Skip to main content

All the DC Easter eggs in The Flash movie

At long last, after years of delays, DC’s time-traveling blockbuster, The Flash, has reached theaters. When Barry Allen runs back in time to prevent his mother’s murder, he ends up in a drastically different timeline without any heroes to protect the world from General Zod’s invasion.

Given that the Flash travels the Multiverse and teams up with Michael Keaton’s iconic version of Batman, this superhero film features an extraordinary number of Easter eggs that should give comic book fans a field day. To make it easier for viewers, here’s a breakdown of all the DC references found in the Scarlet Speedster’s first solo film.

Note: the following article contains heavy plot spoilers for The Flash movie.

Iris and Barry’s first meeting

Iris West in "Zack Snyder's Justice League."
Warner Bros.

When Barry first speaks with Iris West in the film, the latter faintly recalls seeing Barry a few years prior. This could be a reference to their encounter in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, in which Barry saves her from getting hit by a truck.

Though she did catch a glimpse of him after he rescued her, he ran away so fast that she probably thought he was just in her mind. So unless proven otherwise by the filmmakers, this little piece of dialogue might have established Snyder’s version of Justice League as canon in the DC Extended Universe.

Dick Grayson

A character from Titans in a blue costume.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

As Iris arrives at Barry’s apartment after Bruce Wayne finishes talking with him, a neon sign for a place called “Grayson’s” can be seen in the background. This clearly references Bruce’s adoptive son, Dick Grayson, a.k.a. Robin/Nightwing.

It’s also a reminder of a character who unfortunately never got to appear in the DCEU, as he was revealed to have been brutally murdered by the Joker in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The Flash’s new ring

The Flash's ring as seen in the trailer for the film
Image used with permission by copyright holder

With the appearance of a new super suit, Barry comes wearing a special ring from Alfred that stores this costume and shoots it out whenever he needs to change into the Flash.

Barry has used this little device in the comics for decades, and its appearance in the film marks another step for the DCEU’s Flash toward becoming like his counterpart from the source material.

Joker’s bag of laughs

joker-dead-smiling-batman
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When younger Barry geeks out exploring the Batcave, he shows his older self a literal “bag of laughs.” Diehard fans of the Burtonverse will remember this as the bag found on Joker’s dead body following his mighty fall at the end of 1989’s Batman.

It even plays the same eerie laugh that can be heard by the police when they discover the Joker’s lifeless corpse. This Easter egg only encapsulates how, even in death, the Joker is still laughing over 30 years later.

Batwing moon shot

Batman skydiving with the Batplane flying in front of the moon in "The Flash."
Warner Bros.

During the heroes’ mission to rescue Supergirl, when Batman dives down from his Batwing, the aircraft can be seen silhouetted in the full moon as it flies through the night sky. This is a clear homage to the moment in Burton’s Batman when the hero’s ship flies in front of the moon during his climactic battle with Joker.

How much do you weigh?

Batman and Vicki Vale in "Batman" (1989).
Warner Bros.

When Batman and both Barrys break Kara out of her Siberian prison, the Caped Crusader asks for the weight of his allies before using explosives to blow an elevator upward and help them escape.

This line harkens back to when Bruce asks Vicki Vale the same question in Burton’s original film when he uses his grappling hook to launch her to safety.

Nam-Ek attacks

Nam-Ek on the Batplane in "The Flash."
Image used with permission by copyright holder

At one point in the film, the hulking Kryptonian Nam-Ek leaps onto the Batwing as it’s airborne to attack Batman, only for the Dark Knight to fly out of it just in time.

This is a reference to a moment in Man of Steel when Nam-Ek jumps at a military jet and crushes the pilot’s head while he’s still in the aircraft. It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it death, but the fact that it was referenced here shows the filmmakers’ attention to detail when it came to revisiting the DCEU’s first movie.

The Superman punch

Supergirl punching Zod in "The Flash."
Warner Bros.

One of Zack Snyder’s most notable contributions to the Superman canon is the iconic over-the-shoulder shot of the hero punching someone in midair in Man of Steel. The shot has since been replicated numerous times across different comic book media, including by the CW’s Supergirl, Doctor Sivana, and Omni-Man. The film’s version of Supergirl also repeats this shot in the explosive third act when she flies in and cleans Zod’s clock.

The Dark Flash

Younger Barry looking at older Barry in "The Flash."
Warner Bros.

Early in the film, Barry encounters a monstrous Speedster who drives him out of the Speed Force and into the year 2013. It is only until the film’s third act that this dark figure is revealed to be an older version of Barry’s alternate self, who had tried and failed countless times to stop Zod and save everyone in his timeline, getting impaled with Kryptonian shrapnel in the process.

