There is no doubt that director Quentin Tarantino is a certified legend in the field of cinema. After starting his career in 1992 with the legendary thriller Reserve dogsTarantino set the bar high for himself. Two years later, he continued with pulp fictionan iconic work within the industry and possibly one of the best films ever created. Since then, Tarantino has periodically released several films over the years that never seem to compromise on their quality. His most recent project, once upon a time in hollywoodshowed that his creative well has not dried up.
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Tarantino has a unique directing style, incredible characters, and his films often have common characteristics. Typically, a Tarantino film employs a non-linear plot, thoughtful pop culture references, and vivid violence. Additionally, he has expressed his hatred for product placement in cinema. Consequently, Tarantino implements fictional products that only seem to exist in his films. Without a doubt, the most famous example is the “Big Kahuna Burger”, which was first popularized by pulp fiction. The burger is so iconic that it managed to appear in other films, even outside of the Tarantinoverse.
8 Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Mr. Blonde’s Big Kahuna Burger Soda
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Reserve dogs He accomplished a lot with the space he was given. With a limited number of characters and settings, Tarantino effectively created a masterpiece with very little room to work with. This was also one of the few cases where Tarantino made a cameo in his own films. Although he played the supporting character of Mr. Brown, it was the first demonstration of his impressive acting ability.
Mr. Blonde’s real name is Victor “Vic” Vega, the brother of Vincent Vega in
pulp fiction
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Reserve dogs It also represented the first appearance of Big Kahuna Burger products in any film, which would set off a chain reaction of fictional product placements in the future. When Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) first arrives at the warehouse, Mr. White (Harvey Keitel) and Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi) are arguing. As soon as he enters the room, Mr. Blonde is seen drinking from a Big Kahuna Burger takeout soda cup while looking at the two characters behind their Ray-Bans.
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7 Pulp Fiction (1994)
Big Kahuna Burger Showcase
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Tarantino pulp fiction It was easily the most prominent example of the Big Kahuna Burger in any film, and certainly the most iconic. While it wasn’t the first appearance, it’s the moment that transformed Big Kahuna Burger from a short-lived product placement to a beloved fictional franchise. It takes place during the famous scene in which Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) visit an apartment to collect a debt from Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). Jules approaches Brett (Frank Whaley), who is eating a Big Kahuna burger for breakfast.
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Jules asks him about his food: “Big Kahuna Burger? That’s that Hawaiian burger place. I heard they have delicious burgers.“He then asks to try the sandwich, before uttering the famous phrase: “Hmm. That’s a delicious burger!“The fictional product placement added a lot to the scene. Jules’s fascination and inquisition over the elaborate burger offered comic relief from the tension that made her next move unpredictable. If this was just an ordinary burger, no brand, The creativity that makes this scene so iconic and unique would have been lacking.
6 Four Rooms (1995)
Big Kahuna burger mug on the bar
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Taking into account his cinematographic resume, Tarantino’s Four Rooms It is often forgotten. Although it was not an individual project for the legendary director, he co-wrote and co-directed the film alongside Alexandre Rockwell, Allison Anders and Robert Rodríguez. The film is a comedy anthology divided into segments, with each director taking on one of them. At its most basic, the plot concerns a bellboy named Ted (Tim Roth) who is tasked with looking after a hotel during New Year’s Eve. Tarantino also appears in the film as Chester Rush, a supporting character.
In the segment “The Misbehavers”, a carton of Red Apple cigarettes can be seen, which is another fictional Tarantino product.
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The Big Kahuna Burger Easter Egg in Four Rooms It is short-lived, but it is undoubtedly a hidden gem within the plot. The final segment, called “Hollywood Man,” takes place in the hotel’s penthouse. Norman (Paul Calderón) bets his finger against Chester’s car that he can start his Zippo ten times in a row. Chester offers Ted $1,000 to act as referee for the challenge and cut off Norman’s finger, if that’s the case. As Ted listens to Chester’s proposal, there is a cup of Big Kahuna Burger in the corner of the bar.
5 From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
Seth Gecko’s Big Kahuna Takeout Burger
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Without a doubt, the best acting performance of Tarantino’s career comes in his role as Richard Gecko in Robert Rodriguez’s 1996 action-horror film. From dusk to dawn. He plays an awkward, creepy and unpredictable character on the run from the police after a robbery. Richard carried out the murder with his brother, Seth Gecko, played by George Clooney. Ultimately, the two wish to cross the border into Mexico to escape detention. The Big Kahuna Burger reference appears very early in the film, and only for a brief moment.
