Created by video game developer Scott Cawthon and his company ScottGames, Five Nights at Freddy’s is an intensely beloved video game series that unravels the dark mysteries of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza and all of its later iterations. Since 2014, the franchise has become immensely popular, and a lot of the franchise’s appeal comes from fan involvement and fan theories.
With this in mind, the Five Nights at Freddy’s film that came out in 2023 may have been heavily battered by critics, but this didn’t hinder the film’s ability to deliver subtle, but incredible fan service to players both new and old with its inclusion of hidden Easter Eggs for all their fans to enjoy.
12 Chica’s Magic Rainbow
Though this was partially leaked in a set photo of Ice Cream Parties Parlor, Chica’s Magic Rainbow is seen on the ice cream machine and on the employee’s hat as she talks to Mike in the Five Nights at Freddy’s film.
Chica’s Magic Rainbow was an antagonist in the Five Nights At Freddy’s World update. In Fnaf World, players have the unique opportunity to play as a variety of the animatronics found in the game, including Chica’s Magic Rainbow.
Chica’s Magic Rainbow’s whole purpose is to taunt the player as they go through the game. With a deceptively friendly appearance, the rainbow throws out cruel comments to discourage the player.
11 The Dream Theory
One of the most popular theories in the Five Nights at Freddy’s fandom is the dream theory. The theory insists that the events in the Five Nights at Freddy’s game are all a part of a dream.
In the film, Mike repeatedly references and uses the book to hopefully remember what exactly happened to his brother who was kidnapped, and to see if any unsurfaced memory arises from his lucid dreaming.
Though not used in the way the theory intended, the dream theory book is still a fun nod to fans who have devoted hours to compiling evidence for the theory and additional lore.
10 Sparky the Dog
Sparky the Dog is an entirely made-up animatronic created and spread by fans. Gaining traction on sites like Tumblr during the original Five Nights at Freddy’s release, Sparky the Dog was a non-violent animatronic that was rumored to appear backstage. This was quickly debunked, as other players figured out it was composited using Freddy and Foxy through Photoshop.
Though disproven, this didn’t stop Sparky the Dog from becoming a beloved OC in the Five Nights at Freddy’s community. In the movie, Sparky the Dog is shown with other out of service animatronics in the parts and service room of the establishment.
9 Shadow Freddy
Featured as a cameo in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, Five Nights at Freddy’s 3, Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria Simulator, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted, Shadow Freddy is a mysterious and rare animatronic that makes brief appearances in the games. In Five Nights at Freddy’s 3, Shadow Freddy takes one of his biggest roles by helping guide the character through 8-bit mini-games. Not much is known about his character, other than his rarity.
In the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie, the purple Shadow Freddy is seen in the security camera of the parts and service room. Maxine’s dead body is then stuffed into the suit. This cameo, again, is a nod to the early fans, and the cameo opens up an opportunity for his return with Maxine’s death.
8 Ella the Doll
Ella was an animatronic doll created by Henry for his daughter Charlotte. Ella’s first appearance is in Five Nights at Freddy’s: The Silver Eyes. This was one of Henry’s first creations before his suicide and before his family left Hurricane. Due to her little use and being stuck in the closet, Ella is one of the least dilapidated animatronics in the franchise.
Along with Sparky the Dog, Ella lies with the other broken animatronics in the parts and service room of the building. With Ella being from a book, this is one of the most hidden Easter eggs in the film, with only super-fans recognizing her in the shadowy room.
7 The Puppet’s Music Box
During the credits of the Five Nights at Freddy’s film, the Puppet’s infamous music box can be heard playing. The first appearance of this lanky yet horrifying animatronic was in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, where the player was responsible for occasionally playing the music box in order to avoid the puppet’s jumpscare and the player’s death. This is also one of the few times a player is explicitly warned of his attack if they fail to rewind the music box before the timer ends.
The cameo of the music is an eerie reminder of the game’s earlier scares, and it reminds players of the sequel to the original game.
6 Youtubers as Employees of The Month
In the film’s version of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a number of Youtubers can be seen on the Employee of the Month wall. Longtime fans and Youtubers of the game that appear in the framed pictures include people like Razzbowski, Baz, FusionZGamer, Dawko, DJ Sterf, and 8-Bit Ryan.
Though fans were disappointed that one of the most popular Youtubers to draw popularity to the game, Markiplier, was in the midst of creating Iron Lung and couldn’t appear in the movie as a cameo, fans still appreciated the subtle yet meaningful nod to some of their other favorite Youtube creators who helped build love for the game throughout the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise.
5 “Come Find Me”
The “Come Find Me” heard in the post-credit scene is still a little bit of a mystery as to where it comes from and who it is referencing. Some fans believe it is a spin on William Afton’s “I always come back.” Others believe it is a direct reference to the “Give Gifts” mini-game in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. After the player’s death, this mini-game can randomly occur, where the player plays as the Puppet resurrecting the kids who fell victim to incidents at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza.
Others still believe this was Garret’s way of communicating again. Regardless of the outcome, this is one of the most debated Easter eggs in the game, as it could be a hint to the plot of the second film.
4 Pill Bottle
In the Five Nights at Freddy’s film, Mike takes sleeping pills in order to lucid dream and hopefully find out what actually happened to his brother. Fans noticed that the pills he takes on his bedside table could be a direct reference to the pills seen in Five Nights at Freddy’s 4.
In the fourth game of the franchise, the game is partly set in a child’s bedroom. On the bedside table lies a similar bottle of pills, which could connect Mike’s character to that of the child who is haunted by the animatronics of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. Even if this isn’t a direct nod to the games, it is still a small but fun detail that viewers were able to spot.
3 Midnight Motorist
Carl, who tries to get Mike fired in the film, is seen wearing a T-shirt with the Midnight Motorist mini-game plastered onto it. The Midnight Motorist is one of the many mini-games players can encounter in Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria Simulator.
In the game, the Yellow Man is introduced, which created a massive amount of fan theories as to how this character fits into the story, or if he is an alternate of William Afton. Another theory is that the Yellow Man is connected to the “Give Gifts” mini-game, and he might be the abusive father of one of the children seen in the room.
This small nod is a great Easter egg, specifically for those who have played the lesser-known games of the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise.
2 Arnold/Tina/Endoskeleton
Referred to by fans as either Arnolds, Tinas, or Endoskeletons, the bare animatronics make appearances throughout the games as one of the rarer, but still prevalent jump scares. They are also referenced by the Phone Guy as he warns Mike of the animatronics’s tendencies to want to stuff humans into suits, as they think they are endoskeletons going against the rules of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza.
The endoskeletons themselves are the ultimate antagonists of the film, regardless of if they are suited up or not, since their programming dictates them to stuff other perceived endoskeletons into suits. In the film, Tina is seen hidden in multiple security cams that Mike views throughout Five Nights at Freddy’s.
1 The School’s Chalkboard
The word list seen on the school’s chalkboard in the film is very on the nose. The list of words on the chalkboard includes things like Fox, Chick, Puppet, Bear, Bunny, and Manager. Fans were quick to spot the direct reference to the games, adding yet another Easter egg to the already large number of moments in the Five Nights at Freddy’s film.
Though this is a surface-level reference, some fans questioned the teacher’s involvement in the story, considering how explicitly the characters of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza are referenced.
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