Have you ever watched a movie where there was a reference you didn’t understand and just chose to ignore it? Of course, everybody does that. In this article, we thought we should explain some cultural references that are present in well-known movies and TV Shows so that the next time you watch something you can be in the loop. We chose some newcomers as well as some OG shows that we all know and love. Read along and get ready for an “aaaaah” moment after you finish this article. And if you’re stuck and don’t know what to watch next, check out Netflix for some new shows that are getting popular at the moment.

An American song in Friends

If you’re a fan of the super popular sitcom Friends and you’ve watched it more than once, you surely found some references that you didn’t understand. That is if you’re not familiar with American culture. Well, one of them is the song that Joey sings when he finds his identical hand twin. If you thought the song was just catchy and made up for the show, you will be surprised to find out that the tune is actually a parody of an American old folk song that used to be popular in the 40s. So if you’ve got it stuck in your head the next time you watch Friends, just google “This Land is your land” by Woody Guthrie and thanks us later.

An Irish door knocker in Finding you

Watching the new Netflix romcoms is a great way to spend a relaxing evening if you want a feel-good movie. And they always come up with new ones. But in a particular Netflix romcom from 2021, Finding you there are many Irish references that you might not get if you’re not familiar with the culture. The one that caught our eye is the door knocker that you can see on Ms. Sweeny’s sister’s door. The Irish door knocker says “cead mile failte” which is Irish for “one thousand hundred welcomes”. This type of door knocker is very popular in Ireland and worldwide, that’s why it is easy to shop for them online, making the movie more accurate when it comes to showing their culture. It’s a subtle touch that adds to the Irish landscapes and shows the attention to detail that is found in this movie.

Characters in Coco

 If you’re a Disney fan, you’ve surely seen(or have to see immediately) the movie Coco. A great animation about the Mexican celebration of the ones who passed away. But what you may not know is that while the whole movie references Mexican culture, there is more. Ernesto de la Cruz, the famous character in the movie, is made to resemble two well-known Mexican actors: Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete. They were famous during the 30s-60s and they have inspired the star of Coco.