One of my favorite things about Riverdale is the abundance of references and Easter eggs that can be found all throughout the series. (Some of them subtler than others — blink and you'll miss them.) Not to mention, most of the episode titles are named after classic thrillers. As an avid rewatcher of the series, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite movie references you may have not noticed while watching the series the first time. But indulge in a Riverdale rewatch and keep your eyes peeled for these movie homages.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The most obvious Easter egg from this movie is the name of Riverdale’s local prison, Shankshaw, but the references don’t stop there! Archie’s entire storyline in juvie from Season 3 is a direct homage to the 1994 classic.
A Christmas Story (1983)
This is definitely a blink and you’ll miss it Easter egg, but nevertheless it’s a cool little nod to a Christmas favorite!
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Quentin Tarantino is mentioned all throughout Riverdale, mostly from Jughead talking about his love of film. But it took me several rewatches later to realize Chuck and Josie were recreating the exact scene from this cult classic!
The Shining (1980)
It comes as no surprise that Stephen King is mentioned multiple times on the show, Veronica even said Archie looked like he was auditioning for a teen reboot of The Shining in Season 2 (please don’t get any ideas CW). This is another prop Easter egg that makes watching Riverdale even more entertaining the 2nd (or 3rd) time around!
Uncut Gems (2019)
I don’t know about you, but I can totally imagine Veronica Lodge calling herself Josh Safdie’s muse in the Riverdale universe.
Halloween (1978)
Other than the obvious Laurie Strode costume Betty wore for Halloween in Season 4, there have been plenty of Halloween Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the entire series.
Scream (1996)
Scream and Riverdale share a lot of similarities when it comes to the meta horror genre, but it’d be remiss to not include a Scream reference when you’ve got Skeet Ulrich in your cast! BTW, can he come back to Riverdale already?
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
This Oscar-winning film has been a recurring reference in Betty’s life since Season 2 and it has not let up since. From visiting her father in a Hannibal Lector like cell, to flashback scenes of her being held in a pit by the Trash Bag Killer while she was training for the FBI.
Mean Girls (2004)
Betty got to have her Cady Heron moment when she answered “the limit does not exist!” in the quiz show episode from Season 4.
Did you miss any of these Easter eggs? Let me know by clicking the coral comment bubble below!