25 Things You Missed In Zack Snyder's Watchmen (2009)

The Original Watchmen Has A Lot Of Hidden Secrets
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With HBO’s Watchmen series coming to us at full force, what better time than now to look back at Zack Snyder’s Watchmen. The seminal 1985 graphic novel, written by Alan Moore and inked by Dave Gibbons, changed comic books forever. It challenged what we thought was possible with visual storytelling and inspired countless, more thoughtful graphic novels in its wake. The Zack Snyder adaptation, released in 2009 was well-known for sticking close to the source material. Of all things, the truest part of the adaptation from book to film is probably the fact that both versions of Watchmen are full of Easter eggs and hidden gems. Join ScreenRant as we go over these 25 things you may have missed in Zack Snyder’s Watchmen.
Whether it’s references to U.S. history or comic book history, Zack Snyder and company had a lot of fun fleshing out the alternate timeline of Watchmen. There’s connections to be found in Watchmen’s use of music, including several of Bob Dylan’s classics. There’s a ton of visual cues associated with the Comedian, Sally Jupiter,Nite Owl and Doctor Manhattan. Plus, there’s the many appearances of Hollis Mason’s book, “Under the Hood.” Maybe you eagle-eyed fans noticed the Big Foot reference in found footage of Rorschach or perhaps you saw Batman’s origin in the opening credits sequence. Did you catch the nods to the Last Supper, the Outer Limits, Rambo, Elvis, Neil Armstrong, or JFK? We’ll go over all these and more in the following video. Who watches the Watchmen? We do.
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[@chrisk853]

I love how Rorschach is always seen walking around in the background watching without his mask.

[@SolsticeLair]

@Aswaldo yeah

[@gimpinmypants]

The end is nigh!

[@7t2z28]

You mean, wearing his disguise.

[@HrLBolle]

Hidden in plain sight

[@BanditOMG]

@@7t2z28 I see you~

[@edictzero]

The Comedian has a line " I haven't had this much fun since Woodward and Bernstein" implying he killed the 2 reporters who broke Watergate, allowing Nixon to amend the constitution and win 4 terms

[@Death_Korps_Officer]

Yes, in the comics is more subtle, but he did indeed killed both reporters thus Watergate never happened.

[@warface4881]

That's cool. I just thought it was like some old comedy due like Laurel and Hardy.

[@rubaiyat300]

Huh, so I guess ESPN went a different way since PTI would likely not exist as a result.

[@donaldduck830]

@@Death_Korps_Officer "What difference does it make?" One president ordering the federal intelligence apparatus to spy on the campaign of his chosen successor's opponent trumps watergate imho. With regards to how bad a scandal something is/was, Watergate ranks not even in the top 10 anymore.

[@Death_Korps_Officer]

@@donaldduck830 I believe you confused the comment, buddy.

[@faizanbaig2840]

"None of you seem to understand, I'm not locked in here with you, you're locked in here with me" - Rorschach (2009)

[@bladewed]

Best line in the entire movie.

[@oatlord]

@@bladewed Really the best thing about the movie period.

[@sociologiaanimal]

2009? 🤔

[@rellik1010]

I think I said something similar in math class my junior year.

[@ronnykazadi352]

Agent 47 stole it

[@JulianKranavita2244]

The music in this movie , the colouring and the action scenes were seriously amazing !

[@VuotoPneumaNN]

Some of the music is used in a very cringey way (like Hallelujah in the sex scene or Hendrix's All Along.. in the Vietnam War scenes).

[@jonnyvelocity]

@@VuotoPneumaNN All Along the Watchtower is used when Rorschach and Nite Owl are flying to Antarctica.

[@Daniel-lr6yz]

@@VuotoPneumaNN It was done on purpose.

[@speedforce117]

@@VuotoPneumaNN Ride of the Valkyries was used in the Vietnam scene and it was pretty appropriate.

[@ericjohnson2543]

@@VuotoPneumaNN the Leonard Cohen song Hallelujah is about sex.

[@jammin023]

The whole movie is massively underrated in my opinion. Not without its flaws, but then neither was the comic. The decision to change the nature of Ozymandias' plan was absolutely the right one. And it has, without doubt, one of the greatest opening credits sequences in the entire history of film.

[@noneyabusiness6957]

jammin023 I know lots of people who hated the movie.....I think it’s a great movie myself

[@robryan6188]

It's the best comic book adaptation of all time and in my top 3 favourite movies of all time.

