Movies want to take us to an alternate reality. But to create it, the crew has to use real-life things. So, they improvise.
The subreddit r/ThatsABookLight is dedicated to dissecting these attempts, both the fascinating and the absurd—the members of this online community are exposing everyday household and commercial items being repurposed as something entirely different for the big screen.
Whether it’s a calculator used as a b**b clock or a sponge meant to represent a belt pouch, nothing gets past these folks.
#1 That’s A Dog
Image source: Kichigai, Paramount Pictures
#2 60s Batman’s Utility Belt Pouches Were Sometimes Made From Kitchen Sponges
Image source: Hogmaster_General, 20th Century-Fox Television
#3 Galaxy Quest: ‘Scanning Tool’ For Sigourney Weaver’s Face Is A Vaginal Speculum
Image source: Vocalscpunk, DreamWorks Pictures
#4 Was Watching Angel And I Instantly Saw Something I Recognized. Their ‘Lab Thingies’ Are Actually Toilet Brushes From IKEA !
Image source: Snakehole12, 20th Century Fox
#5 I Love When They Adapt Something Without Any Effort. A Scene From An Indian TV Show
Image source: unclefishbits, Tent Cinema
#6 Andor S01e04 – Sainsbury Egg-Slicers Do Well As Sci-Fi Lights!
Image source: Gedankenklo, Lucasfilm
#7 The Book Of Boba Fett [2022], 100 Litre Water Butt Is A Background Droid In Mos Espa, Tatooine
Image source: LadFarquaad, Lucasfilm
#8 The Keypad In Dark Matter Is A Kitchen Scale
Image source: Franceseye, Sony Pictures Television
#9 In The Expanse, This Medical Device On The Table Of A Ship Medbay Is Actually A Kitchenart Spice Dispenser
Image source: corgblam, Alcon Entertainment
#10 [deadpool 2] I’ve Marked Out Which Nerf Blasters Were Used As Guns In This Post-Fight Scene
Image source: SillyTheGamer, Marvel Studios
#11 Sony Earbuds As Medical Equipment In X-Men Last Stand On Jean Grey/Phoenix
Image source: BillBowermanBallsack, 20th Century Fox
#12 I’m Pretty Sure This Guy In Andor Is Carrying A Cymbal Hardcase
Image source: RolandBrice, Lucasfilm
#13 This Remote Device To Activate The Red Scare From “The Tick” (2001) Is A Repurposed Bumble Ball Toy
Image source: leo_cor63, Columbia TriStar Television
#14 That Thing In Mandalorian Is Definitely A Rotisserie Skewer, Or Whatever It’s Called
Image source: QuestionableGoo, Lucasfilm
#15 Dune Costume Design – Utilizing A Washing Machine Hose / Clamp
Image source: lumpyferret, Legendary Pictures
#16 The Security Camera In This Mcr Music Video Is A Polaroid Sx70
Image source: Cinephobe, My Chemical Romance
#17 In The Phantom Menace, The Tool? Ornament? Hanging On Anakin’s Wall Is Actually A Children’s Ball Thrower
Image source: my_life_is_trashh, Lucasfilm
#18 The Expanse S3e2 – A Car Topper Is Used As A Pediatric Cryo Stasis Pod
Image source: reddit.com, Alcon Entertainment
#19 Remember In Star Trek Vi: The Undiscovered Country When Kim Cattrall Controlled The Uss Enterprise With A Drum Machine?