While this evil Speedster seems to be based on Dark Flash, an evil version of Wally West from the comics, he may very well be an amalgamation of two other DC villains: Black Flash and Red Death. While the Black Flash serves as the Grim Reaper for Speedsters, Red Death is an evil version of Bruce Wayne who gained the power of the Speed Force. With other Barry donning a suit similar to Red Death’s and becoming a corrupted and decaying Speedster like the Black Flash, the film seems to have taken two villains to create something new but equally terrifying.

Flashes of the multiverses

Warner Bros. Pictures

While Barry is trapped in the Speed Force by the Dark Flash, they see how their time-traveling is destroying other realities. In this scene, the film gives the audience glimpses of the heroes and villains from across the Multiverse as their dimensions fall apart.

These cameos include George Reeves’s Superman, Christopher Reeve’s Superman, Helen Slater’s Supergirl, Adam West’s Batman, and the CW’s Terry Sears as Jay Garrick. It also features Nicolas Cage fighting a giant spider as the Man of Steel, as he was supposed to star in Tim Burton’s canceled film, Superman Lives.

George Clooney’s Batman

Bruce Wayne looking serious in the Batcave in Batman & Robin.
Warner Bros., 1997

The Flash delivers one last shocking twist when Barry reunites with the Bruce of his timeline at the end of the film. However, instead of Ben Affleck, Barry sees George Clooney appear as Bruce Wayne. This comes after Barry changes the past to make sure his mother does meet her original fate, but not before making it so there is video evidence proving his father wasn’t responsible for her death.

Clooney is widely considered to be the worst Batman following his performance in the widely panned Batman & Robin, so it’s quite a surprise to see him reappear in this movie. This leaves the audience wondering what will become of Barry and Bruce after this, especially with James Gunn’s new DC Universe just on the horizon. Will Barry have to go back and change history again? Will Clooney lead Batman: The Brave and the Bold? Only time will tell.

The Flash is now playing in theaters.

Editors' Recommendations

Anthony Orlando
Anthony Orlando is a writer/director from Oradell, NJ. He spent four years at Lafayette College, graduating CUM LAUDE with a…
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish live stream: watch college football for free
Two Notre Dame football players celebrate.

It's a top-10 showdown in college football as the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0) face the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0). The game will be played under the bright lights of Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. The game should be close, as FanDuel has the Buckeyes as a minor 3-point favorite.

Ohio State and Notre Dame have met seven times, with the Buckeyes leading in the series, 5-2. Last season, Ohio State defeated Notre Dame, 21-10, in the season opener. With both teams undefeated, the winner of Saturday's game should enter the top five in next week's poll.
Watch the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame live stream on NBC

Read more
How to watch the Chelsea vs Aston Villa live stream
Massive open air soccer stadium with a game in play.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa kicks off at 9 AM ET/6 AM PT on Sunday and it's sure to be a thrilling game for anyone keen to get up early to catch up with it. It seems likely we'll see a Chelsea win but Aston Villa's recent mixed fortunes could go either way here. Whoever you're backing, read on while we take you through how to watch the Chelsea vs Aston Villa live stream online. It's exclusively on Peacock Premium but we're here to explain why it's worth signing up for.
Watch the Chelsea vs Aston Villa live stream on Peacock TV

Peacock is the home of a lot of Premier League matches including Chelsea vs Aston Villa. You need the Peacock Premium service which costs $6 per month to catch the game. Alongside that, you also have access to plenty of movies and TV shows. In all cases, there are ads to deal with in between whatever you're watching. Some of the best shows on Peacock include The Continental: From the World of John Wick -- a prequel and spinoff from the movies -- along with Twisted Metal, New Girl, The Blacklist, and many, many others. The best movies on Peacock are worth checking out too with the John Wick movies, Fast & Furious saga, and many others. There's no Peacock TV free trial but it's worth signing up for with so many great options around.

Read more
How to watch the Liverpool vs West Ham live stream
A soccer goal net with the rest of the pitch in front.

Liverpool vs West Ham kicks off at 9 AM ET/6 AM PT and is sure to be one to watch for fans of both sides in the English Premier League. If you're excited to watch the Liverpool vs West Ham live stream, you've got one option -- Peacock Premium. We're here to tell you all about Peacock Premium and explain what to expect from the streaming service.
Watch the Liverpool vs West Ham live stream on Peacock TV

Peacock isn't one of the biggest streaming services around but it's a key one for Premier League fans thanks to offering many of the matches throughout the season. Peacock Premium costs $6 per month and offers everything the service has to offer, albeit with ads. The best movies on Peacock number some of the latest hits like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Fast X, along with popular favorites such as the first three John Wick movies. The best shows on Peacock are pretty great too. In recent times, we've seen Twisted Metal added along with Based on a True Story, and The Continental -- the spinoff to the John Wick franchise. There isn't a Peacock TV free trial but if you're solely interested in watching the Liverpool vs West Ham game, you can do so for just $6 for the month which will also include other games and plenty of entertainment too.

Read more