* One-sheets of ''Film/{{Earthquake}}'', ''Film/Halloween1978'', and ''Film/DawnOfTheDead1978'' are prominently displayed in Charles' room.
* Posters of ''Film/Halloween1978'' and ''{{Film/Star Wars|ANewHope}}'' are shown in Joe Lamb's room.
* Models of [[Film/CreatureFromTheBlackLagoon Gillman]] and [[Film/TheTexasChainSawMassacre1974 Leatherface]] are shown in Joe Lamb's room.
* Elliott's bike from ''[[Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial E.T.]]'' makes an appearance late in the film, crate and all.
* Joe Lamb's father is a [[Series/VeronicaMars Sheriff's Deputy]], but at least he's not CluelessDeputy.
* In Charles' movie "The Case", the evil MegaCorp responsible for the zombie outbreak is named "Romero Chemicals", after Creator/GeorgeARomero, the director of ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968'' and ''Film/DawnOfTheDead1978'', which must have been the kid's main sources of inspiration.
* "Operation Walking Distance" had its codename chosen because "Walking Distance" was Abrams' favorite episode of ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959''. It is about going back to where and when you grew up, which in some ways fits considering this is Abrams' tribute to the movies that he liked growing up.
* When the alien attacks the bus, the driver is [[Film/JurassicPark grabbed by the feet and pulled out, and he futilely holds on tightly to the side of the door before finally being pulled out and eaten]].
* Cary is quite possibly named after Cary Guffey, the 3-year-old star of ''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind''.
* In "The Case," Detective Hathaway takes a look around Building 47, one of Abrams' {{Arc Number}}s.