3) Classic (And Obscure) Movie References
It’s not just Batman (and the odd Superman) movies that are referenced in LEGO Batman, however, as there are some fun nods to classic – and not-so-classic – cinema as well.
A boxing-themed Batsuit in the Batcave, for instance, is labelled Raging Bat – a take on the Robert DeNiro film Raging Bull. Another with Wolverine type claws is called Clawed Rains. This is a slightly more obscure nod to Claude Rains, the classic Hollywood actor who appeared in such films as Casablanca.
Further on in the film, Batman lists off superhero teams. One of these is Fox Force Five, the name of the TV pilot that Uma Thurman’s Mia starred in in Pulp Fiction. By far the most oblique reference in the movie though occurs when Robin builds a makeshift skateboard and Batman tells him to “gleam the cube.” Gleaming the Cube is a 1990 skateboard film starring Christian Slater.
We’re not sure how many of the LEGO-loving kids in the audience appreciated these jokes, but we imagine that the film buffs out there got a kick out of them.