Pop culture references are everywhere in TV shows and movies, and some of the most memorable ones have become cultural phenomena. Adventure Time pays homage to Lost in Space with the character Neptr, and Stranger Things features an entire plotline built around Dungeons & Dragons. The Simpsons parodies The Shining, Back to the Future pays tribute to Chuck Berry, and Friends introduces the beloved song “Smelly Cat”. Pulp Fiction references fast food in Europe, The Office quotes Battlestar Galactica, and Forrest Gump delivers the iconic line “Life is like a box of chocolates.” Arrested Development coins the term “Never Nude,” and The Princess Bride immortalizes the word “Inconceivable!”
1. Adventure Time – Portal
The animated TV series, Adventure Time was famous for its clever pop culture references, and one of the best ones came in season 2. In the episode, “What is Life?”, the character Finn becomes obsessed with a robot he created and named Neptr. Finn refers to Neptr as his “little buddy” in a nod to the robot sidekick from the classic TV show, Lost in Space. Neptr is even designed with a port that looks like the portal from the game Portal.
2. Stranger Things – Dungeons & Dragons
Stranger Things is a love letter to the 1980s, and in season one, the series pays tribute to one of the decade’s biggest cultural phenomena: Dungeons & Dragons. The game plays a crucial role in the show’s plot, with the main characters using their knowledge of the game to solve mysteries and fight demons. Stranger Things even features a scene where the characters play a game of Dungeons & Dragons, complete with a cameo from series co-creator, Matt Duffer.
3. The Simpsons – The Shining
The Simpsons is famous for its pop culture references, and one of the best comes in the fifth season episode, “The Shinning”. The episode is a parody of the classic Stanley Kubrick horror film, The Shining, with the characters of The Simpsons taking on the roles of the iconic characters from the movie. The episode features several hilarious references to the original film, including a moment where a character is told to “Go crazy, go nuts” just like Jack Nicholson’s character in the movie.
4. Back to the Future – Johnny B. Goode
The iconic scene in Back to the Future where Marty McFly plays “Johnny B. Goode” on stage is one of the most memorable pop culture moments in movie history. The scene not only showcases Michael J. Fox’s incredible talent, but it also pays tribute to the legendary musician, Chuck Berry. Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” is another classic tune featured in the movie.
5. Friends – Smelly Cat
Friends is one of the most beloved TV shows of all time, and one of its most memorable pop culture moments comes in season two. In the episode, “The One With The Baby On The Bus”, Phoebe introduces her iconic song, “Smelly Cat”. The song has since become a cultural phenomenon, with several covers and references in other TV shows and movies.
6. Pulp Fiction – Royale with Cheese
Pulp Fiction is one of the most influential movies in pop culture history, and it’s filled with memorable moments. One of the film’s best references comes in a conversation between two characters about the differences between fast food in France and the United States. The conversation ends with the now-iconic line “They call it a Royale with cheese” in reference to the metric system in Europe.
7. The Office – Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.
The Office is one of the most beloved TV comedies of all time, and one of its most famous pop culture moments comes in season three. In the episode, “Product Recall”, Dwight Schrute (played by Rainn Wilson) walks into the office wearing a T-shirt that reads “Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.” The line is a nod to two of Dwight’s favorite things (bears and beets) and his love for the sci-fi TV series Battlestar Galactica.
8. Forrest Gump – Life is like a box of chocolates
Forrest Gump is one of the most beloved movies of all time, and its most famous line has become a pop culture staple. In the movie, Forrest (played by Tom Hanks) famously says “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” The line has since been referenced in countless TV shows, movies, and even songs.
9. Arrested Development – Never Nude
Arrested Development is one of the most quotable TV shows of all time, and one of its most famous lines comes from the character Tobias Funke (played by David Cross). In the show, Tobias is a “Never Nude,” a person who has a pathological fear of being naked. The term has since become a pop culture phenomenon, with countless references in other TV shows and movies.
10. The Princess Bride – Inconceivable!
The Princess Bride is one of the most beloved movies of all time, and its most famous line has become a pop culture staple. In the movie, the character Vizzini (played by Wallace Shawn) famously says “Inconceivable!” The line has since been referenced in countless TV shows, movies, and even in everyday conversations.