%%As per the Shout-Out page definition: "the reference must be unambiguous and reasonably construed as deliberate on the part of the creators. [...] As a general rule of thumb, if the example needs to be couched with Word Cruft like, "seems to be," "bears a resemblance to" or "could possibly be," it's almost certainly not an example." Do not add examples if they are merely similarities instead of clear and intentional references.
%%
* "[[Franchise/{{Terminator}} Come with me if you wanna not die.]]" Additionally, Lord Business's Skeletrons resemble Terminators.
* Wyldstyle's introduction, feats of skill, and role in rescuing the prophesied hero is comparable to that of Trinity of ''Film/TheMatrix''. The Think Tank is similar in concept to the cells where the Machines put the humans to use them as living batteries. There's also Emmet finally grasping the rules of his universe in the climax.
-->"I can see ''everything!''"
* One of the locations is called "{{Cloudcuckooland}}", a ShoutOut to {{Creator/Aristophanes}}. Cloudcuckooland's [[WorldOfChaos style]] is a shout-out to ''WesternAnimation/TwiceUponATime''.
* Bad Cop announces, [[Franchise/ScoobyDoo "Ruh-roh!"]] when he arrives to attack Cloudcuckooland.
* The location for the ''Toys/LEGOCastle'' theme in this world is referred to as "[[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Middle Zealand]]".
* ''{{Toys/BIONICLE}}'', LEGO ''Film/SpeedRacer'', ''Toys/{{Fabuland}}'' and ''Toys/LEGOFriends'' get a reference in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it montage explained by Wyldstyle. The map of the LEGO universe can be seen in another part of Wyldstyle's {{Expospeak}}, containing further references to LEGO themes, such as ''Atlantis'', ''Pharaoh's Quest'', Technic Mecha Cave and [[Toys/KnightsKingdom2 Vladek's Realm]].
* One of Octan co. security measures is [[Film/AustinPowers laser sharks]] with [[EnergyWeapon Frickin' Laser Beams]] strapped onto their heads.
* [[Film/BatmanBegins Batman fighting a two-faced character played by Liam Neeson, works with Morgan Freeman]] and [[spoiler: telling Lucy that [[Film/TheDarkKnight Emmet was the hero she deserved]] in the finale]]. And Batman was fighting a DirtyCop, which were his enemies [[ComicBook/BatmanYearOne during his early years]].
* At Cloud Cuckooland, Batman is annoyed by a clown and a man in a dino suit. So the Joker and Killer Croc, essentially. Alternatively, the dino suit could be a reference to the ''T. rex'' Batman keeps in his Batcave.
%%* During the attack on Cloud Cuckooland, a unicorn runs by on fire. The same thing is witnessed during the climax of ''{{Film/Avatar}}''.
%%* The destruction of Cloudcuckooland is also similar to the terrorist attack on the good side of Imaginationland from ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'''s ''Imaginationland'' trilogy.
* [[spoiler:Emmet's fall down the black hole marking the edge of the universe]] resembles the Stargate sequence from ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey''. Additionally, [[spoiler:Lord Business refers to his flying headquarters as a "black monolith".]]
%%* [[spoiler: The flying monolith also resembles the square ships used by [[Film/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy2005 the Vogons when they destroy earth]]. The Vogons similarly cause panic when they take over communication channels]]
* An extremely subtle reference is slipped in during the climax, shouting out to [=BrickFilm=] community. One of the first major [=BrickFilms=] (stop-motion movies made out of Lego, no doubt a big inspiration for the film) was [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jde4qHbCtSg ''The Magic Portal'']], made sometime in the late 80s. Now, look at [[spoiler:the tube that Finn uses to send Emmet back into the Lego world at the end]]: what's it called? '''''The Magic Portal'''''.
* Batman crashing the Batwing through the "sun" and producing a Bat-symbol is likely a ShoutOut to the 1989 ''[[Film/Batman1989 Batman]]'' film, wherein the plane did the same thing to the Moon. The symbol itself is the one used in ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy''.
* Johnny Thunder's cameo role includes two jokes referencing his ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' Expy status: An IndyHatRoll through the portal when Wyldstyle explains how the Master Builders escaped Lord Business's forces and [[IndyEscape running from a golf ball]] during the assault on Cloud Cuckooland. This also isn't [[Toys/LEGOStudios the first time]] Johnny Thunder has been in an IndyEscape involving [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLdL7C49qQI a super-sized human sport ball]].
* One of the title cards inexplicably plays a snippet of the ''[[Series/DoubleDare1986 Double Dare]]'' theme.
* Three shout-outs to Liam Neeson's famous line in the ''Film/{{Clash of the Titans|2010}}'' remake:
** When chasing Wyldstyle and Emmet in the city, Bad Cop says on his radio: "Release the Copper-Chopper!"
** Lord Business later declares: "Release the Kragle!"
** When Metalbeard states the rules of piracy, one of the rules that can be seen is: "Never release a Kraken."
%%* The "Kra[[spoiler:zy]]Gl[[spoiler:u]]e" is a nod to the reveal of ''V[[spoiler:oya]]ger [[spoiler:6]]'' in ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture''.
* Lord and Miller love to reference their previous work, ''WesternAnimation/CloneHigh'':
** A dolphin chirp is thrown in when Emmet is being booed by the Master Builders (specifically, from a shark that someone threw at him). Dolphins were a RunningGag in ''Clone High''.
