Random References To Real Batman Mythology In Lego Batman Movi (20 items)

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  (#1) The Opening Score Is A Nod To The Joker's Theme From The Dark Knight

  If you paid attention to the music that was playing under Will Arnett's trenchant critique of the film's production company logos, then you may have noticed that it was from what many fans believe to be the greatest Batman film made thus far. The atonal brass and strings that give way to tribal drums that were laid under the moment belonged to none other than Joker's theme from The Dark Knight. It makes sense to use this track in the film because the Joker plays a big part in the narrative and it's just great music to jam to when you're planning some catastrophic evil. 
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  (#2) That Giant Rundown Of All The Batman Villains

  Woof, you guys, where do you start with all of the A, B, and C-level Batman villains that are on display in this film? Obviously, there's the Joker, the Riddler, and at least a mention of the Penguin, but the audience also gets to see lesser-known villains like Clock King, Calendar Man, and Magpie. Their appearance in The Lego Batman Movie and mention on this list are probably the most anyone has thought of those characters in at least a decade. 
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  (#3) Batman's Family Photo Is A Quick Reference To His Backstory

  It's hard to make a Batman movie without telling his origin story. As opposed to guys like Green Lantern or Iron Man, Batman's origin is sort of his whole thing. The Lego Batman Movie references the murder of Batman's parents - they are about to see a movie next to Crime Alley - with a single photo, which is very cool. Kudos, Lego! 
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  (#4) Want To See A Magic Trick?

  One of the few references to the Nolan trilogy that exists in the film is Barbara Gordon using the Joker's classic catchphrase, "Want to see a magic trick?", during the final fight scene. Unfortunately, she didn't put a pencil through anyone's face. 
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  (#5) There's A Rundown Of All The Bat-Vehicles

  In what will surely be known as the "vehicle rotisserie" scene, there's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it fly-by of literally ever Bat-car that Wayne ever used, from the super-cool '60s Batmobile to the less cool and more militaristic Tumbler from the Dark Knight trilogy. 
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  (#6) The Joker's Opening Caper Was From The Dark Knight Rises

  What is it with Batman's bad guys stealing planes in mid-air? Not only does Bane pretty much enact the same plan in the The Dark Knight Rises (with the addition of some cool Point Break-y stuff and less intelligible dialogue), but the Joker hijacks a plane in Suicide Squad when he has to go shoot a machine gun at a bunch of people. So, is this a reference to Batman mythology or just classic bad guy stuff? You be the judge. 
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  (#7) As We Learned From The 1960s Batman Film, Shark Repellent Is A Must-Have

  Did the kids who watched The Lego Batman Movie understand the shark repellent reference in the film? Unless their parents are total psychos, they probably haven't had to sit through the original Batman movie with its men being turned into salt (or whatever it was) and magic spray that can fend off man-eating sharks. It truly was a joke that took almost 50 years to pay off. 
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  (#8) Some Classic Onomatopoeia Sound Effects Make An Appearance

  In what might be the most gleeful fight in a Batman film, when Batman finally lets Robin in on the fun of being a superhero, the audience is treated to the classic word-punching of the 1960s series. We even got to see a few shots of Adam West doing the Batusi. What a beautiful world. 
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  (#9) The Joker's Sick Rides Get A Nod

  What's up with the Joker and cars? In the original cartoon, the Joker had a rad car with his face on it called the Jokermobile that didn't make structural sense (But who cares?). Then he had a cool shag-carpeted car in the '60s and, briefly, an oversized Dodge sedan in the '80s. After that, you may remember that he hung his head out the window of a cop car like a dog in The Dark Knight, and drove a nutso purple Lambo in Suicide Squad. That's a lot of information! In The Lego Batman Movie, every time the Joker is seen riding in a car, he's riding on the side fender for some reason. Does he know there are seats in cars or is this a part of his kooky, anarchic lifestyle? 
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  (#10) There Was A Mention Of The Parade The Joker Threw For Himself In The 1989 Film