After the two rob a liquor store and kill several people, they take refuge in a local inn to evade the law. In the room, Richard holds bank teller Gloria Hill (Brenda Hillhouse) hostage before killing her. When Seth finally returns to the inn, he brings a takeout bag from Big Kahuna Burger with a meal of him and his brother to share. Although it is simply an Easter egg, it speaks to the madness of Tarantino’s character. He has no problem happily devouring a burger, even though he just defiled and brutally murdered an innocent woman.
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4 Romy and Michele High School Reunion (1997)
Big Kahuna Burger Bag On The Couch
Romy and Michele’s high school reunionIt marks the first time a Big Kahuna Burger product has appeared on screen in a film in which Tarantino has no technical affiliation. The story follows Romy White (Mira Sorvino) and Michele Weinberger (Lisa Kudrow) who live together in Los Angeles. Romy is a cashier at a Jaguar dealership and Michele doesn’t have a job. With a high school reunion approaching, the two make an effort to pretend they are a big success.
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As Romy and Michele sit in their apartment and eat snacks, they discuss the idea of dressing up as executives during the meeting to look rich. On the couch behind them is a crumpled takeout bag from Big Kahuna Burger. It is speculated that the reason Big Kahuna Burger appeared in the film was because actress Mira Sorvino was dating Tarantino at the time. Therefore, it was intended as a friendly nod towards him and the cinematic universe he created.
3 The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl (2005)
Max’s Big Kahuna Burger Bag and Drink
It looks like the 2005 cult classic. The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl would be the least likely film to contain a reference to Big Kahuna Burger. However, it makes more sense if you take into account that the director of the film is Robert Rodríguez. Tarantino and Rodríguez have been close friends for years and collaborated on numerous projects. Rodriguez was also a member of Tarantino’s production company, known as “A Band Apart.”
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Two of the films mentioned above to present references, Four Rooms and From dusk to dawn, Both were Rodríguez projects. After the initial viewing of The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirlmost would certainly fail to make the connection to Tarantino’s films. It’s a small reference and easy to miss. It takes place during Max’s (Cayden Boyd) dream when he meets Sharkboy (Taylor Lautner). As Max sits on the dock fishing, there is a takeout bag from Big Kahuna Burger and a drink in a small box next to him.
2 Death Proof (2007)
Specialist Mike asks about a billboard near Big Kahuna Burger
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Considering Tarantino’s star-studded filmography, his 2007 action-horror film death test receives the least amount of love. In yet another collaboration with the director, death test is part of a double feature film with Robert Rodriguez Planet Terror. When the two films are combined, they are collectively known as grinding house. The film stars Kurt Russell as Specialist Mike, a crazed double murderer who prays for women. He has upgraded his car to make it death-proof, but only for himself, and uses it to carry out his violent acts.
Things begin to change for Mike when he finally meets his match: three girls and their lookalike friend, Zoë Bell, who plays herself. Although there is no visual reference to the Big Kahuna Burger, it is alluded to in dialogue. Halfway through the movie, when stuntman Mike is talking to Jungle Julia (Sydney Tamiia Poitier) outside a bar, he mentions the burger joint. After explaining that she’s a local DJ, he asks, “Wait a minute. You have a sign next to Big Kahuna Burger, right?
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1 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
Big Kahuna Burger Bus
This 2019 blockbuster marked Tarantino’s ninth film and he didn’t fail to deliver. once upon a time in hollywood explores the Golden Age of the film industry. Set in Los Angeles during the 1960s, the story follows the career of Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stuntman friend Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Compared to his other films, there are a lot of once upon a time in hollywood Easter eggs.
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Stuntman Kimberly Shannon Murphy reveals that Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’s epic final fight had a major challenge during production.
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The film often feels like a love letter to Tarantino’s previous work, given how many hidden references there are. Includes everything from callbacks to Inglourious bastards, kill billand Reserve dogs to more nuanced allusions to pop culture. Given the nature of the film and its place in Quentin Tarantino’s career, there was no doubt that Big Kahuna Burger was going to appear. At one point in the film, a bus passes by with an advertising logo for the legendary Hawaiian burger restaurant.