The Martian: 8 Easter Eggs, In-Jokes And References You Need To See

7. The 2001 Parallel

While the music over the film's opening is a clear shout-out to Alien, the framing of the opening shot is actually reaching further back in cinematic history. That whole "title appearing over a shot of a planet as the sun peeks round", used by Ridley Scott in both Alien and The Martian, is actually a homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey, which opens with the beautifully orchestrated of the Sun rising over the Earth rising over the Moon. Kubrick's shot was incredibly mathematically meticulous, with the objects aligning perfectly. In having things less refined for The Martian, Scott's subtly setting up how the film's events are full of imperfections and accidents, rather than playing into a greater seamless plan.