Unearthing All the Hidden Easter Eggs in 'Five Nights at Freddy's'

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for Five Nights at Freddy's.

Article Summary

The Five Nights at Freddy's movie is packed with Easter eggs, including appearances by popular YouTubers and nods to fan theories and legends. The film includes several references to the game, including familiar characters, recreations of iconic scenes, and nods to gameplay mechanics.

The soundtrack features familiar melodies from the games, teasing potential sequels and keeping fans eagerly anticipating what's to come.

While the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie has sparked countless debates on its faithfulness to the games, there is one element that brings comfort to viewers: Easter eggs! The film is packed with references to the source material and nods to the fandom, because let's face it, a video game movie wouldn't be complete without some hidden gems. However, amidst the excitement of seeing your favorite murderous animatronics on the big screen, it's easy to miss these hidden treasures. But fret not! You can find a quick rundown of the best Easter eggs in Five Nights at Freddy’s right here!

Five Nights at Freddy's

Prepare yourself for the ultimate survival challenge! Experience the spine-tingling horror of the immensely popular video game phenomenon, now transformed into a bone-chilling cinematic masterpiece. Brace yourself as Blumhouse, the esteemed producer behind M3GAN, The Black Phone, and The Invisible Man, brings you an unforgettable adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s. Follow the journey of a troubled security guard as he embarks on his new job at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. From his very first night, he quickly realizes that surviving the night shift at Freddy’s is anything but a walk in the park.

All the YouTuber Cameos in 'Five Nights at Freddy's

Release Date of the film is October 27, 2023. The director of the movie is Emma Tammi, and the cast includes Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, Elizabeth Lail, and Mary Stuart Masterson. The film is rated PG-13 and has a runtime of 110 minutes. It falls under the main genre of Horror, with subgenres also belonging to Horror.

In 2014, Five Nights at Freddy’s gained popularity mainly due to the extensive coverage it received from YouTubers in let’s plays and theory videos. As a tribute to these influential figures, some of them were included in the movie. MatPat (Matthew Patrick), the host of Game Theory and renowned for his Five Nights at Freddy’s theory videos, makes a special appearance as a waiter at Sparky’s Diner. He even delivers his famous line: “it’s just a theory.” Another well-known YouTuber, Cory DeVante Williams (also known as CoryxKenshin), whose playthrough videos greatly contributed to the series' fame, can be seen in the film as a cab driver. He also appears in the end-credits scene alongside another Easter egg character (details to be discussed later).

The Dream Theory and Sparky’s Diner

Furthermore, the Employee of the Month wall in the pizzeria proudly displays several renowned YouTubers, such as 8-Bit Ryan, Dawko, FusionZGamer, and Razzbowski. These YouTubers are widely recognized as notable players of the popular game, Five Nights at Freddy’s.

Image Via Universal

Notably, Mike (Josh Hutcherson) can be seen carrying a book on dream theory throughout the film, using it as a reference to gather insights about his brother's kidnapper. Though this may not directly allude to the games themselves, it is quite likely a nod to a fan theory that gained popularity through the Game Theory channel. According to this theory, all the events depicted in the games, with the exception of the mini-games featured in Five Nights at Freddy's 4, transpire within a dream. While this theory has since been widely debunked, it is interesting to observe a subtle reference to it within the movie.

Another acknowledgment of fan theories and legends can be seen in the movie's diner, which goes by the name of Sparky’s. During the early days of Five Nights at Freddy’s, a rumor began to circulate about the existence of a hidden animatronic character in the game known as Sparky the Dog. Although this rumor turned out to be false, it has become one of the most prominent urban legends among the fandom. In addition to the diner's name, a Sparky suit also makes an appearance in the Parts and Service room.

All the Game References in the 'Five Nights at Freddy's Movie

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Moreover, there are numerous Easter eggs referencing the original games. For instance, Mike's alarm clock buzzes at 6:00 AM, which symbolizes the safe time in the games when the night ends. Additionally, the ice cream shop Mike visits features Chica's Magic Rainbow, an antagonist from the second update of FNaF World, as its mascot. The use of electricity is a clever nod to the fifth game in the series, Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location, where it was employed to temporarily disable the animatronics. Furthermore, there is a mention of the Phone Guy from the first three Five Nights at Freddy's games. However, in the film, this reference is made by William Afton (Matthew Lillard) as he informs Mike about his job duties and provides him with tips.

Characters from the games also make a few appearances. One of these characters is Balloon Boy, an antagonist who first appears in the second game. He appears multiple times to scare Mike, and makes a final appearance in the end-credits scene, hinting at the possibility of a sequel that incorporates plot points from the second game onwards. Additionally, we see the infamous animatronic, Springtrap, throughout the film in drawings and in the final battle.

The film also includes some impressive recreations of scenes from the games, including one featuring Springtrap. Towards the end of the movie, there is a malfunction in the spring lock system, resulting in impalement of William Afton as he falls to his knees, uttering his famous line: "I always come back." This scene closely resembles his apparent "death" in Five Nights at Freddy's 3. However, as Afton suggests, he always finds a way to return, leaving the possibility open for future appearances of Afton and Springtrap.

In the movie, we witness Freddy biting Max, referring to the instances of animatronic bites in the game, specifically the Bite of '83 and the Bite of '87. The latter bite remains a mystery as the animatronic responsible and the victim are unknown. However, Phone Guy mentions the incident in the first game and it is regarded as one of the factors leading to the downfall of Freddy Fazbear's restaurant.

Despite facing criticism for its lack of scares, the film includes one terrifying moment directly taken from the game: Foxy's sprint down the hallway. In the game, Foxy has unique mechanics where he patiently waits in Pirate's Cove and then sprints towards the player in the hallway. If the player fails to close the door in time, Foxy jump-scares them while emitting a distinct screech. The film faithfully recreates this sequence, making it one of the most enjoyable parts of the entire movie.

The 'Five Nights at Freddy's Soundtrack

Image via Universal

Following the end-credits scene, a familiar melody can be heard, reminiscent of the music box from Five Nights at Freddy's 2. This hints at the possibility of the puppet making an appearance in a future sequel! Additionally, the credits treat us to a delightful Easter egg in the form of the ending song. Titled "Five Nights at Freddy's," the song by The Living Tombstone was originally composed after the release of the first game. As The Living Tombstone has continued to create music for the series, there's a chance we'll get to enjoy more of their amazing tracks in upcoming sequels.

Five Nights at Freddy's is in theaters now and available to stream on Peacock.

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Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am excited about the upcoming Five Nights at Freddy's movie. I have been a fan of the game series for years, and I am eager to see how the story will be adapted for the big screen.

The Easter eggs in the movie are a great way to reward fans of the game series. I appreciate the references to popular YouTubers and the nods to fan theories. These Easter eggs show that the filmmakers are aware of the game's passionate fan base and are willing to give them something special.

Overall, I am optimistic about the Five Nights at Freddy's movie. I believe that it will be a fun and enjoyable film for fans of the game series and horror movies in general.