[@tr3vk4m]

Nope. They missed the entire point.

[@MichealQuinm]

It was the first dark gritty superhero movie

[@Kevinselasie]

@@tr3vk4m i dont think so. The movie asked the questions the comic asked.

[@mrtequila2934]

Imagine being Zack Snyder and achieving this level of perfection only on your third film. I love this film, and all these little awesome details make me love it more.

[@mikebassett9054]

Even in the mcu age of films the watchmen movie is still bad ass , it will always be , it’s a timeless production

[@bigpun7916]

It was a great film , at least it was a bit more realistic than most.

[@The80sWolf_]

Disney has truly brainwashed a whole generation with those MCU movies. On social media every person with the slighest criticism get's completely trashed.

[@Shadowkiller-dq2ju]

I don’t care what anybody says but I like Watchmen. It’s one of my favorite superhero movies

[@marklowther3228]

I don't care what anyone says, I LOVE THIS MOVIE! There, that felt good to say.

[@neo7566]

It's so underrated. The amount of detail in it. Almost to the level of Kibrick. I loved it, but still don't understand why fans didn't like it..Weird.

[@VisionQuest057]

Same here, man, I loved it. Despite the occasional slip (like using a strangely sad slow remix of the "Hallelujah" song that every one knows mainly from the comical goofy _Shrek_ just a few years earlier during the love scene in the Archie shuttle which just made it _sooo_ weird for me, and also hamming up the violence a little too much like in Rorschach's childhood flashback where they paint him biting the kid's ear off as borderline gore-porn), the majority of the movie was very true to the comics and very well-made. Especially Dr. Manhattan, my fave of all time.

[@shoopypit4884]

Imo it’s better than the comic, and easily top ten comic films of all time

[@kavinsuresh5468]

@@shoopypit4884 not even close to the comic but is great

[@MollyFC]

I need to rewatch it for sure, especially after the show ends

[@elnieto6710]

Best comic book adaptation. The music was awesome.

[@KamKalambay]

hands down, not even close

[@Ityka023]

@@KamKalambay far by the best

[@joeyteter9383]

“None of you seem to understand..I’m not locked in here with you, you’re locked in here with me!” My favorite moment

[@xulnag1774]

Fun fact: In the scene were Gotham is mentioned. Fledermaus is German for Bat.

[@nothankyou4859]

well yeah. that's the name of the opera, "die fledermaus" by johann strauss II

[@hansrojas9487]

The Fledermaus is in the Tick cartoon.

[@mikegrasdal8137]

The opening scene is the best intro in cinema. My opinion of course but so much went on and the song choice perfectly matched the scenes.

[@goodmaro]

"The times, they are a-changin'", i.e. different time line.

[@eddiedivine]

The number 300 is on the comedian's apartment door. You can clearly see it when the coffee mug smashes into it.

[@biryaniguy1744]

You forgot about Zack Snyder himself in the movie, he was there in the helicopter @ 13:37

[@peterburman5193]

The greatest comic book film of all time! Zack is a visionary director!

[@marioalt9420]

This movie is phenomenal.

[@samueltheprideofafrikarobi9319]

Both The Tales of the Black Freighter and the novel-like excerpts of Under the Hood were added to the film in The Ultimate Cut; with the later being included as bonus scenes in the form of a reporter interviewing the original Night Owl in a coffee shop.

[@steviefranchize21]

i love how zack really does his homework with these type of movies. and all the references he uses are well placed and just make the movie so much more fun to watch.

[@RetroBuck]

Also in that opening montage, the image on the television in Sally Jupiter's living room is the Buddhist monk setting himself on fire in Saigon in 1963, another iconic image from the decade.

[@luke2870]

It must be seriously frustrating for Zack Snyder to not have people appreciate his genius.

[@buckaroobanzai7063]

Any genius found in this movie was stolen from Alan Moore. Snyder deserves no credit.

[@luke2870]

@@buckaroobanzai7063 I think you missed the entire point of this video...all the EASTER EGGS were Snyder's doing, not Alan.

[@buckaroobanzai7063]

@@luke2870 Easter eggs aren't genius. They hardly rank as clever.

[@luke2870]

@@buckaroobanzai7063 and you are the people that I am talking about that much frustrate Zack.

[@ADMG]

@@buckaroobanzai7063 You are so ignorant. Yes, Alan Moore is the genius behind the story, and he will always be credited for it, but Snyder deserves a lot of credit for making such a great adaptation. Not for nothing Watchmen is considered by many as "unadaptable", and he did the closest thing we have to the original material.

