The practise of putting in a hidden and fleeting message in the ending credits of a movie might have peaked during the 80s and the 90s, but production houses still like to play games with the audience. Highly observant fans and discerning viewers will have noticed smart little gags sprinkled between the cast and crew texts to see just how many people are actually still watching the movie.
Here are some hidden messages from the ending credits of famous movies!
1. Hot Shots! (1991)
Hot Shots! has a recipe for buns in the credits.
In keeping with the batshit crazy theme of this action movie parody, the ending credits treats you to a recipe to make something called nobby buns.
“To make Nobby Buns, you need four cups sifted flour, 1.5 cups sugar, one cup butter, two teaspoons cinnamon, and three eggs. Cream the butter until softened then add sugar and eggs. Mix quickly with flour. Drop mixture from a teaspoon into small, jagged heaps onto a cookie sheet and bake at 375 to 400.” They don’t even eat nobby buns in the damn movie!
2. Frozen (2013)
Frozen has a disclaimer saying Disney does not believe all men eat their boogers.
To make it totally clear that real dudes don’t have to prove their manliness by entertaining disgusting practises, Frozen added a warning in the credits saying “The views and opinions expressed by Kristoff in this film that all men eat their own boogers are solely his and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Walt Disney Company or the filmmakers.”
3. Robocop (1987)
Robocop has a warning that those pirating the film will be prosecuted by droids.
Most movies have a pretty standard written warning at the end of the credits about unauthorised duplication of the movie which nobody really reads. To that end, movie director Paul Verhoeven threw in a little humour, claiming that pirating the movie “may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution by enforcement droids.”
4. Mr. Popper’s Penguins (2011)
The credits claim that Jim Carrey was bitten mercilessly by penguins while filming.
This movie saw Jim Carrey prancing along with a whole host of penguins, and everyone loves penguins! They can tend to be a little vicious though, as made clear in the credits, which said “No penguins were harmed in the making of this film. Jim Carrey, on the other hand, was bitten mercilessly. But he had it coming.”
5. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
The credits have a disclaimer saying no raccoons and tree creatures were harmed.
In case you were worried that Groot and Rocket Raccoon had a hard time during the movie, the end credits are reassuring enough. “No tree creatures or raccoons were in any way harmed during the production of the film.”
6. Pulp Fiction (1994)
One of the actors is credited simply as ‘Coffee Shop’.
In the cult classic Pul Fiction, actor Robert Ruth is credited in the end simply as ‘Coffee Shop’. This was a smart little gag they pulled as Robert’s only line in the movie was “I’m just a coffee shop-” before getting shot straight in the head!
7. Finding Nemo (2003)
Mike from Monsters Inc. makes a guest appearance during the credits.
As if this movie wasn’t great enough, the peeps at Pixar put in a charming little bonus in the credits. The one-eyed Mike Wazowski from the movie Monsters Inc. unassumingly swims past in appropriate scuba gear as the texts roll. Cool little surprise.
8. Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993)
This credits have a bunch of ‘fun facts’ as well as film spoilers.
This Charlie Sheen Extravaganza had a sequel, and it was just as whack, even with the credits. As the text rolls, the credits are interspersed with invented ‘fun facts’ such as “Actor Richard Crenna invented tartar sauce” as well as a spoiler to the movie The Crying Game.
9. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
The credits claim no dragons were harmed during filming.
What with the fourth installment of the Harry Potter movies having a whole lot to do with dragons, a little disclaimer was placed towards the end of the credits for anyone feeling a little bad for the flying fire-breathers. “No dragons were harmed in the making of this movie.”
10. Naked Gun 33 1/3 – The Final Insult (1994)
The credits claim several species went extinct during filming.
The Naked Gun series of movies were chalk full of quirky and downright bizarre ending easter eggs. By far one of the funniest was this one from the 3rd and final movie.
“NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED DURING THE FILMING… HOWEVER, SOME SPECIES DID BECOME EXTINCT DURING PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY:
SPECIES CAUSE OF DEATH
Northern Horned Barn Owl (approx. 15) Soundstage Fire
Striped Red Heinied Tapir (last pair) Grip Truck
Wooly Fettered Tree Squirrel (approx. 100) Crew Lunch
11. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
There’s 2 pairs of feet presumably getting it on during the credits of the movie.
The third Harry Potter film brilliantly incorporated the Marauder’s Map into the end credits, showing what everyone in the castle was up to with their footsteps. However, in the bottom left corner, you can spot two pairs of feet entwined in what we can only imagine is better left unsaid. Luckily, this got by our censor board.