Uncharted Movie: Easter Eggs
Video game movies and television adaptations come with extensive use of Easter eggs and references to source material, with the Uncharted movie being no different in this regard.
And while some of these easter eggs will be obvious to fans, some can easily be missed and may even go over the heads of some die-hard Uncharted fans. Spoiler alert for those who haven’t seen the Uncharted movie yet, as the end of the film‘s events will be discussed throughout.
Updated September 13, 2022 by Doruk Kaptan: Now that some time has passed since the release of the long-awaited Uncharted adaptation, most people have had a chance to critique the film more objectively. It’s not critically acclaimed or anything, but the consensus seems to be that it was at least decent.
While the movie seems to have struggled with script and characterization, it excels at winking at gaming fans with Easter eggs. There are plenty of nice nods to the original material, and thankfully it doesn’t distract from the film itself. After all, the games were cinematic enough to easily blend into a real movie without too much trouble.
15 A reference to Indiana Jones
Uncharted, and by extension, Nathan Drake has always been inspired by, and even directly derived from, Indiana Jones at times. While that doesn’t take away from the coolness of a Nate character, it’s nice that the filmmakers recognize him as a sign of respect. It’s not just the obvious name.
At one point, as the crew enters a church, Nate exclaims “Nuns! Why does it always have to be nuns?” This is, of course, a direct reference to Indie’s iconic line, “Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes?” At the same time, it alludes to the troubled relationship Nate had with the authorities at his orphanage, so it’s doubly effective.
14 Nate’s gun holsters
Few characters have as little distinctive clothing as Nathan Drake, and yet become so iconic. He usually wears practical adventure clothing and a casual costume. However, one thing that immediately stands out in any shot of the game is Nate’s gun holsters.
Although just a simple leather cross that Nate carries on his shoulders, these holsters have made several appearances throughout the games and have become synonymous with Uncharted. In the film, Nate gets his hands on these cases after beating up a jerk and stealing them from him, completing his iconic video game look.
13 ” Oh shit ! »
Nathan Drake is your typical wisecracking protagonist. He has an answer to every situation and chooses to ease the tension with a joke. Ironically, his simplest reaction sentence is also the most memorable. You’ll find this man yelling “Shit!” as he ruins all kinds of beautiful places.
Any Uncharted fan would think of Nathan Drake as soon as they heard “Oh, shit!” Two simple words perfectly sum up the carefree and neglectful nature of our adorable treasure hunter. Luckily, we get several instances of Tom Holland dropping the OC bomb throughout the film.
12 sam is alive
Sam Drake was only introduced to players in the fourth episode, in which he played a huge role, both in flashback and in modern times. Obviously, the film borrows a lot of plot points from the last game and therefore also highlights Sam, at least during the flashbacks.
Throughout the film, Nate and the audience discover that Sam is gone and his last love was the treasure Nate finds at the end of the film. However, in a post-credits scene, we see Sam Drake in a prison cell, revealing that he’s actually alive and could potentially join the crew in a possible sequel.
11 Gabriel Romain
In a post-credits scene, just before we see Mark Wahlberg in his full Victor Sullivan outfit, we witness a tense exchange between Nate and a stranger. It is revealed that the man works for someone named Roman, and they have an old Nazi map, leading to another treasure.
Fans of the original game would of course understand the name, as Gabriel Roman was the main antagonist of the first game. The game also featured Nazi treasure, so this post-credit scene is a nod to the first game, which we hope also see in a future film.
ten Sully sporting his signature facial hair
Early trailers for the film teased Mark Wahlberg’s Victor “Sully” Sullivan with his signature mustache. And, while the majority of the film sees him going without, a final post-credits scene pays homage to his look from the game series. When a deal between Tom Holland’s Nathan Drake and a man named Gabe seems to be going south, Sully steps in to save the day. However, his heroic introduction is overshadowed by a brand new mustache that Nathan Drake immediately mocks.
