7 Iconic Movie and TV Scenes Inspired by Famous Paintings We Didn’t Even Realize

At times, what appears to be an ordinary scene in a movie can subtly reference iconic works of art. Directors expertly incorporate famous paintings to evoke particular moods, emotions, or to deepen our understanding of the characters. These artistic nods act as a bridge between the film and the artwork, offering the audience a richer experience and inviting them to see beyond the surface of the story.

Joker — Egon Schiele, Self-Portrait

The movie Joker tells the story of how a failed comedian slowly goes insane, turning into the criminal genius Joker. In some scenes, viewers, including art historians, noted the similarities between Arthur Fleck and a multiple of Egon Schiele’s self-portraits. This is a psychologically complex series of works, showing mainly the angular and haggard body of the artist.

Midsommar — Annie Swynnerton, Head of a Bacchante

Midsommar is a folk horror movie known for its pastel palette and sinister rituals. Director Ari Aster managed to unsettle the audience by telling a creepy story which contrasted with the upbeat visual part.

Similar to the women of Harga who participated in the annual Maypole Dance, the Bacchantes were female followers of the Roman God Bacchus who could dance to an ecstatic frenzy wearing wreaths of the God’s sacred plant, ivy, (like in the movie) and were capable of enacting great violence and punishment upon their enemies.

Home Alone - Edvard Munch, The Scream

The painting’s central figure has appeared throughout Western popular culture in everything from television to emoji, and it has been parodied in motion pictures, including, arguably, Macaulay Culkin’s iconic grimace in John Hughes’s Home Alone.

Saw II — Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, An Old Woman: The Artist’s Mother

Even in such movies as Saw II, you can find traces of great art. For example, the image of the main antagonist of the series, John Kramer, resembles an image from the Rembrandt’s painting where he depicted his mother in a hooded cloak.

House of the Dragon — Vincenzo Capobianchi, Le Héron Familier

Users of social network X created a thread where they found similarities between the scenes in the House of the Dragon TV show and paintings. So, according to the viewers, the scene in the garden with young Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower refers to the painting by the Italian painter who also depicted 2 girls resting.

Squid Game — René Magritte, Hegel’s Holiday

The director of Squid Game expressed his deep admiration for Belgian artist René Magritte by inserting references to his work into the series. For example, the second episode features various art books and Magritte’s work, including one of his most iconic paintings, The Empire of Light, in which the artist combines 2 opposites: day and night.

And Magritte’s famous umbrella appears in one of the show’s most famous scenes, where the contestants are given biscuits with symbols as a challenge.

Shutter Island - Gustav Klimt, The Kiss

Shutter Island is far from your typical thriller; it’s an intricate journey that blends suspense with a poignant love story. In one of the film’s most powerful moments, DiCaprio cradles his partner, portrayed by Michelle Williams, as she drifts between reality and delusion.

This scene evokes Gustav Klimt’s famous painting, The Kiss, with its portrayal of a man tenderly holding his lover in a moment of pure surrender, set against a golden background. The film beautifully captures the same dreamlike atmosphere, with shimmering details framing their intimate connection. This subtle homage adds emotional depth to the narrative, enhancing its impact.

Before you go, don't forget to check out our other article where we uncover what people known only through portraits actually looked like.