5 Classic Holiday Movies That The Night Before References
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While The Night Before is a totally original — and completely raunchy — holiday movie, there's no escaping the fact that it's influenced by a handful of classic films. Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Anthony Mackie, who star as a group of old friends getting together for the final year of their Christmas tradition, even reference some memorable scenes from holiday movies of years past. If you've watched the movie, see if you caught onto all these callbacks. And if you're planning on catching it, take a look so you know what's coming!
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The Grinch
The Grinch is one of the most obvious influences on the film. In fact, Illana Glazer's curmudgeon of a character, Rebecca, even claims that she basically is the Grinch. She hates Christmas, and she wants to destroy all the joy it brings to people.
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Die Hard
Not only is Rebecca the Grinch, she also cites that she gets some of her best ideas from Hans Gruber, the villain from Die Hard. And yes, Die Hard is a Christmas movie!
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Home Alone and Home Alone 2
There are also Home Alone references aplenty! The boys drive around New York City in a Red Bull limo, and their driver is played by comedian Nathan Fielder. Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) also sports around Manhattan in a limo, and frequently talks to his driver. At one point, Seth Rogen brings his hands to his face and screams, just like in the iconic scene when Kevin uses his dad's aftershave. Finally, Glazer's Grinch uses the Sticky Bandits' technique from the second movie to steal from unsuspecting people.
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It's a Wonderful Life
Mild spoiler alert: at the end of the film, Mr. Green (Michael Shannon) gets his wings for helping the motley trio. It's a riff on It's a Wonderful Life, when the angel who helps George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) gets his wings.
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Big
Finally, Big isn't exactly a holiday movie, but it's definitely a feel-good piece of nostalgia. One of the first things the boys do on their big night is go to FAO Schwarz and reenact the giant piano scene — with a twist.