10 Blatant Fan Service Moments In Movies That Were Just Perfect

June 2, 2024, 6 p.m.

Movies

10 Blatant Fan Service Moments In Movies That Were Just Perfect

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Summary Avengers Assemble in Endgame was the ultimate fan service moment for MCU fans, uniting heroes for an epic battle against Thanos.

Yoda's fight in Attack of the Clones finally showcased his power, a highly anticipated moment for Star Wars fans wanting to see him in action.

The return of the original Ghostbusters in Afterlife was a heartfelt tribute and a well-earned moment of fan service for fans of the iconic movie franchise.

When done right, moments of blatant fan service become iconic cinematic memories that viewers love and cherish. By playing into audience expectations and delivering exactly what they have always craved, movies and franchises could pay homage to their legacy in an incredibly appealing way to longtime audience members who were well-versed in the series' lore and history. While blatant fan service can sometimes fall flat on its head, when executed appropriately, it felt like well-earned lover letters to viewers who helped the property flourish in the first place.

The best fan service moments played into the legacy of a series and may not have felt as important to a viewer who did not actively follow the franchise. Without knowledge of Star Wars, it may not be immediately apparent just how impactful Yoda’s fight with Count Dooku was or why it felt so satisfying to see Dan return to the Overlook Hotel in Doctor Sleep. In the internet age, audiences can pour over every single frame of a film, so it was always fantastic when moments of fan service paid off and gave the viewers exactly what they wanted.

10 The Aston Martin

Skyfall (2012)

Of all the cars from Daniel Craig’s James Bond era, none were more iconic than the Aston Martin, which he has been associated with since his first appearance in Casino Royale. The spy series' association with the brand went back even further, as Sean Connery first drove an Aston Martin in the 1964 Bond film Goldfinger. This was why the reveal of the Aston Martin DB5 in Skyfall felt so perfect; although it was a blatant moment of fan service, instances like this made the series so special.

The execution of Aston Martin’s reveal in Skyfall was what made it so perfect. It came after Bond kidnapped M to get ahead of Silva. Bond took M to a storage container and told her they needed to switch vehicles. He opened the door, and the Aston Martin was sitting there in all its glory before the classic 007 theme played. The moment's resonance was not lost on any Bond fanatic, and seeing the series play its legacy in this knowing way was so exciting.

9 The Original Ghostbusters Join The fight

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

After the infamous controversies surrounding the 2016 female-led reboot of Ghostbusters, the franchise returned to its roots for a direct sequel to the original installments with the release of Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Featuring new characters and the return of Bill Murray and Dan Akyroyd, Ghostbusters: Afterlife was fueled by nostalgia and was a touching tribute to the late Ghostbuster Ivan Reitman, who died shortly after the film's release. Not only did Ghostbusters: Afterlife pay fan service through its nostalgic lens, but significantly by having the original Ghostbusters join the climactic fight in the movie’s final act.

This scene saw Ray Stantz, Peter Venkman, and Winston Zeddemore return, alongside the ghost of Reitman’s character Egon, to help use their proton packs to defeat supernatural forces. This moment could have felt like an overload of fan service, but it was done with such love for Reitman's legacy that it felt poignant and earned. To see the original Ghostbusters fighting together again 37 years after the release of the first movie was a satisfying moment that became very special and heartfelt due to Ramis's recent passing.

8 John Connor Versus The T-800

Terminator Salvation (2009)

Terminator Salvation was the first film in the franchise not to feature Arnold Schwarzenegger; however, the filmmakers could not help but include a moment of fan service by briefly rendering his likeness digitally. This came with the appearance of the T-800, which John Connor faced off against in his battle as the Resistance struggled against the evil of Skynet. While Terminator Salvation may have signaled the franchise's desire to move away from the legacy of Schwarzenegger, it could not help but briefly give fans a glimpse at the version of the T-800 that they knew and loved.

Thankfully, Terminator Salvation did not overdo its use of Schwarzenegger's likeness. The cyborg quickly lost its living tissue, and Connor continued to fight against the soulless metal killing machine. This brief glimpse at Schwarzenegger helped connect Terminator Salvation's soft reboot of the franchise to the previous films without hammering it home too much. The T-800 fight acted as the climatic battle that struck the right balance between paying homage to the past and forging a new future for the franchise, although sadly, plans for Terminator Salvation sequels were later canceled due to its lackluster reception.

7 The Litany Of View Cameos

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took over the modern filmmaking landscape, director Kevin Smith created his own shared movie universe, which he dubbed the View Askewniverse. This began with Clerks and continued in later films such as Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Dogma. The glue that connected all these movies was the characters of Jay and Silent Bob, and that’s why it was so great when the slacker duo finally got their stand-alone film that was chock-full of fan service moments for lovers of Smith's work. The best example of this was just how many cameos he fit into its swift runtime.

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back acted as the culmination of Smith’s entire filmography up to that point, and for those who had been following his work, it felt amazing to see the likes of Jason Lee and Ben Affleck reprise their previous roles. Smith again paid homage to his legacy in the 2019 sequel, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot; however, the joke did not land as well the second time. Unfortunately, the sequel proved it’s possible to have too much of a good thing and lacked the perfect balance that made Strike Back work.

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Kevin Smith Release Date August 22, 2001 Writers Kevin Smith Runtime 104 minutes Main Genre Comedy

6 The Appearance Of Darth Vader

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Rogue One struck the perfect balance between paying homage to Star Wars legacy and trying to forge something new for the franchise. With a story that was directly related to the events of the original trilogy, audiences were well aware that the rebel's mission to steal the Death Star plans would have a direct effect on the Empire, but seeing Darth Vader appear in Rogue One was a piece of fan service not everybody was expecting. Vader’s appearance added gravitas to the entire movie and reminded audiences why he was such a compelling villain in the first place.

