Fallout 4 cultural references

EmbedVideo does not recognize the video service "twitchvod".

This page lists well-established cultural references in Fallout 4.

The content is not described in full detail on this page. For details, please see the respective articles. For cultural references in other Fallout games, please see "Cultural reference". For an overview of Fallout 4 content, please refer to "Fallout 4".

 

Aliens

In Fallout 4 proper, there are two references to the motion picture Aliens;

• The inscription on the back of the flux sensor – "FLUX SENSOR CM-88B 180924609" – is a reference to the USCSS Nostromo (reg. 180924609).
• After the completion of Road to Freedom, Glory will remark "Not bad, for a human." This is a reference to the same compliment the Synthetic Bishop gave Ellen Ripley.

However there is another one in the Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide p.215;

• When describing the random encounter "Feral Ghoul Pack" the guide describes the incident as;

“

You see a pack of frothing ferals. You’d better get back because it’ll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night. Mostly.

”

This is an almost direct quote from Newt to the space Marines.

The American Revolutionary War

There are several allusions to the American Revolutionary War, such as;

• The Commonwealth Minutemen whom are patterned kit and ideology with the Minutemen.
• Hancock takes his surname (and authentic garb) from one of the first men to sign the Declaration of Independence; John Hancock.
• The quest the The Battle of Bunker Hill is also named after one of the opening battles of the American Revolution. Furthermore the battle itself, along with its more recent counter part and several other battles, monuments, and historical sights are apparent.

The Andy Griffith Show

The Nahant Sheriff's Department was run by a Sheriff Taylor, this is an allusion to Andy Griffith whom played the Sheriff of Mayberry, North Carolina on The Andy Griffith Show.

Back to the Future

There are several references Back to the Future in the names that Codsworth can refer to the Sole Survivor.

BioShock

The random encounter of the young girl Kat and her sentry bot traveling partner Gus appears to be a reference to the BioShock series' Little Sisters and their protectors, the Big Daddies.

Apocalypse Now

Mister Gutsy often says, "There is nothing I like better than the smell of plasma in the morning." This is a reference to Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore from Apocalypse Now who says the line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."

The Bible

• The Lifegiver perk continues to depict its Vault Boy icon in robes with a beard and halo, as common depictions of Jesus.
• Ahab and Jezebel are references to Ahab, king of Israel, and his wife Jezebel.

Blade Runner

There are several references to the motion picture Blade Runner.

• The SAFE test of Covenant is an allusion to Voight-Kampff test, both are meant to discern whether someone is a human or replicant.
• The Trophy/Achievement Hunter/Hunted invokes Rick Deckard being stalked by Vault Boy.
• On the southwest corner of the Mass Fusion containment shed rooftop is corpse of a raider lying supine in front of a kneeling, deactivated synth. The setup alludes to the 'Tears in rain' scene at the end of the film.
• One could argue that Nick Valentine is a reference to Rick Decker, both being noir detectives whom may be repicants.
• The Synth Retention Bureau performs the same function as the Replicant Detection Division.
• Takahashi's single line "Nani ni shimasho ka?" and occupation, noodle seller is a reference to the "Noodle Bar" scene of the film.

The Blues Brothers

• One of the prisoner files in the BADTFL regional office describes a Jake Redds with a list of personal effects very similar to, but not identical to the effects of Jake Blues in the motion picture The Blues Brothers. Including a very similar weight and height to John Belushi.

A Boy and His Dog

The canine companion's name met at the Red Rocket truck stop is later reveled to be Dogmeat. This is a reoccurring theme throughout the Fallout series to name the dog companion after the insult Vic exclaims to Blood in the motion picture A Boy and His Dog.

The Cask of Amontillado

General McGann's corpse in The Castle tunnels, is lying next to a crate of wine containing "Amontillado" wine bottles. Opposite him is a skeleton chained behind a half-built brick wall, with a illegible placard. This is a references to Edgar Allan Poe's famous story The Cask of Amontillado. An apocryphal legend holds that the inspiration for The Cask of Amontillado came from a story Poe had heard at Castle Island (South Boston), Massachusetts, when he was a private there in 1827.

In addition the Amontillado bottle itself is branded with the name "Montressor". Montressor was the antagonist and the narrator of the story. Furthermore, it was "Bottled by P. Edgar" (in smaller print on the bottom of the label) is another reference to Edgar Allen Poe.

Captain Planet and the Planeteers

The quest title With Our Powers Combined is a reference to the mantra the Planeteers use to summon Captain Planet in Captain Planet and the Planeteers.

Cheers

• The bar from the Sitcom Cheers makes an appearance in the Prost Bar. Wherein the entire layout of the establishment is set up as the Cheers Beacon Hill was during the eleven year run of the series, right down to one of the skeletons at the bar wearing a Postman's outfit (Representing the Cheers character Cliff Clavin.).
• Furthermore the word "prost," is German for "cheers."