[@ronburgundy9148]

The ultimate Cut is the one to watch.

[@KamKalambay]

It's a masterpiece tbh

[@cyberpimp29]

I like the Black Freight cartoon, but the weird way they cut and paste it into the film was not done well

[@VisionQuest057]

100% agreed.

[@patricky3351]

Honestly the director cut is the way to go, it flows the best. Zack Synder said it himself, if you truly want the full experience you might as well just read the comic, the ultimate cut mainly just includes the animated comic segments, it’s just too odd cutting from the film to the animated short back and forth and 4 hours ain’t nobody got time for that.

[@cyberpimp29]

@@patricky3351 best comment winner

[@draconian_rex]

Regarding the reference to 'The Last Supper,' it could also be interpreted as Sally's fetus (Laurie) being Jesus, in the sense that she was Dr. Manhattan's (God's) remaining link to humanity, or as Sally sacrificing her costumed career as a step toward mankind's salvation (in which case Comedian's mirroring of Judas would make more sense)

[@frankventrella8558]

Wow, your video just blew my mind. Soo many comparisons. And great references to old shows and rock stars I grew up watching Thanks.

[@juliomoran6044]

I loved this movie when It went to my local cinema, still watch it every weekend when I can. And I totally liked your easter eggs, subscribing to your channel ! :D

[@joeycruz7667]

Guys - Dan Dreiberg is the NEW Nite Owl played by Patrick Wilson. Hollis Mason is the original Nite Owl played by Stephen McHattie.

[@andrewsherwin966]

There's a gwar song that has a lyric "from my fortress in Antarctica I watch the world die, on my Sony Trinitron that's switched to channel 5" the tv that shows Rorschach and Nightowl approaching towards the end reads channel 5 in the film.

[@Averagejoe-wl9ym]

Synder’s attention to detail amazes me, but yet still he makes overtly long schlock. Give this man a world class editor and do away with the slow-motion and he could deliver something truly great.

[@sejjorhymestv]

This movie. ...I love it. ...thanks

[@LocalHeretic-ck1kd]

same here

[@TastyBatZA]

As you may remember Jeff says hello to Jimm in the opening of the seen. Well what you may not know is that this is a reference to the 1551 Dango Revolution film where Dango says hello to Dutch.

[@browntroy101]

Thanks this was a pretty good video and I had no idea so many easter eggs were in this movie!

[@AbhijitDas-cw2vd]

That's A really great video and plz make a video with similarities between watchman show and movie or show vs movie

[@joshualarue1624]

"We dont get to see a 4legged chicken..." 11:27 He says as one sits on a table behind Dan. I only know because I picked up on it watching a few weeks ago in anticipation off Lindelof (brilliant) show.

[@CactusJack252]

One of the best comic book movies to hit the big screen.

[@hollywooda111]

Shock!! Hooded Justice in the TV Show resembles the Hood justice from the film!.... You mean the same Hooded justice from the actual comic book they are both referencing!?.... what's the odds..

[@mattteomatei3610]

TV series is racist to whites and trash

[@genevaechols3993]

Mattteo Matei no it’s not... the Tulsa massacre was real. Lynching were real....

[@raulcasarez2150]

@@mattteomatei3610 it’s not racist at all and almost the entire cast is white lol. Looking glass the second main good guy is white. The only time it’s “racist” is when their fighting the Rorschach gang which is basically the kkk.

[@Tony-qe3fl]

Yes! I need more of this! Great job guys!

[@TexTheMaster]

Watchmen def a cult classic. My favorite movie by far

[@elizabethmcheffey8699]

My best comic movie ever so dark and grim love it

[@Saanichian]

All these little details lend this movie a great deal of replay value. It's like a video game that you don't actually play, _per se_ . But it kinda feels like it supplies a similar feeling experience.

[@jungoogie]

This movie really is a cult classic. Real underrated movie that I'm honestly surprised never really made much in the theatre... though I think Avatar's the reason that Watchmen didn't do well.

[@ToomanyFrancis]

Watchmen was released on March 6 and Avatar was released on December 18. Avatar had absolutely no impact on the financial and critical failure of Watchmen.

[@KamKalambay]

This movie is a masterpiece

[@jazwilly85]

I was so confused about the 4 legged chicken part! I watched it again recently and thought I misheard that line. I watched it a dozen times and even put on the captions. Now it make sense! Also the coffee cup thing. I read the comic after seeing the movie then watched the movie after reading the comic and there is that part about her making coffee.

