he wouldn't be excited by that skinny boney one, to be sure.
Podunkus 4 years ago
Yes, none of his figures could possibly have gotten up and walked around because they are notoriously so anatomically incorrect.
Load More Replies...
#18
Grumble O'Pug 4 years ago
So you've never read up on Mantegna or foreshortening that was part of he discovery of perspective? Have you seen https://www.jstor.org/stable/20067108
Load More Replies... #19
Aragorn II Elessar 4 years ago
Only difference is I don’t think anyone in Inherent Vice is Jesus or a saint
OogieBoogie 4 years ago
Jesus: We're having Chinese. Thomas: Wow, you're splashing out ! Jesus: Actually, Judas is paying, he's just come into some money.
Octavia Hansen 4 years ago
Original M*A*S*H movie there was a scene like this with all doctors . . .
Kaleb Prichard (MiraiKuma) 4 years ago
They did this on that 70's as well. https://www.google.com/search?q=That+70%27s+show+last+supper&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk036Y291QUktynhJZnlOJ7D1EfN6Gw:1607372723952&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=-yY9rP6O3vLn9M%252CKatgpnj_gemxGM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kRXp2rp498pD3mMA4ua2CW0tGclvw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjB7O2B2rztAhVYV80KHfwiBLgQ9QF6BAgIEAE&biw=1920&bih=938#imgrc=-yY9rP6O3vLn9M
#20
Grumble O'Pug 4 years ago
The real Anna Christina Anderson was unable to walk and literally dragged herself around the property so added meaning of the difficulty of reaching something.
Marek Yanchurak 4 years ago
It's such a seemingly simple image but so haunting of a painting.
Load More Replies...
Enby Gilbert 4 years ago
Good one! I wouldn't have caught that, but there are so many parallels...
Lil_Tae_29 4 years ago
Someone what is the Forest Gump , i am very confused and is it a movie worth watching ? . . . . . . . plz help
Karen Marie 4 years ago
It's a movie starring Tom Hanks, I really love the movie and I highly recommend it!
Load More Replies... #21
Marek Yanchurak 4 years ago
Still appropriate. And one of my favorite movies 🤗
Load More Replies...
#23
Amy Pattie 4 years ago
I don’t understand what you’re trying to say here.
Load More Replies...
#25
Alexandru Bucur 4 years ago
And in this case it was not only intentional it was meant as an ironic echo, considering the Japanese are about to invade...
#26
#27
#29
#30
Hooked 4 years ago
Ehhh...a van Gogh painting reference in a film about van Gogh is not that unusual...
s. vitkovitsky 4 years ago
And it's a painting by vg of his own bedroom, so not exactly a co-inkydink.
Load More Replies... 
#31
Avery S Alberico 4 years ago
I thought the first pic was of he who shall not be named (Voldemort)
#33
#35
John Topper 4 years ago
There has been a shot like this in almost every movie in the history of movies.
#40
#41
#44
#45
#46
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Maria 4 years ago
Some of these were an amazing insight into filmmaking. Others, that's just how people look when they stare at the sea?
SirPatTheCat 4 years ago
Agree it was like “ah this movie has water in it, referencing this painting that also has water in it...wow the subtle nod to the artist-“
Load More Replies... 
Jane Alexander 4 years ago
Cartoon rooster Foghorn Leghorn comes from the movie "It's a Joke, Son" 1947.
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago
I think there were scenes in "Amelie" inspired by Henry Matisse works? Like the red backgrounds contrasting with bright blue objects etc
Maria 4 years ago
Some of these were an amazing insight into filmmaking. Others, that's just how people look when they stare at the sea?
SirPatTheCat 4 years ago
Agree it was like “ah this movie has water in it, referencing this painting that also has water in it...wow the subtle nod to the artist-“
Load More Replies... Jane Alexander 4 years ago
Cartoon rooster Foghorn Leghorn comes from the movie "It's a Joke, Son" 1947.
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago
I think there were scenes in "Amelie" inspired by Henry Matisse works? Like the red backgrounds contrasting with bright blue objects etc
You May Like 40 Famous Paintings That Changed Art Forever And Cost A Fortune Doing It 45 Jaw-Dropping Leg Sleeve Tattoos That Will Make You Want One 30 People Draw Their Dreams And Others Offer Their Explanations
Viktorija Strelciunaite
Akvile Petraityte 🇺🇦
Akvile Petraityte 🇺🇦
Related on Bored Panda