  Early on in the film, the Joker's many plans to destroy Gotham are being dissected and there's a one-liner about the time he threw himself a parade featuring the music of Prince. For those of you who are too young to remember when the Joker did something so fabulous, please go check out Tim Burton's 1989 genre-defining Batman film. If only there could have been a Lego version of Bat Dance.
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  (#11) All The Fantastic Bat Suits

  One of the most fun parts of The Lego Batman Movie is the constant callbacks to all the goofy versions of Batman that have existed throughout the years, but costumes like mariachi Batman and Rastaman are certainly a reference to all the Batman toys that you could buy in the '90s. Which Batman was your favorite? Crime Attack Batman? Iron Winch Batman? Laser Batman? Jungle Tracker Batman? Or Arctic Batman? All real, by the way. 
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  (#12) Batman's Personal Theme Song Features Bits Of An Old Favorite

  If Batman's super-tuff theme song that he jams to while he's defeating the Joker and his cronies at the beginning of the movie felt familiar, that's because it harkens back to the classic "da-na-na-na" melody that you can't unhear. Strangely enough, this is the first time that the 1960s Batman theme song has been referenced in a film. Who knew one of the guys from Fall Out Boy would be the hero that Gotham needed?
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  (#13) Poison Ivy Tries To Kiss Batman

  In her single gag in the film, Poison Ivy spends most of her time onscreen smooching penguins while trying to lay a smackeroo on Batman, which is the thing that brings him down in Batman & Robin. 
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  (#14) The Film's Color Scheme References Batman Forever

  There have been almost as many iterations of Gotham City as there have been Batmans. Like New York in Sex and the City, Gotham plays a silent character in the DC Universe and with every new film, television show, and comic, there's a redesign of the city's landscape. Rather than pay homage to the "serious" Batman films made by Christopher Nolan, or the opaque black nothing of Batman v Superman, the color scheme of The Lego Batman Movie rightfully leans into the more cartoonish visuals from Batman's history. Specifically, the purples and greens of Batman Forever. Who could have guessed that Joel Schumacher's headache of a movie would go on to inspire someone to make something that was somewhat watchable?
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  (#15) That Bust Of Shakespeare Tips Its Hat To The Original Entrance To The Batcave

  If you're a Batman superfan, then you know that he kept a secret button that opened a door to the Batcave inside a bust of Shakespeare, the Dark Knight of the theater. Look closely at the photo room in Wayne manor and you'll see a bust of the bard hanging out towards the back. 
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  (#16) Harley Quinn And The Joker Seemed Pretty Cozy

  The Joker turned on all his fellow villains in The Lego Batman Movie... except for Harley Quinn. In a nod to Batman: The Animated Series, Harley was at the Joker's side throughout all his plots, doting on him and reinforcing his ideas. The film never outright said it, but it definitely implied the two were in a relationship.
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  (#17) The Architecture Is Reminiscent Of The Burton Era

  While the colors of the film are more Batman Forever, many of the buildings of The Lego Batman Movie look to be influenced by the art deco architecture of Tim Burton's two films: Batman and Batman Returns. 
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  (#18) There Was A Sweet Transition That Referenced The '60s Batman Movie

  At one point, there's a quick transition from the Batcave to Batman and Robin tearing through the sky in one of their Lego monstrosities and it was that beautiful spinning transition from the '60s series that should honestly be used more often. 
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  (#19) The Bat Mug Rises

  One thing that keeps popping up in the film is the Bat-mug. No one ever uses it, but it's legitimately the coolest piece of Bat-merch from Tim Burton's 1989 film. 
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  (#20) The Iceberg Lounge Exists In The Lego Universe

  The audience doesn't get to spend any time in the Penguin's club, the Iceberg Lounge, but there is a quick shot at the end of the film during the final battle with the Lego supervillains. Neat!

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