[@Influx27]

The main difference between the movie and the HBO series is that the movie's Dr. Manhattan has this terrifyingly deific quality to him. In the HBO series, he's just some dude wearing blue makeup.

[@pashapasovski5860]

Watchmen is my favorite superhero movie, by far! I love the antihero and alternate reality mix,grungy NYC, just like I lived and loved!

[@darktower7252]

" it's like turning air into gold".. I see what u did there...

[@tonyantonellis9983]

I honestly wished they used Sigourney Weaver as Sally Jupiter in her old age

[@JGPRIME25]

"Unforgettable" is also in the comic book

[@siamteachawngthu7779]

Exactly at 18:07...the moon where Dr Manhattan and silk spectre are standing..looks like a smiley face

[@anthonykellum9501]

Loved this movie. If you watch the final fight between Night Owl and Ozmandias, Owl does a spinning back kick and his cape wraps around his neck. Watch it, its fast

[@Vistico93]

I think this is the first one of these kinds of videos I've seen where I genuinely did not notice like 90% of what you mentioned. Loved the Batman denial one. I could've watched that movie a hundred times and not picked up on that.

[@chrisgomez8342]

MCR made a good cover of desolation row.

[@alricsmith6115]

My favorite line: Rorschach: "You don't seem to understand. I'm not locked in here with you... (in his Batman voice) You are locked in here with me!"

[@tnetroP]

Interesting. Thanks. One of my favourite films.

[@sandplasma]

This is a treat! I loved Watchmen. They should make another one.

[@rainerwahnsinn9585]

and Titanic II,the Britannic and Titanic III ,the olympic

[@sandplasma]

@@rainerwahnsinn9585cool story bro

[@patricky3351]

To anyone wondering how to watch this film watch the Directors cut over the theatrical or ultimate. It’s the way Zack Synder intended it to be seen anyway. Ultimate cut makes it 4 hours long and includes the animated comic from the comic haha (yeah I know)

[@stephanberger3476]

You said Dan Dreiberg where you meant Hollis Mason. Also: Angela "ay-bar", not ah-barr.

[@michaelzoran]

There "could" and "should" be side-story movies that would be awesome. There could be a "Night Owl" movie starring Patrick Wilson. We could see how Night Owl previously worked with the other Watchmen in the past when people were allowed to legally dress as superheroes.

[@nothingislogical]

Another great fact involving Under The Hood: There's a mockumentary based on it in the special features on the DVD/Blu Ray for the movie.

[@garybuzzell2374]

11:40, isn't that Hollis Mason's house? Not Dan Dreiberg's office? Thats the scene where the Knot Tops kill Hollis (spoiler warning). Hollis likely isn't at Dan's office.

[@tonyantonellis9983]

the DCEU Shazam film made earlier this year, also has the watchmen smiley face in a office scene in the beginning of the film

[@albacygnus6057]

Thanks i learn a lot

[@hapkijo9713]

One of my favorite movies, I think it's totally under rated.

[@nothankyou4859]

this is a great video but it's odd that at 5:14 you didn't actually use the da vinci original of the last supper painting??

[@dragonknight1297]

perhaps "boys" is a reference to "The Boys"..

[@geoffedwards-tb4kp]

Always sir. Boys will be boys.

[@Balafoutre]

I am in awe!!! So excellent!!!!!!

[@namekal6000]

The "Good luck Mr. Gorsky" line started as a joke in a Buddy Hackett routine.

[@buh2001j]

'Unforgettable' is playing in the background of the comic, and the hooded justice design is the same as it is in the comic. Either you put this in as filler or to provoke reactions, unless its just straight up incompetence or laziness.

[@donvittoriophoto]

What is the background music playing in this video that starts at :35 seconds in?

[@chlobobo9663]

I really loved this movie and novel ❤

[@MrJeffkosa]

....Awesome TRIVIA THANKS💙💚☝️

[@portland-182]

0.08 exploding TV shop is a call back to Brazil, and perhaps a tip of the hat to that films director Terry Gilliam who was set to direct Watchmen at one point. 0.25 Lightning behind Rorschach is a call back to the famous cover of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, originally released in 1986, the same year as the Watchmen, and is also held up as a key book in the superhero books going 'dark n gritty'. 0.32 Veidt's pyramid logo looks very similar to the old AOL logo

[@robbiedegrenier]

It wasn't a snow globe Laurie threw in the comic, It was a bottle of perfume.

