Comedy
In the 1990 holiday classic Home Alone, what is the surname of the family left behind in Chicago?
A) McCallister
B) Johnson
C) Edwards
A) McCallister
Kevin's iconic face-slap and scream was completely unscripted. Macaulay Culkin was supposed to move his hands away after putting on aftershave, but he left them on his cheeks, creating a movie history moment.
In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), what infamous historical figures is Indiana Jones racing against to find the Ark of the Covenant?
A) The Soviets
B) The Nazis
C) The Italian Fascists
B) The Nazis
Tom Selleck was originally cast as Indiana Jones but had to drop out because he had just filmed the pilot for CBS's Magnum, P.I.. Spielberg and George Lucas then quickly cast Ford, who had just finished playing Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back.
Which classic psychological horror movie famously takes place at the isolated Overlook Hotel during a snowy winter?
A) Psycho
B) The Shining
C) Misery
B) The Shining
The scene where Wendy swings a baseball bat at Jack went into the Guinness Book of World Records because it took a staggering 127 takes to complete.
In the Harry Potter film series, what is the name of the magical, hidden sport played by wizards on flying broomsticks?
A) Quidditch
B) Bludgerball
C) Snitchrun
A) Quidditch
The floating candles in the Great Hall were originally real candles hung by wires from the ceiling. They were later replaced with digital effects after the flames began burning through the wires and crashing down.
In the 2001 movie Shrek, what iconic snack item does Shrek use to explain that ogres have layers?
A) An onion
B) A parfait
C) A cake
A) An onion
"Shrek" is derived from the Yiddish and German word Schreck, which translates to "fear" or "terror".
In Ghostbusters (1984), who is mistakenly possessed and becomes the Keymaster of Gozer?
A) Peter Venkman
B) Louis Tully
C) Ray Stantz
B) Louis Tully
Almost none of the scenes were filmed exactly as written. A massive portion of Bill Murray's dialogue was completely ad-libbed on set. For example, the iconic line when Egon says, "That would have worked if you hadn't stopped me," was ad-libbed by Harold Ramis.
In the 2000 historical action epic Gladiator, what is the name of the Roman general-turned-gladiator played by Russell Crowe?
A) Maximus Decimus Meridius
B) Commodus
C) Juba
A) Maximus Decimus Meridius
Russell Crowe initially turned down the part as he was 40 lbs overweight from a previous role. He didn't go on an intense gym regimen to lose it; instead, he got in shape by doing hard physical labor around his farm in Australia.
Which 1978 film marked Jamie Lee Curtis's feature film debut, where she was paid only $8,000 and provided her own wardrobe?
A) The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
B) Carrie
C) Halloween
C) Halloween
The terrifying mask was a 1975 William Shatner Captain Kirk mask bought at a local costume shop. The crew widened the eyeholes, spray-painted it white, and teased the hair.
Which 1984 fantasy film tells the story of a troubled boy who reads a mysterious book about a magical land slowly being consumed by a destructive force called "The Nothing"?
A) Labyrinth
B) The Never-Ending Story
C) Willow
B) The Never-Ending Story
Writer Michael Ende, the author of the novel that the movie was based on, famously called the movie a "humongous melodrama of kitsch, commerce, and plastic." He even tried to sue the producers to have his name removed from the opening credits.
Which animated movie holds the distinction of being the first fully computer-animated feature film in history?
A) Antz
B) Toy Story
C) Monsters, Inc.
B) Toy Story
Toy Story 2 was nearly completely deleted during production due to an accidental system command. The film was only saved because a supervising technical director, who was working from home, had a functional backup of the files on her personal computer.
In When Harry Met Sally..., who famously delivers the line, "I'll have what she's having"?
A) Meg Ryan
B) Carrie Fisher
C) An extra sitting at the next table
C) An extra sitting at the next table
The director, Rob Reiner, casted his own mother for the iconic "I'll have what she's having" line.
What is the name of the Los Angeles skyscraper where the iconic 1988 action film Die Hard takes place?
A) The Nakatomi Plaza
B) The Transamerica Pyramid
C) The Empire State Building
A) The Nakatomi Plaza
Die Hard (1988) was based on Roderick Thorp's novel Nothing Lasts Forever, and the iconic "Yippee ki yay" line was improvised as a nod to classic Roy Rogers cowboy movies.
In the iconic 1996 slasher movie Scream, what is the name of the protagonist who is relentlessly terrorized by Ghostface?
