Trivia
- The film features over 100 pop culture references from the 1980s and 1990s, including The Iron Giant, Back to the Future, Akira, and Street Fighter.
- Director Steven Spielberg purposely limited references to his own movies to keep the focus on others’ creations rather than his own legacy.
- The virtual world of the OASIS was inspired by early MMORPGs like EverQuest and World of Warcraft.
- Author Ernest Cline co-wrote the screenplay and even created a real-life Easter egg hunt for fans during the movie’s release.
- Every vehicle in the film was fully modeled in 3D — including the DeLorean, the Batmobile, and the Light Cycle from Tron.
- Actors performed most of their scenes in motion-capture suits — the entire OASIS was added digitally later.
- Ready Player One premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, in 2018 and received a standing ovation.
- Spielberg insisted that even with so much CGI, the film should feel like a live-action adventure, using realistic camera movements in virtual space.
- The soundtrack includes classic hits from Van Halen, Duran Duran, and Blondie, enhancing the nostalgic 80s atmosphere.