Summary
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 ofStar Wars, it may not be immediately apparent just how impactfulYoda’s fight with Count Dookuwas or why it felt so satisfying to see Dan return to the Overlook Hotel inDoctor Sleep. In the internet age, audiences can pour over every single frame of a film, so it was always fantastic whenmoments of fan service paid off and gave the viewers exactly what they wanted.
10The Aston Martin
Skyfall (2012)
Ofall the cars from Daniel Craig’sJames Bondera, none were more iconic than the Aston Martin, which he has been associated with since his first appearance inCasino Royale. The spy series' association with the brand went back even further, as Sean Connery first drove an Aston Martin in the 1964 Bond filmGoldfinger. This was whythe reveal of the Aston Martin DB5 inSkyfallfelt 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 inSkyfallwas 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.
Skyfall
Cast
Skyfall is the twenty-third James Bond film, featuring Daniel Craig as 007. Released in 2012, the film follows Bond as he investigates an attack on MI6, guided by M, portrayed by Judi Dench, while contending with internal pressures and a new authority figure, Gareth Mallory, played by Ralph Fiennes.
9The Original Ghostbusters Join The fight
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
After the infamous controversies surrounding the 2016 female-led reboot ofGhostbusters, the franchise returned to its roots for a direct sequel to the original installments with the release ofGhostbusters: Afterlife. Featuring new characters and the return of Bill Murray and Dan Akyroyd,Ghostbusters: Afterlifewas fueled by nostalgia and was a touching tribute to the late Ghostbuster Ivan Reitman, who died shortly after the film’s release. Not only didGhostbusters: Afterlifepay 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 originalGhostbustersfighting together again 37 years after the release of the first moviewas a satisfying moment that became very special and heartfelt due to Ramis’s recent passing.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
From director Jason Reitman and producer Ivan Reitman, comes the next chapter in the Ghostbusters universe. In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town. There, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.
8John Connor Versus The T-800
Terminator Salvation (2009)
Terminator Salvationwas 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. WhileTerminator Salvationmay 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 Salvationdid 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’ssoft 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 forTerminator Salvationsequels were later canceled due to its lackluster reception.
Terminator Salvation
Terminator Salvation is set in post-apocalyptic 2018, where John Connor leads the human resistance against powerful machines. The arrival of Marcus Wright introduces uncertainty, as Connor seeks to uncover Wright’s origins—be it future or past—and establish if he is an ally or enemy.
7The 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 withClerksand continued in later films such asMallrats,Chasing Amy, andDogma.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 Backacted 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 madeStrike Backwork.
6The Appearance Of Darth Vader
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Rogue Onestruck the perfect balance between paying homage toStar Warslegacy 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 seeingDarth Vader appear inRogue Onewas 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 ofRogue OnefeaturedDarth 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 theStar Warsseries did not have to limit itself and the potential for characters like Vader to show up in future movies.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a standalone film set in the Star Wars universe, where a group of resistance fighters, led by Jyn Erso, embarks on a mission to steal the Death Star plans. This pivotal event sets the stage for the iconic saga to follow.
5The Overlook Hotel
Doctor Sleep (2019)
Director Mike Flanagan had a tough task ahead of him when he ventured to makeDoctor Sleep, a film that could act as a sequel to Stanely Kubrick’sThe Shiningand 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 inThe Shining, which was carried forward inDoctor Sleepwhen 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. Thisjuxtaposition betweenThe ShiningandDoctor Sleepreached its fan service peak when Danny met an apparition of his father as a bartender at the Overlook.
Doctor Sleep
Doctor Sleep, set decades after The Shining, follows Dan Torrance as he confronts his traumatic past at the Overlook Hotel. He encounters Abra, a teenage girl with powerful extrasensory abilities called the “shine,” who enlists his help in battling sinister forces.
4Wolverine’s Yellow Suit
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Ever since Hugh Jackman was cast as Wolverine back inX-Menin the year 2000, fans wondered if they would ever seeWolverine in the classic yellow suithe 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 theX-Menfilm franchise. However, nearly a quarter of a century later, this question was answered in the trailer for the upcoming filmDeadpool & Wolverine.
Itnever 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 theDeadpoolmovies 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.
Deadpool & Wolverine
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
3Three 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 inSpider-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 ofNo Way Home, nothing could have prepared viewers for its incredible execution. Thisfantastic 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 inNo Way Homewas 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.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the trials and tribulations of being a superhero. In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) when his identity becomes a problem for the ones he loves. Unfortunately, when the spell goes wrong, Spider-Man will now have to face off with villains such as Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) and Electro (Jamie Foxx) as Peter finally comes to terms that he can’t run from being Spider-Man. Supported by his close friends and help from an unexpected place (or multiverse), Spider-Man will go toe-to-toe with some of the most legendary foes in his storied history.
2Yoda Fighting Count Dooku
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
OnceStar Warsintroduced 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 inPhantom of the Menace, it was not untilAttack of the Clonesthat 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.
SeeingYoda in battle for the first time inAttack of the Cloneswas even more exciting forStar Warsfans, 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 inAttack of the Clones. Yoda’s skills are further exemplified inRevenge of the Sithwhen he faces Emperor Palpatine, but nothing will live up to the excitement of his first onscreen battle.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Years after the events of The Phantom Menace, the Skywalker Saga continues with Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. When Senator Padme Amidala’s life is threatened, Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are tasked with her protection. While Obi-Wan uncovers a clone army made in secret, Anakin falls in love with Padme, marking the beginning of his inevitable fall to the dark side of the Force.
1Avengers Assemble
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
As much as theAvengersmovies could be seen as one massive act of fan service for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, this aspect peaked in the Avenger Assemble scene fromAvengers: 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. Thisfelt 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 ofIron Manback in 2008. The Avengers Assemble scene was the greatest example of perfectly executed fan service years in the making.
