Mike
Ever been watching a movie and thought, Wait a second… isn’t that just a regular old stapler pretending to be a high-tech gadget? You’re not alone.
The hilarious subreddit r/Thatsabooklight is dedicated to calling out everyday objects that Hollywood tried (and failed) to disguise as futuristic devices, advanced weapons, or otherworldly artifacts.
Turns out, sometimes a “sci-fi communicator” is just a repurposed electric razor. Here are some of the funniest everyday items that somehow made it onto the big screen!
3. In an episode of Mutant X, Jesse uses a familiar looking “device.” It looks like a high tech gadget with buttons, but I recognized it as the eyeshadow compact I’ve had since high school.
5. Jannah’s “energy bow” in The Rise of Skywalker is simply two bows stuck together.
6. IG-88’s head in Star Wars Episode V is a repurposed combustion chamber from a Rolls Royce Derwent jet engine, like this one found by me on my local beach.
9. Batman’s boots in Batman Returns are just Air Jordan 6s with an extended top and foam glued on. The sole even still has the Jordan logo.
11. 60s Batman’s utility belt pouches were sometimes made from kitchen sponges.
12. That’s an echo mic.
13. The “GPS transponders” carried by Faraday and his science team on Lost are multi-function emergency car tools.
14. In the end credit scene of Guardians of the Galaxy, Taneleer Tivan (The Collector) drinks his martini from an Alessi ‘Big Love’ ice cream bowl.
15. This transmitter that cracks access codes in Resident Evil (2002) is a glucose meter with an antenna.
16. Watchmens (TV) interrogation chamber remote is a Dyson Fan controller.
17. I present to you: Willrow Hoods aka Ice Cream Man from Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back in the background of Cloud City. He carries a completely undecorared Hamilton Beach Ice Cream Maker. This previously unnamed character has spawned a cult following, leading to books, comics, and fan lore.
18. Star wars: The Empire strikes back (1980) the snow speeder pilot straps have bubble wrap on them.
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20. Dune Costume design – Utilizing a washing machine hose / clamp.
21. Greef Kargas buckle is a cheap folding knife.
22. Automated trash bin in Firefly runs Windows 2000.
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24. The Child in The Mandalorian is in a US Military Mermite Can with a some lights glued on front.
25. Just realized I’ve been wearing my headset wrong for years now. Thank you Bungie for clearing this up!
26. [The Fifth Element] The mugger’s rifle is a polish Cold War era grenade launcher with two AK-47 magazines glued to the barrel.
27. My thumb drive made it into the video game Call of Duty Modern Warfare! Had to call my mom and tell her right away.
28. The controls for the Death Stars super-laser is a Grass Valley TV switcher.
29. The Spy Next Door (2010) Jackie Chan uses a Dymo LetraTag handheld label maker to program a satellite.
30. The chest thing the First Order officer wears in the Kyle Ren SNL sketch is a pack of gum.
31. [TV] The Expanse [2018]. The Cryo chamber used for Mei is a repurposed Thule 624 cargo box.
32. Cpt. Picard with what looks to be a box cutter.
33. The muzzle on Max in the opening of “Fury Road” is a garden fork without the handle. It works for the style of the wasteland, where everything is recycled.
34. This tool in the book of boba fett is the same torch I have.
35. Control device in “Alien Resurrection” is a “Lights Out” handheld game.
36. Prop: In Phantom Menace, Qui Gonn’s comlink is a Gillette women’s razor.
37. The flight sticks in the Razor Crest’s cockpit from The Mandalorian are Thrustmaster T.16000M FCSes.
38. Wall panels on the UK game show “Crystal Maze” are presswood shipping pallets sprayed silver.
39. Galaxy quest: ‘Scanning tool’ for Sigourney Weaver’s face is a vaginal speculum…
40. The Mandalorian S1E01. Black & Decker Thermal Leak Detector used as an ID scanner.