The ending scene of Rogue One featured Darth Vader wielding his lightsaber and killing countless rebel soldiers, showcasing him at his most brutal. Donned in his iconic black armor and helmet, it was fascinating to see the classic version of Vader years after audiences had already witnessed his transformation from Anakin Skywalker to the dark side. This was a moment of blatant fan service, but it also showcased how the Star Wars series did not have to limit itself and the potential for characters like Vader to show up in future movies.

5 The Overlook Hotel

Doctor Sleep (2019)

Director Mike Flanagan had a tough task ahead of him when he ventured to make Doctor Sleep, a film that could act as a sequel to Stanely Kubrick’s The Shining and an adaptation of King’s novel. This meant paying homage to the iconic Jack Nicholson movie while also being mindful that it was not King’s preferred version of the story. Thankfully, Flanagan pulled it off, and including the Overlook Hotel was an excellent way to mimic the film's imagery and legacy while staying true to the version of the story that King envisioned for an adult Dan Torrance.

The Overlook Hotel itself was a villain in The Shining, which was carried forward in Doctor Sleep when Dan returned to it, and it was revealed it had closed down and was left to rot after Jack tried to murder his entire family there so many years before. Once again, the ghosts of the hotel took hold, and this time, they drove Dan mad as he tried to kill Abra. This juxtaposition between The Shining and Doctor Sleep reached its fan service peak when Danny met an apparition of his father as a bartender at the Overlook.

Doctor Sleep Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Based on Stephen King's book of the same name and the sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep follows an adult Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) as he confronts his past at the Overlook Hotel. When a young girl named Abra reaches out to Danny using the telepathic Shine, he learns that she is being hunted and reluctantly becomes her protector. With the Overlook Hotel holding the key to Danny's own power, he's forced to return in order to finally move on. Director Mike Flanagan Release Date October 30, 2019 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Stephen King , Akiva Goldsman , Mike Flanagan Cast Carl Lumbly , Ewan McGregor , Bruce Greenwood , Emily Alyn Lind , Rebecca Ferguson , Alex Essoe , Kyliegh Curran , Zahn McClarnon Runtime 153 minutes prequel(s) The Shining Budget $55 million Expand

4 Wolverine’s Yellow Suit

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Ever since Hugh Jackman was cast as Wolverine back in X-Men in the year 2000, fans wondered if they would ever see Wolverine in the classic yellow suit he fought the Incredible Hulk in during his first-ever comic book appearance. While this outfit has been readily associated with the character, it always felt too outrageous to fit within the more realistic realm of the X-Men film franchise. However, nearly a quarter of a century later, this question was answered in the trailer for the upcoming film Deadpool & Wolverine.

It never made sense to have Wolverine appear in his classic suit before now, as the flamboyance of this outfit just never previously felt like it would appropriately serve his character. However, the more tongue-in-cheek, self-aware style of the Deadpool movies opened the door for a development like this. For this classic outfit to finally appear after so much time does feel like a moment of blatant fan service, but the filmmakers waited until the time was right, and it also felt earned at this point.

3 Three Spider-Men

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

The introduction of the multiverse in the Marvel Cinematic Universe truly turned the dial up to eleven when it came to the potential for fan service, and perhaps the greatest example of this was in Spider-Man: No Way Home. While speculation about the potential inclusion of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s previous versions of Peter Parker swirled around in the months prior to the release of No Way Home, nothing could have prepared viewers for its incredible execution. This fantastic moment of fan service brought together three cinematic Spider-Men.

It was a treat to watch Tom Holland interact with different versions of his character and an amazing opportunity to pay homage to the legacy of the previous movies while providing them with the closure they deserved. Other returning characters, like Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin, were the cherry on top of this amazing cinematic spectacle. The three Spider-Men coming together in No Way Home was a piece of fan service that will make it very difficult for the MCU to top again now that it feels like anything can happen.

2 Yoda Fighting Count Dooku

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)

Once Star Wars introduced a younger version of Yoda in the prequel movies, fans eagerly awaited seeing him in active combat and gaining insight into the skills of one of the most powerful Jedi masters ever. Although Yoda was reintroduced in Phantom of the Menace, it was not until Attack of the Clones that he showed mastery of the Force in a battle against Count Dooku. As Dooku had already defeated Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, witnessing Yoda ultimately saving the day was even more impressive.

Seeing Yoda in battle for the first time in Attack of the Clones was even more exciting for Star Wars fans, who had been invested in his character since the original trilogy's release. While it was common knowledge that Yoda was a Jedi of extreme power, this was merely hinted at until he finally faced off against Dooku in Attack of the Clones. Yoda’s skills are further exemplified in Revenge of the Sith when he faces Emperor Palpatine, but nothing will live up to the excitement of his first onscreen battle.

1 Avengers Assemble

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

As much as the Avengers movies could be seen as one massive act of fan service for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, this aspect peaked in the Avenger Assemble scene from Avengers: Endgame. As the culmination of the previous 21 MCU movies, this scene brought together heroes from the entire franchise to fight in unity against Thanos. As one of the defining moments of the entire Infinity Sage, this portal scene led to the climatic Battle of Earth for the fate of the planet and the entire universe.

As beloved MCU heroes arrived on the battlefield to join Captain America in his fight against Thanos, Steve Rogers uttered the rallying cry “Avengers Assemble,” which was made famous in the original comics. This felt like a full-circle moment for the MCU, as after so many movies and years of build-up, this sprawling, interconnected cinematic universe delivered a moment fans had been predicting since the Avengers initiative hinted at in the closing credits scene of Iron Man back in 2008. The Avengers Assemble scene was the greatest example of perfectly executed fan service years in the making.