[@joeyjules9400]

This movie was great. I enjoyed it and still do

[@cesarherrera1926]

Probably my favorite movie of all time its a tuff one to say but this movie is as close as it gets for me

[@emmanouildrosopoulos7894]

the Nite owl Patrick Wilson is the Orm from aquaman xD

[@t0mn8r35]

This was very interesting.

[@bnol1115]

Doctor Manhattan did not create the DC universe. he did, in fact, cause the New 52, a reboot that DC did in 2011

[@ranwolf7650]

Apparently he caused ALL the DC reboots.

[@bloodydove5718]

thats what i was about to say. He didnt create, he pulled strings to influence major outcomes

[@Agelis]

Recently got the ultimate cut, I absolutely love this film

[@tedeng9428]

Regarding the "Watchman" graphic novel appearing on the Owl (1)s shelf - Marvel Comics existed within the Marvel Universe. In one issue of the Fantastic Four, it was said that Marvel sent an intern to the FF headquarters (once a month or so) who would ask them about any recent adventures and take notes. That would then be made into a comic book.

[@weeznaz8195]

I still think it is one of the best superhero movies ever made. It’s a shame so many people diss on it.

[@xerozeven]

Agree, just watched it again about two days ago and it's even better than I remember. Hadn't seen it in years. Top 5 for sure for me. Honestly, I can't see how you could diss this adaptation when it's one of the better shots taken at filming something created for another medium and was thought to be unfilmable.

[@tshidi129]

I think it was just ahead of it's time... It was real and gritty for a superhero movie, and maybe people weren't ready for that take on the genre

[@Fadeloot1]

The code on the briefcase right before the blast in New York reads "300".

[@mursaleenbaba]

Also in Batman v Superman, in the fight scene between batman and superman we can see "quis custodiet ipsos custodes" written on a wall in Wayne manor.

[@jb888888888]

You've confused Dan Dreiberg with Hollis Mason on more than one occasion. Also Sally Jupiter and Ursula Zandt/Silhouette. Plus you credited Snyder/his film with things which originated in the comic.

[@Brehat29]

Thanks for all the intel. Personnally, I always believed it would have been so much cooler if the astronaut welcomed by Dr Manhattan on the moon had been a Soviet.

[@goodmaro]

See if you can tie that into the world of "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress".

[@euphospug]

I missed the squid.

[@kjk607]

What's the name of the background song that starts in 0:35

[@jorgeceballos3968]

where can i get the name of the beat that plays under? it is so chill

[@dvoidd]

Look for Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross Finn SCORE first, then the series soundtrack. Took me awhile to find certain tracks

[@joshualarue1624]

Also Watcmen book in Nite Owl II's garage on the table

[@rkn3045]

2009 watchmen > 2020 watchmen

[@isabelmckenzie3252]

Amazing!

[@Pure_Michigan_Gurl]

The movie takes place in the year 1985, the same year as Back to the Future. In Dan's flashback to him and the Comedian taking care of a riot, when Comedian goes to the ground and starts fighting, Dan says "Oh, this is getting heavy". It is a nice reference but by adding one word it's not copying BttF.

[@brynf4377]

Also mad max Road warrior was on one of TV screens aswell

[@mikey-wl2jt]

"Zac snyder doesn't always take his work hyper-seriously." Golly, who knew?

[@dvoidd]

Michael Schwarting You have to take into account that there is a DC/ Disney ruin good films with their writer and producer holding Snyder back. Sucker punch/ 300/mad max were great imo. DC doesn’t help but hold him back, change writers and it’s made for TV not a film. I’d take that into consideration

[@dvoidd]

Michael Schwarting Is that a bad thing? It’s hard to blend comedy and tragedy, Films can seem pretentious, especially when he tried the recent D.C, but I get your point tho.

[@dvoidd]

Yes

[@briangriffin5701]

"What happened to the American Dream?" "It came true, you're lookin at it!" 🥺

[@new_age_entertainment]

I loved this movie since I first saw it in theaters back in 2009. Highly under rated.

[@fireninja1972]

I freaking love this movie well except for the blue 🌂

[@johnwayne2103]

The finest Super Hero movie to date., bar none.

[@garygillespie]

Anyone know how to get a hold of the song at 7:29?

[@benfontaine1972]

masterpiece

[@mlongpre100]

8:55 and the question remains , who the heck heard him say this whispered word when he was alone ?