History ShoutOut / GrandTheftAutoIV

* There exists a '[[Franchise/MetalGear Big Boss]]' nightclub in Chinatown.

* Niko bears [[{{Expy}} a strong resemblance]] to the character Sasha (played by Vladimir Mashkov) in ''Film/BehindEnemyLines.'' There's even an ensemble you can purchase from the Russian Shop that is a dead ringer for Sasha's track outfit. [[http://images.wikia.com/gtawiki/images/0/0d/NikoBellic-GTAIV2.jpg Compare.]] Mashkov further confirmed in an interview that he was approached by Rockstar to play "a man with a dark past, with a slightly rumpled appearance" in an unnamed video game. Mashkov declined the role due to sparse details which he found uninteresting. Only later did he learn that the game was GTA IV.

* In the main directory under naturalmotion folder had [[Franchise/TheFlintstones Fred and Wilma art files]].

* In the main directory under naturalmotion folder had [[Franchise/TheFlintstones Fred.art and Wilma.art files]].

* The first trailer was a homage to ''Film/{{Koyaanisqatsi}}'', showing everyday life in Liberty City set to "Pruit Igoe" which is also featured on the in-game soundtrack.

* Niko bears [[{{Expy}} a strong resemblance]] to the character Sasha (played by Vladimir Mashkov) in ''Film/BehindEnemyLines.'' There's even an ensemble you can purchase from the Russian Shop that is a dead ringer for Sasha's track outfit. [[http://images.wikia.com/gtawiki/images/0/0d/NikoBellic-GTAIV2.jpg Compare.]]

* Several visuals reference ''Film/TheGreatGatsby'': the Sprunk sign in Dukes is written in the same font as the Pepsi sign in TheFilmOfTheBook, and in Hove Beach there's an optometrist's sign with a pair of glasses-wearing eyes, a nod to the Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg.

* "The Puerto Rican Connection", which is a lot like playing the famous chase scene in ''Film/TheFrenchConnection''. Furthermore, "Three Leaf Clover" is a lot like the bank heist in ''Film/{{Heat}}''.

* The story about "children with their hands chopped off" is most probably a reference to famous Kurtz's monologue in ''Film/ApocalypseNow''.

* The ringtone "Katja's Waltz" is a SuspiciouslySimilarSong of "[[Film/DoctorZhivago Lara's Theme (Somewhere, My Love)]]". For a GeniusBonus and {{foreshadowing}}, "Katja" is a Slavic version of "Kate".
* One mission is called: "I Need Your Clothes, Your Boots, and Your Motorcycle," which is exactly what the Terminator said at the beginning of ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay''.

* Alex Chilton is also the name of the frontman for Music/BigStar.

* There are rare, randomly appearing paintjobs for the [[http://gta.wikia.com/File:Coquette-GTA4-striped-front.jpg Coquette]] and the [[http://gta.wikia.com/File:HuntleySport-GTA4-black%26red-front.jpg Huntley Sport]] that emulate Series/TheATeam's [[http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/895/20090608175816ateamcars.jpg Chevy Corvette and GMC Vandura]] respectively.

* Dialogue (both involving main characters and random pedestrian discussions), radio shows and TV programs are loaded with shoutouts to GTA III-era games such as ''Vice City'' and ''San Andreas''. CJ, the lead character from ''San Andreas'', appears on a billboard, while an outfit worn by the lead character of the original GTA III becomes available depending on choices made in the game.

** Alex's name may ''also'' be a reference to ParisHilton.

* Several visuals reference ''TheGreatGatsby'': the Sprunk sign in Dukes is written in the same font as the Pepsi sign in TheFilmOfTheBook, and in Hove Beach there's an optometrist's sign with a pair of glasses-wearing eyes, a nod to the Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg.

* One mission is called: "I Need Your Clothes, Your Boots, and Your Motorcycle," which is exactly what TheTerminator said at the beginning of ''T2''.
* The Republican Space Rangers is an obvious shout out to ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' and ''GearsOfWar''.

* Playboy X's [[http://gta.wikia.com/File:Patriot-GTA4-PlayboyX-front.jpg unique yellow Patriot]] emulates a [[http://pics.imcdb.org/0is517/exitwounds75yb6.9428.jpg yellow Hummer]] featured in the StevenSeagal movie ''Film/ExitWounds''.

* An easy one to miss: sometimes, while riding in a taxi, the driver will say something along the lines of "I'm just like the CashCab; I'm not a real taxi driver."

* During one of Brucie's helicopter rides, while looking at the Rotterdam Tower (Empire State Building), Brucie may comment "[[Film/KingKong1933 If I were that big chimp, I'd climb it too!]]"

* Niko bears [[{{Expy}} a strong resemblance]] to the character Sasha (played by Vladimir Mashkov) in ''BehindEnemyLines.'' There's even an ensemble you can purchase from the Russian Shop that is a dead ringer for Sasha's track outfit. [[http://images.wikia.com/gtawiki/images/0/0d/NikoBellic-GTAIV2.jpg Compare.]]

* "The Puerto Rican Connection", which is a lot like playing the famous chase scene in ''TheFrenchConnection''. Furthermore, "Three Leaf Clover" is a lot like the bank heist in ''{{Heat}}''.

* The Republican Space Rangers is an obvious shout out to ''{{Halo}}'' and ''GearsOfWar''.

* Stevie has you [[GottaCatchEmAll steal]] a unique [[http://images.wikia.com/gtawiki/images/4/48/SuperGT-GTA4-Stevie-front.jpg Super GT]] that comes in a shade of gray that makes it look a lot like the Aston Martin DBS introduced in ''Film/CasinoRoyale''.

* During one of Brucie's helicopter rides, while looking at the Rotterdam Tower (Empire State Building), Brucie may comment "[[Film/KingKong If I were that big chimp, I'd climb it too!]]"

* The Addiction Level "Bummed In The Gob" is a throwback to a meme from the Edge forum/rllmuk/[=ConsoleVania=] lineage. The phrase was coined by a Scottish games reviewer while reviewing the first Manhunt Game (also by Rockstar) who described the game: 'You spend a lot of time getting killed in the face and bummed in the gob'. Hilarity ensued.

* There exists a '[[Franchise/MetalGear Big Boss]]' nightclub in Chinatown.

* The Addiction Level "Bummed In The Gob" is a throwback to a meme from the Edge forum/rllmuk/[=ConsoleVania=] lineage. The phrase was coined by a Scottish games reviewer while reviewing the first Manhunt Game (an older Rockstar title kiddies) who described the game: 'You spend a lot of time getting killed in the face and bummed in the gob'. Hilarity ensued.

* Alex Chilton may also be a reference to the song "Alex Chilton" by the Replacements, which was named after the previously mentioned singer.
* Alex's name may also be a reference to ParisHilton.

* WholeCostumeReference: In keeping with Niko's [[{{Expy}} resemblance]] to Sasha (played by Vladimir Mashkov) in ''BehindEnemyLines'', there is an ensemble you can purchase from the [[RussianFashion Russian Shop]] that is a dead ringer for Sasha's track outfit. [[http://images.wikia.com/gtawiki/images/0/0d/NikoBellic-GTAIV2.jpg Compare.]]