** The Cleopatra mini-fig waves pom poms when the NBA all-stars are fighting Bad Cop and the micromanagers. Cleo in ''Clone High'' was a cheerleader.
** The DVD-exclusive short ''Michelangelo and Lincoln: History Cops'' has definite shades of ''Black and Tan'' from the episode "Film Fest: Tears of a Clone".
* The term "Master Builder" is a title given to employees of LEGO whose job entails helping to design new sets and also building large, complex statues out of LEGO bricks, the kind that are commonly displayed at LEGO theme parks and retail stores.
%%* The 'melting chamber' device is basically the device [[Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack Darth Vader used to torture Han Solo in Cloud City]].
%%** The Micromanagers [[spoiler:turn out to be a KeystoneArmy]] in the style of [[Film/ThePhantomMenace the Battle Droids.]]
%%** They also look a lot like the sentinels from Franchise/TheMatrix.
%%* The melting chamber is also very reminiscent of the famous laser scene in ''{{Film/Goldfinger}}''.
%%* The favorite TV show of everyone in Bricksburg, ''Where are my Pants?'', is a not-so-subtle reference to [[Film/RoboCop1987 "I'd Buy That for a Dollar!"]] or [[Film/{{Idiocracy}} "Ow My Balls!"]].
* [[spoiler: When Wyldstyle yells "I found your pants, series is over!"]], it seems like a reference to ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', a series that ends when the title of the show is answered. Specifically, because directors Lord and Miller wrote for that show.
%%* The vision Emmet receives when he touches the Piece could just as well have been delivered by a [[VideoGame/MassEffect1 Prothean beacon.]]
%%* In Emmet's brain, they have a vision of [[spoiler: Finn]] that looks an awful lot like [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Crazy Hand]]. [[spoiler:The premises between the two franchises are similar as well.]]
* When the team infiltrates Lord Business' Tower, Wyldstyle tells Emmet that they're in the clear by giving him [[Film/TeamAmericaWorldPolice The Signal]]
* In the Old West, Emmet and co. try to escape Bad Cop with a [[Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII horse-drawn DeLorean]].
%%* Metalbeard himself, being a HumongousMecha that looks like [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid a similar named bipedal robot]] from another series.
%%** With his [[ArmCannon wrist mounted cannons]], giant mechanical hand and mechanical jawline accessory, more than a few comparisons have been drawn between him and one [[http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/9/98/Ghazghkull_vs_Yarrick.jpg Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka]].
%%** His EyepatchOfPower is a metal plate riveted onto his right eye, not unlike [[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry General Chang.]]
* Morgan Freeman talking about [[Film/BruceAlmighty The Man Upstairs]].
* The voice-activated computer in Lord Business's lair acts like a poorly-functioning version of Siri.
%%* Vitruvius was the original [[Franchise/TheMatrix architect]], writing ten books on the subject that laid the foundation for building as we know it, before being voiced by Morgan Freeman.
* [[Literature/NineteenEightyFour Emmet starts his day with exercise and a round of TV, as mandated by the government]]. Also counts as a non-naughty ParentalBonus.
* The DVDCommentary reveals that President Business' expressions [[spoiler:during his HeelFaceTurn]] were partially inspired by those of [[Literature/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas the Grinch.]]
%%* This is not the first time a character portrayed by Creator/LiamNeeson was told "[[Film/{{Taken}} Nothing personal, just business]]".
* Business uses an army of [[Franchise/RoboCop robot police]]. %%Bad Cop's entire character arc as well. He starts out with a kind side, only to have it erased by a CorruptCorporateExecutive so that he can be his loyal stooge, [[spoiler: before realising that he was being used and dispatched. He then overrides his lawful duties, changes his face to a more benign (albeit a unsettling) one and helps the heroes stop his cruel master]].
%%* When Bad Cop rides in on a horse in the Old West, is it a [[WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog Bad Horse]]?
%%* The climatic battle bears an extremely strong resemblance to the final climatic battle of the ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' movie (down to having villains extremely obsessed with order taking over the city/[[MythologyGag Tri-State Area]] with a horde of flying robots, only to be taken down by an equally large and awesome horde of creations made from people's imaginations).
%%* The video game also has a giant mechanical spider as the FinalBoss, which you finish off by severing its arms and throwing them back at its body. This is similar to [[spoiler:Metal Gear EXCELSUS]] in ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance''.
* The large LEGO brick balancing on its corner in Bricksburg is a reference to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamo_%28sculpture%29 Alamo Cube]], a piece of public art in New York City.
%%* Even though they were mocking ''Franchise/StarWars'' with that Millennium Falcon bit, Emmet stopping the bad guy by [[spoiler: talking him into making a HeelFaceTurn and believing that he can be good instead of fighting him is]] comparable to Luke and Vader in ''Return of the Jedi''. Even more so [[spoiler: when you know that it is actually representing a son talking to his father]].
* The tie-in video game and ''Lego Dimensions'' show that Unikitty has [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic telekinetic powers that come from her horn.]]
%%* The bit where Emmet drives the motorcycle through a house that fell on its side is a nod to a [[https://youtu.be/bhGWWY1nCWw scene]] in the 1996 movie ''Film/{{Twister}}''.
* Lord Business' robots were getting deactivated upon the destruction of the top of the octan tower is likely a reference from [[Film/ThePhantomMenace Star Wars: The Phantom Menace]].
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