After a few moments of banter between the two, the thugs are taken care of and the duo escape with what they wanted. However, not before Drake steals a cigar does he throw Sully’s way much to his delight.
9 A dad joke straight from the games
While Mark Wahlberg’s Sully may not be what fans expected, he still manages to capture some important aspects of the character’s personality. This is largely manifested through his dialogues and his mannerisms in the film.
During their search for the treasure, Sully, Nate and Chloe eventually come across a church that is more than meets the eye. As the characters search the water-filled depths, Sully can be heard saying, “Well, well.” While the joke is cringe-worthy and silly, it’s one Sully does in several Uncharted games as well.
8 The Naughty Dog Sticker
The creators of the Uncharted movie really tried to pay homage to the source material. Attentive viewers might notice a familiar-looking logo at a point in the film that’s a direct nod to the game’s developer.
On Nathan Drake’s suitcase is a nice big sticker that most will recognize as the logo of the developer, Naughty Dog, the studio that made the Uncharted games.
seven A gift from a brother
One of the tools Nathan Drake uses frequently throughout the film is a lighter that belonged to his older brother Sam. And while it may barely work and look like a useless old piece of junk, its inclusion is a great showcase. the attention to detail that director Ruben Fleischer brought to the film.
When working together in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Nate and Sam frequently use said lighter to help solve puzzles. This easter egg is merely a small reference to the games that actually spark a large amount of comedy in the movie.
6 A ring and a motto
Nathan and his brother Sam grow up as orphans, lacking many ties to their family and seemingly left on their own for most of their childhood. However, an important legacy from their family features in the film and plays a significant role in the games.
In the opening moments of the film, Sam can be seen handing his younger brother Nathan a necklace with a ring on it. The ring, inscribed with the Latin words for “Greatness from small beginnings,” is a beautiful Easter egg that might even play a larger role in the sequel.
5 The uncharted police on full display
As with any great adventure film, Nathan Drake and company travel the world in the film in search of treasure. And as it is, the movies like to announce in giant text which country the characters are in, at every opportunity.
For those paying attention, the text is written in the same font used for the title of the Uncharted games. A small but great Easter egg that fans probably missed, given the intricate details of its inclusion.
4 The cargo plane scene
This reference was hard to miss, given that it was used in every trailer for the film. However, for those who haven’t played the games, the hype surrounding this moment may have left you puzzled and wondering why people found it so familiar.
Uncharted games have amazing settings. However, few are as iconic as the cargo plane sequence in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. While the film changes the actual setting from the desert scene to the ocean, the way the sequence unfolds is almost scene for scene from the actual game.
3 A discovery in a cave
Much like the cargo plane scene, another moment in the film draws heavily from another iconic moment. This time from the fourth game in the series, Uncharted: A Thief’s End.
The moment is when Nathan Drake finally discovers the long-lost ships he’s been looking for throughout the film in a cave. The image of pirate ships trapped and hiding in a cave is similar to Nathan’s discovery in the aforementioned title.
2 The Auction Heist
Speaking of moments inspired by A Thief’s End, one of the best scenes in the film is heavily inspired by a moment from the fourth game. In the film, Sully and Nate attend an auction with the intention of stealing the cross. of La Cruz De La Hermandad. An artifact they believe to be essential in leading them to the treasure they seek.
An action-packed and fast-paced scene, the auction heist in the film mirrors that of Uncharted 4. While the item they steal is different and the pair are also joined by Sam in-game, the way the heist unfolds in the film follows a similar narrative to that of the game.
1 A cameo in a familiar voice
Fans who have played the games may have heard a familiar voice as Nathan Drake and Chloe Frazer emerged from the water near the end of the film. That’s because the man lying on the beach is none other than Nathan Drake’s voice actor, Nolan North.
This little cameo is not only a great homage to the games, but also a nice sign of respect for North, whose portrayal of the character throughout the games is widely regarded as one of the most iconic performances in gaming. moment, though small, feels like a nod of approval from the voice actor and also serves as a passing of the torch moment.