Christianity

px250

The image and title of the perk Lifegiver is a Vault Boy presented in a manner consistent with representations of Jesus Christ.

Comics Code Authority

The American Comics Code – and its stamp, found on The Unstoppables – is an allusion to the Comics Code Authority and its stamp.

Dark Souls

In the southwest of Bradberton there is a ruin of a small house with a Chinese officer sword sticking into a mound of ash in the living room. Behind these ashes is an alter with symbols for the sun and stars. Kindling a fire from the glowing embers produces three stimpaks, and taking the sword produces three more. This is a direct reference to the Dark Souls series, wherein bonfires are used to refill the health of the player character.

Die Hard

• The main character of Die Hard, John McClane is referenced through the actor whom played him throughout the series. Bruce Willis, is referenced on regional BADTFL Sergeant Dave Mallory's terminal. In the entry he laments – among other things – how he has to deal with loose cannon officers playing by his own rules. Specifically referring to a Willison whom regularly destroys private property.
• The message contained within Bottle message #5 - Difficult to kill is directly quoting John McClane; specifically the scene when he climbs through the air vents. Furthermore the scene it leads to is a reference to the movie; the skeleton in the bathtub has a teddy bear, a pack of duct tape and a gold plated flip lighter. These items are used prominently in the movie.

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

The nuclear command room scene in the Fallout 4 intro is a direct allusion to Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

Doctor Who

If set to guard mode Professor Goodfeels will continually repeat the Daleks' famous refrain "Exterminate." from the television series Doctor Who.

The Elder Scrolls

There are several references to the The Elder Scrolls throughout Fallout 4.

• Sweet rolls
• Taboo Tattoos
• Raider dialogue file needed "take a bullet to the knee"
• The logo for the sports team of the D.B. Technical High School – the Bears – is nearly identical to that of the Stormcloaks of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Fallout series

• The Robot parts models (Mister Handy, Mister Gutsy, Protectron, sentry bot, and the amalgamated spare parts kits) are the same models that appear in Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, just downsized, rather than those that appear in Fallout 4.

Fallout 3

• When traveling with Robert MacCready in the crypt tunnels beneath the Old North Church, he will say the phrase "Tunnel Snakes rule!". Learning it during his time in the Capital Wasteland, it is a quote (most likely) from Butch DeLoria and used by the Tunnel Snakes gang of Vault 101.
• The SAFE test of Covenant and the various Vault-Tec Corporation posters within the compound originate from Vault 101 and its GOAT test.
• The Happy Birthday sweet roll is likely to be a reference to the sweetroll given to the Lone Wanderer in Fallout 3, and yet another entry in Bethesda's long-running gag involving sweet rolls.
• In Vault 75 there are three instances of wooden blocks arranged in the name "Gary." This is a reference to the Gary clones of Vault 108. The first is in the western residential room on the mezzanine floor. The second is under the open vault door behind some crates. The last is in a cabinet inside one of the children's dormitories.

Fallout Shelter

With the addition of the Wasteland Workshop downloadable content Vault dwellers will repeat lines from Fallout Shelter.

Fallout developers

Several paintings found throughout the game feature the likeness of Bethesda Softworks employees.

• Todd Howard in the style of Napoleon Crossing the Alps.
• Vice Principal Pagliarulo shares a surname with Emil Pagliarulo; the leader designer and writer of Fallout 4.

Filene's

Fallon's Department Store takes its name, history, business, and legacy from Filene's. Including Fallon's basement via Filene's Basement.

Full Metal Jacket

A Gunner combat line "Get some!" alludes to the famous chopper scene in Full Metal Jacket.

Section needed (dialogue file necessary) This section is needed but has not been written yet. You can help The Vault by writing it.

Grand Theft Auto IV

Nicole Connelly, the suspect of a grand theft auto prior to the Great War, is referred to as "NiCo" in the official log entry of the Boston Police Department. "NiCo" is a reference to the protagonist Niko Bellic in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV.

Good Will Hunting

At the western entrance of the Commonwealth Institute of Technology is a reference to the motion picture Good Will Hunting. Specifically the scene where Matt Damon's character, Will Hunting – is an unrecognized genius who, as part of a deferred prosecution agreement after assaulting a police officer, becomes a client of a therapist and studies advanced mathematics with a renowned professor – solves the mathematics challenge – "homeomorphic irreducible trees of n=10" – put forth by Professor Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgård). On the chalkboard is two of these probables and they are solved by the janitor, whose skeletal remains are next to the mop, metal bucket and chalk. Furthermore Good Will Hunting takes place at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Howard Philips Lovecraft

• Pickman and his gallery are lifted wholesale from H.P. Lovecraft's short story Pickman's Model.
• Dunwich Borers continues the references to The Dunwich Horror.
• The lost temple found below the Borers and Lorenzo Cabot's backstory are a reference to Ubar and Lovecraft's The Nameless City.