A) Laurie Strode
B) Sidney Prescott
C) Nancy Thompson
B) Sidney Prescott
Screenwriter Kevin Williamson originally wrote the opening sequence as a one-act play before deciding to flesh it out into a full feature film.
hat object does the Goblin King, Jareth, steal from Sarah in Jim Henson's 1986 fantasy cult-classic Labyrinth?
A) Her teddy bear
B) Her baby brother
C) Her silver pendant
B) Her baby brother
The incredible crystal ball manipulation performed by the Goblin King wasn't a camera trick. It was executed blind by accomplished juggler Michael Moschen, who crouched directly behind David Bowie with his arms extending through the rock star's jacket.
In The Lion King, to what forbidden location does Simba initially take Nala, where they are chased by hyenas?
A) The Dead Marshes
B) The Mystic Woods
C) The Elephant Graveyard
C) The Elephant Graveyard
Disney executives originally had much higher hopes for Pocahontas, which many top animators preferred to work on. This left The Lion King with their "B-Team," yet it became a massive success.
What is the name of the central news anchor played by Will Ferrell in the 2004 satire Anchorman?
A) Brick Tamland
B) Brian Fantana
C) Ron Burgundy
C) Ron Burgundy
The cast improvised so much dialogue Mental Floss that the editors and director Adam McKay were able to assemble a completely separate straight-to-DVD film titled Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie Mental Floss.
What gas is famously used by the street racers in the original 2001 film The Fast and the Furious to give their cars a massive, temporary speed boost?
A) Carbon monoxide
B) Propane
C) Nitrous oxide
C) Nitrous oxide
Stars Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster didn’t even have learner's permits when they were cast in the original film.
In the 1980 horror masterpiece Friday the 13th, who is revealed to be the actual killer terrorizing the camp counselors at Camp Crystal Lake?
A) Jason Voorhees
B) Mrs. Voorhees
C) Michael Myers
B) Mrs. Voorhees
Betsy Palmer accepted the role of Mrs. Voorhees simply because her car broke down and she needed $10,000 to buy a new one. After reading the script, she originally called it a "piece of [work]".
In the 2005 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, what sweet treat does the White Witch use to enchant Edmund Pevensie?
A) Peppermint sticks
B) Chocolate truffles
C) Turkish Delight
C) Turkish Delight
Georgie Henley’s (Lucy) astonishment upon entering the wintery Narnia world is entirely real. The crew kept her blindfolded until the moment cameras rolled. Her shock at meeting Mr. Tumnus also required no acting; she had not seen James McAvoy in his full fawn costume before shooting began.
In The Incredibles, which member of the Parr family has the superpower to generate incredibly powerful force fields?
A) Dash
B) Violet
C) Jack-Jack
B) Violet
Jason Lee (Syndrome) recorded all of his lines in just four days, while Craig T. Nelson (Mr. Incredible) recorded his over the course of two years.
In the 2008 comedy Step Brothers, what is the name of the prestigious music event where Brennan performs "Por ti volaré"?
A) The Catalina Wine Mixer
B) The Prestige Worldwide Gala
C) The Huff Family Reunion
A) The Catalina Wine Mixer
Will Ferrell actually sings "Por Ti Volare" and John C. Reilly plays the drums during the climactic Catalina Wine Mixer. Reilly learned to play the drums on the set of the 1995 film Georgia.
Keanu Reeves' character in Speed (1994) has to keep a city transit bus moving above what speed to prevent a bomb from detonating?
A) 30 mph
B) 50 mph
C) 100 mph
B) 50 mph
The opening elevator scene was inspired by director Jan de Bont's own experience of getting stuck on an elevator while filming Die Hard.
In the 1973 supernatural horror classic The Exorcist, what is the name of the demonic entity that possesses the young girl, Regan MacNeil?
A) Valak
B) Pazuzu
C) Bughuul
B) Pazuzu
To make the actors' breath visibly freeze on camera, director William Friedkin utilized four large air conditioners to keep Regan’s bedroom set at an agonizing 30 to 40 degrees below zero.
Which phrase is spoken often by the protagonist in the classic 1987 romantic fantasy film The Princess Bride?
A) "As you'd like"
B) "As you please"
C) "As you wish"
C) "As you wish"
Mandy Patinkin (Inigo Montoya) bruised his ribs trying to hold in his laughter while off-camera, and Cary Elwes (Westley) had to be replaced by a dummy in some shots because he simply could not stop breaking character.
In Disney’s Encanto, what is the unique magical gift given to Bruno?
A) Shape-shifting
B) Controlling the weather
C) Seeing the future
C) Seeing the future
Instead of a classic villain, the true "antagonist" of the film is the generational fear and pressure placed on the Madrigal family.