History Trivia / Apocalypto

* CaliforniaDoubling: Although they did film in Mexico, they picked Veracruz (in the middle of the gulf coast) to double for Yucatan and the Caribbean; this is especially noticeable in the scenes on the beach.

* NoDubForYou: This movie is one of the few Hollywood films when this trope is enforced, as, by Creator/MelGibson's request, the movie wasn't dubbed on any foreign language, just like his [[Film/ThePassionOfTheChrist previous film]]. Unlike that film, there's a ''single'' exception on that rule: Japan is the only country when the film received a dub, very likely to help the audience to empathize with both the characters and the very Latin American setting.

* GeniusBonus: The name of the city where the slaves are taken is never identified in the film, but an expert on things Mayan would guess that it is probably Copan, which was near the border between Guatemala and Honduras. Like the city depicted, Copan was within walking (or, in this case, running) distance of both the Caribbean Sea and a major river.

* DoingItForTheArt: Mel Gibson specifically wanted actual buildings constructed, as opposed to relying on CGI. Extensive historical research was done on the period, with any artistic license done for the sake of cinematic beauty. Additionally, a dialect coach was on set every day to help the actors.
* GeniusBonus - The name of the city where the slaves are taken is never identified in the film, but an expert on things Mayan would guess that it is probably Copan, which was near the border between Guatemala and Honduras. Like the city depicted, Copan was within walking (or, in this case, running) distance of both the Caribbean Sea and a major river.

* NeverWorkWithChildrenOrAnimals: The jaguar chasing Rudy Youngblood had to restrained by a tether for the chase scene; Mel Gibson remarking "you can't train a jaguar".

* BigNameFan: The film received lavish praise from many big names in Hollywood. Creator/RobertDuvall called it maybe the best film he'd seen in 25 years. Directors Creator/QuentinTarantino and Creator/MartinScorsese both gave the film high praise. Creator/SpikeLee put it on his "essential films for filmmakers" list in 2013, the most recent film on the list.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: In North America, the film has been out of print for years, and no possible way to watch it digitally without piracy. [=DVDs=] go for low as $30, and [=BluRays=] going for as low as $50! However, it is still in print in the UK, with Amazon offering downloads and region 2 discs for regular prices in spring 2020.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: In North America, the film has been out of print for years, and no possible way to watch it digitally without piracy. [=DVDs=] go for low as $30, and [=BluRays=] going for as low as $50!

* HeyItsThatVoice - The Japanese-dubbed version is the the only known foreign version with a proper dub, despite Creator/MelGibson not wanting any kind of dub of this movie, according with the Japanese version of TheOtherWiki:
** [[Creator/HirokiTakahashi Jaguar Paw]] is [[VideoGame/StreetFighterIV Ryu]] and [[SchoolRumble Kenji Harima.]]
** [[Creator/HirokiTochi Middle Eye]] is [[Manga/{{Bokurano}} Kokopelli]] and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Lasse Aion.]]
** [[Creator/YukoKaida Seven]] is [[Anime/QueensBlade Risty]] and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Marida Cruz.]]

** [[Creator/YukoKaida Seven]] is [[QueensBlade Risty]] and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Marida Cruz.]]

** [[Creator/HirokiTochi Middle Eye]] is [[Manga/{{Bokurano}} Kokopelli]] and [[MobileSuitGundam00 Lasse Aion.]]
** [[Creator/YukoKaida Seven]] is [[QueensBlade Risty]] and [[GundamUnicorn Marida Cruz.]]

** [[Creator/HirokiTochi Middle Eye]] is [[{{Bokurano}} Kokopelli]] and [[MobileSuitGundam00 Lasse Aion.]]

* HeyItsThatVoice - The Japanese-dubbed version is the the only known foreign version with a proper dub, despise Creator/MelGibson not wanting any kind of dub of this movie, according with the Japanese version of TheOtherWiki:

* FreezeFrameBonus - Where's Wally? is among a mountain of corpses for a single frame. Because of its absurd nature the part was cut from the DVD release but some TV airings still showed it.

** [[HirokiTakahashi Jaguar Paw]] is [[VideoGame/StreetFighterIV Ryu]] and [[SchoolRumble Kenji Harima.]]

** [[YukoKaida Seven]] is [[QueensBlade Risty]] and [[GundamUnicorn Marida Cruz.]]

** [[HirokiTochi Middle Eye]] is [[{{Bokurano}} Kokopelli]] and [[MobileSuitGundam00 Lasse Aion.]]

* FreezeFrameBonus - Where's Wally? is among a mountain of corpses for a single frame. Because of its controversial nature the part was cut from the DVD release but some TV airings still showed it.

** Jaguar Paw [[HirokiTakahashi is]] [[VideoGame/StreetFighterIV Ryu]] and [[SchoolRumble Kenji Harima.]]
** Middle Eye [[HirokiTochi is]] [[{{Bokurano}} Kokopelli]] and [[MobileSuitGundam00 Lasse Aion.]]
** Seven [[YukoKaida is]] [[QueensBlade Risty]] and [[GundamUnicorn Marida Cruz.]]

* HeyItsThatVoice - The Japanese-dubbed version is the (so far as this troper knows) the only foreign version with a proper dub, despise MelGibson not wanting any kind of dub of this movie, according with the Japanese version of TheOtherWiki:

** Jaguar Paw [[HirokiTakahashi is]] [[StreetFighterIV Ryu]] and [[SchoolRumble Kenji Harima.]]

* HeyItsThatVoice - The Japanese version is the (so far as this troper knows) the only foreign version with a proper dub, despise MelGibson not wanting any kind of dub of this movie, according with the Japanese version of TheOtherWiki:

** Seven [YukoKaida is]] [[QueensBlade Risty]] and [[GundamUnicorn Marida Cruz.]]