Image source: Sarenord, Paramount Pictures
#20 Robot Jox (1989) A “Medical Injector” Used To Tranq The Hero Is Actually A Repainted Thermogrip 208 Hot Glue Gun
Image source: TheWoodchuck, Empire Pictures
#21 Iron Sky (2012): Spaceship Radio Klaus Is Talking Into Is A Head Lamp
Image source: reddit.com, 27 Films Production
#22 The Machine In Michael’s Pod In Warrior Nun Is An Upside Down Canon Printer
Image source: sixinaboxdesign, Reality Distortion Field
#23 “Locator Device” In Spy Kids [2001] Is A Painted/Modified Electronic Handheld Battleship Game
Image source: cheeseburgertwd, Troublemaker Studios
#24 At The Mandalorian, Season 3, You Can See These Modern Lamps At The “The Resistor” Bar Tables. It Is Not A Lamp, But A Thanos 3-1 Bug Zapper L66 Modified
Image source: the-rebel-agent, Lucasfilm
#25 The Gamesphere From Drake & Josh Was A Memorex Boomball
Image source: dinkaro, Nickelodeon Productions
#26 Thought This Might Be Appreciated Here
Image source: moviedetail
#27 Tomy Dingbot As Smoke Alarm In “Aliens”
Image source: wander17
#28 In Deep Space 9 S02e15 “Paradise” [1994], The Penal Box Is A Standard 40”x48” Collapsible Gaylord Bin With Lid
Image source: gigadanman, Paramount Pictures
#29 Loki – Tva Terminal Is A Weltron 8 Track Player
Image source: ALudB47, Marvel Studios
#30 At It Again. In The Mandalorian “Chapter 3: The Sin” (2019), They’re Using Ice Cream Makers Now As Portable Safes
Image source: icoulduseanother, Lucasfilm
#31 Sci-Fi Diagnostic Equipment? Nah, Barcode Scanner (Star Trek: Into Darkness, 2013)
Image source: HalDimond, Paramount Pictures
#32 Empire Strikes Back (1980) – 2-1b Medical Droid’s “Mouth” Is A Shure Sm55 (The Elvis Mic) Microphone Grill
Image source: I_Think_I_Cant, Lucasfilm
#33 The “Remote Mines” In Goldeneye Are The Base Of A Saitek Megagrip Joystick
Image source: NyteMyre, Eon Productions
#34 Obi-Wan Kenobi Used A Kodak Service Range Finder As A Communicator
Image source: spectaclephoto, Lucasfilm
#35 Karate Training System From Cobra Kai Is Lazer Tag Vest From 1986
Image source: XPav, Sony Pictures Television
#36 B**b Timer In S.W.A.T. Is Just A TI-83 Plus Calculator
Image source: xXEndMiiXx, Spelling-Goldberg Productions
#37 In The Fifth Element [1997], The ZF-1 Remote Is An Old Handheld Electronic Game Painted Black
Image source: MattgomeryBurns, Gaumont
#38 This Tool In The Book Of Boba Fett Is The Same Torch I Have
Image source: OliOrange15, Lucasfilm
#39 Boss Of Booklights [dynamo Dream]
Image source: Vinnidict, Futureproof Workshop
#40 In Knives Out (2009) The Frame For The Knife Display Is The Fan Guard From A Commercial Air Conditioner
Image source: MyMomSaysIAmCool, MRC
#41 Transporter Test Cylinder Is A Sonobuoy Case
Image source: NeilFraser, Paramount Pictures
#42 The Helmets In The Original Tron Movie Were The Popular Cooper Sk2000 Hockey Helmet
Image source: arghthor, Walt Disney Productions
#43 In Star Trek Picard S02e10, A Character Needs To Hack A Device That Seems To Be Controlled By A Powered Off Korg Nanokontrol Mixing Interface
Image source: Perrylicious, Paramount Pictures
#44 That’s A Barcode Scanner From 2014. In The TV Show “The Rookie”
Image source: SavingsTask, 20th Century Fox
#45 Mmmm, Fried Facehuggers – High-Tech Lab Equipment On Lv426 Is A Deep Fat Fryer (Aliens 1986)
Image source: spinefinger, Brandywine Productions
#46 In Macgruber [2010], Macgruber’s Keypad Lock To His Secret Agent Stash Is The Handheld Electronic Game Lights Out Released In 1995 By Tiger Electronics
Image source: bradferg
#47 [tv] In Battlestar Galactica [1979], These “Fruits” Are Just Balloons
Image source: heidismiles, Universal Television
#48 Cpt. Picard With What Looks To Be A Box Cutter
Image source: cincyphil, Paramount Pictures
#49 Klingons In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine [1994] Drink Out Of Measuring Cups
Image source: TheNearestAirlock
#50 In The Flash Ep 713, The Eeg Scanners On Barry’s Head Appear To Be Just A Bunch Of Shure Headset Mics
Image source: SayNO2AutoCorect, Warner Bros. Television Studios
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