I, Robot

The General Atomics International employee Isaac and the three high-priority command routines he was forced to program into the Handy Eats robots' personality archetypes are a cultural reference to Isaac Asimov's I, Robot and its Three Laws of Robotics.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

The very beginning of the quest Kid in a Fridge is a reference to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. In which Indiana Jones survives a nuclear blast by hiding in a lead-lined refrigerator, similar to Billy Peabody.

Jaws

In boats all around the Commonwealth there is the skeleton of a man with the remains of a tattered blue jacket and a blue bandana, alongside a machete and the corpse of a dolphin whale. Also underneath the boats is a cage. This is a clear allusion to the motion picture Jaws; specifically when Robert Shaw's character Quint is devoured by the shark.

The Lone red seat

The lone red seat in the right field bleachers of Diamond City is an allusion to the home run, hit by Ted Williams on June 9, 1946, was officially measured at 502 feet. The lone red seat (Section 42, Row 37, Seat 21) signifies the longest home run ever hit at Fenway.

• 
• 

Mad Max

There are several references Mad Max in the names that Codsworth can refer to the Sole Survivor.

Section needed (Name file necessary) This section is needed but has not been written yet. You can help The Vault by writing it.

The Matrix

A loading screen depicting a Memory lounger has the caption "Free your mind" at the bottom. This is in reference to Morpheus' quote in the Matrix.

Mega Man

The depiction of Shaun in the PIP-Boy quest image for Nuclear Family bears a striking similarity to Dr. Thomas Light of from the Mega Man video game series.

Missile Command

The video game Atomic Command is an allusion to Missile Command.

Monkey Shines: An Experiment in Fear

The monkey toy used as a motion sensor of sorts for traps throughout the game is a reference to Ella. The trained monkey that murders people in the motion picture Monkey Shines: An Experiment in Fear.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

When getting hit in combat Codsworth quotes the Black Knight from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail. As neither feel the pain of being hurt.

NCIS

The main and backbone of the characters of NCIS, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, is referenced on regional BADTFL Sergeant Dave Mallory's terminal. In the entry he laments – among other things – how he has to deal with loose cannon officers playing by his own rules. Specifically referring to a "maniac" Gibbs whom is constantly putting his life on the line.

Ozymandias

Nick Valentine will rephrase the poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley to mock the large Mister Handy statue at the General Atomics Galleria.

Psycho

Behind one of the doors in the Fun House spinning floor room is a reference to Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. In the room a manikin holds a combat knife in front of a shower with a skeleton shielding itself in the exact manner as the infamous shower scene.

The Shining

The tricycle found on a red carpet in the center of a corridor inside Parsons State Insane Asylum is an allusion to the tricycle scene in the motion picture The Shining.

The Simpsons

The Bar Harbor Bowling League once had a team called the "Holy Rollers," this is a reference to the bowling team of the same name on two episodes of the Simpsons; Team Homer and Penny-Wiseguys.

Sons of Anarchy

• Opie Hurst is mentioned in the BADTFL regional office terminals.

Star Trek: Voyager

Knight Captain Cade's greeting "Please state the nature of your medical emergency." is a reference to the emergency medical hologram's greeting "Please state the nature of the medical emergency." in the television series Star Trek: Voyager.

Star Wars

• The title of U.S. Covert Operations Manual issue 4 is "Not the Soldiers You're Looking For". This is a reference to the Jedi mind trick Obi-Wan Kenobi used on the Stormtrooper search party in Star Wars : Episode IV – A New Hope
• There is a miniature figure within the concrete roof within the Fizztop Mountain. It is an reference to Han Solo frozen in carbonite in both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Furthermore when shot the figure bleeds.

Teddy Ruxpin

The holotape series The New Squirrel is a reference to the once popular children's toy Teddy Ruxpin. The narrator of the stories, Storytime Simon, sounds similar to the toy and all the holotapes are found next to Teddy bears.

Titanic

In Somes Sound, northeast of The Nucleus, is a skeleton scene wherein a female skeleton in a blue dress is lying on a red door, while a skeleton is clutching to end of the door. They are both face to face. This is an allusion to the flooting door scene in the motion picture Titanic.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

The access code that Shaun gives for full access to his terminal – "9003" – is the same as the one John Connor uses to fraudulently withdraw cash from an automated teller machine in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Mannequin scenes

American Gothic

The placement of a male and female mannequin at Wixon's Shovel Museum resemble Grant Wood's painting American Gothic, only with the male holding a shovel instead of a pitchfork.

The Walking Dead

• Father Gabe
• A tractor can be found crashed into a fence, with a feral lying at the front end of the tractor, near the corpse of a settler who is trapped under it. This is a reference to the Episode 1 – "A New Day" of the first season of Telltale Games's The Walking Dead.

Walt Disney

• John-Caleb Bradberton's method of survival is similar to the many myths surrounding Walt Disney.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

• The River of Quantum found in the Nuka World World of Refreshment ride is similar to the river of chocolate in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Protectron Tin Man is an allusion to the Tin Woodman in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.