Top 20 Annihilation Movie Facts

Following is our collection of Annihilation facts. Handpicked and verified, these little-known details can be obscure enough most people will miss. These behind the scene easter eggs and hidden messages will give you another view of Annihilation film message.

The two deer that Lena sees move in perfect synchronicity. One appears pristine, but the other seems rotted, similar to the bear that attacks the team.
The two deer that Lena sees move in perfect synchronicity. One appears pristine, but the other seems rotted, similar to the bear that attacks the team.
Under the injured Croco-Bear monster's skin, you can make out the assimilated features (eye/nose/teeth) of a human skull
Under the injured Croco-Bear monster's skin, you can make out the assimilated features (eye/nose/teeth) of a human skull

Annihilation Trivia

These trivia from Reddit and other sources can be used as questions with answers in quizzes or games.

  1. The bear that attacks the team has the skull of one of its previous victims melded into its own as a result of the shimmers DNA refraction.

  2. Josie had plants growing out from the cuts on her forearm

  3. And Blade (1998) both feature extremely similar sequences where two characters repeatedly perform wheel kicks against each other

Annihilation Easter Eggs

Hidden objects, characters, easter eggs, and their meanings are wonderful ways to discover the filmmaker's perspectives of any given movie.

  • 1 - Lena is reading 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' - a book about the woman whose cells ("HeLa") were the first to be reproduced in a lab and continue to be used in medical research to this day. Both Henrietta's and Lena's cells were changed without knowledge or consent.
    Lena is reading 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' - a book about the woman whose cells ("HeLa") were the first to be reproduced in a lab and continue to be used in medical research to this day. Both Henrietta's and Lena's cells were changed without knowledge or consent.
  • 1 - One of the dead marines is named after the protagonist from the Wolfenstein games B.J. Blazkowicz.
    One of the dead marines is named after the protagonist from the Wolfenstein games B.J. Blazkowicz.
  • 1 - You can see the sign for Fort Amaya. This is the same name (Amaya) used for the company in the FX series, Devs. Both written by Alex Garland. (Re-post with correct spelling of movie).
    You can see the sign for Fort Amaya. This is the same name (Amaya) used for the company in the FX series, Devs. Both written by Alex Garland. (Re-post with correct spelling of movie).

Annihilation Hidden Details

1 - The screaming bear was nicknamed "Homerton" by the VFX supervisor who had previously worked on Paddington (2014). "Paddington is a very nice bear, and Paddington Station is a very elegant Victorian station, so we thought, 'What was a slightly rough-around-the-edges station?'"
The screaming bear was nicknamed "Homerton" by the VFX supervisor who had previously worked on Paddington (2014). "Paddington is a very nice bear, and Paddington Station is a very elegant Victorian station, so we thought, 'What was a slightly rough-around-the-edges station?'"
1 - Lena makes a remark about having no idea how her left forearm became bruised. It's not a bruise, but the beginning of her DNA refracting to emulate Anya's tattoo
Lena makes a remark about having no idea how her left forearm became bruised. It's not a bruise, but the beginning of her DNA refracting to emulate Anya's tattoo
1 - The alien is based on a mandelbulb fractal and even the chamber it's inside is a mandelbulb. A mandelbulb within a mandelbulb.
The alien is based on a mandelbulb fractal and even the chamber it's inside is a mandelbulb. A mandelbulb within a mandelbulb.

The moss in Area X is subtly breathing, much like the breathing walls of the tower in the book version.

The first forms which the alien takes are the forms of angels in the Bible

The CSN song "Helplessly Hoping" plays as Kane surprises Lena coming home. This song's lyrics ominously foreshadow the movie while being cut 3/4 of the way through the chorus.

Something kinda cool about Annihilation.

1 - Lena is painting her entire house. This mirrors cell expansion and the expansion of the shimmer.
Lena is painting her entire house. This mirrors cell expansion and the expansion of the shimmer.
1 - Kane's corpse is the only one that hasn't transformed or merged with another species. This is because the phosphorus grenade burns at 5000*F which sterilized his corpse and all its cells. Kane's unchanged corpse is why Lena knows a phosphorus grenade should kill the humanoid.
Kane's corpse is the only one that hasn't transformed or merged with another species. This is because the phosphorus grenade burns at 5000*F which sterilized his corpse and all its cells. Kane's unchanged corpse is why Lena knows a phosphorus grenade should kill the humanoid.

Trigger discipline in Annihilation (2018)

1 - Natalie Portman's character, Lena, is reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" (explanation in comments).
Natalie Portman's character, Lena, is reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" (explanation in comments).
Annihilation poster
Annihilation poster

Annihilation Plot

A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don't apply.

Cast and Details

Here are the full cast and crew of Annihilation. The goofs, crazy credits, and trivia they have performed may have not taken your attention. Some are hidden for a reason, while others randomly forgotten.

Genre Adventure, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Director Alex Garland
Production Paramount Pictures
Stars Natalie Portman, Benedict Wong, Sonoya Mizuno, David Gyasi
IMDB score 6.9

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