Top 13 Blues Brothers Movie Facts

Following is our collection of Blues Brothers 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 Blues Brothers film message.

In The Blues Brothers (1980) John Lee Hooker is the only musical artist featured both as a character (Street Slim singing Boom Boom) and as music the brothers are listening to diegetically in their car (Hooker's own recording of Boogie Chillen') while they're driving to Bob's Country Bunker
In The Blues Brothers (1980) John Lee Hooker is the only musical artist featured both as a character (Street Slim singing Boom Boom) and as music the brothers are listening to diegetically in their car (Hooker's own recording of Boogie Chillen') while they're driving to Bob's Country Bunker
In The Blues Brothers (1980), during the church scene, an actual church was used, and the actual congregation can be seen in the balcony.
In The Blues Brothers (1980), during the church scene, an actual church was used, and the actual congregation can be seen in the balcony.

Blues Brothers Trivia

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

  1. John Belushi's coke habit was so severe Universal Studios included it in the budget. Director John Landis later found "a mountain of cocaine" in Belushi's trailer. The expense was approved so they could all work at night. Shit was behind schedule--cause blow.

  2. The band played two songs at Bob's Country Bunker: "Stand by Your Man" and "Rawhide." However, a third song was recorded and filmed: Johnny Horton's "Sink the Bismarck."

  3. The Playboy pinup on Elwood's wall was a fake centerfold featuring Colleen Camp that had been specially created for use in Apocalypse Now.

Blues Brothers Easter Eggs

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

  • 1 - I don't know if this is a big coincidence but in Blues Brothers (1980), right before the mall car chase, Jake calls Elwood "Motorhead". Moments later there is a store in the background named "Lemmy's". Lemmy was the iconic frontman of the heavy metal band Mot?rhead. Thoughts?
    I don't know if this is a big coincidence but in Blues Brothers (1980), right before the mall car chase, Jake calls Elwood "Motorhead". Moments later there is a store in the background named "Lemmy's". Lemmy was the iconic frontman of the heavy metal band Mot?rhead. Thoughts?
  • 1 - During the mall chase scene, the logo for Depasto Oldsmobile is seen. This is a reference to one of John Landis's previous films, Animal House (1978)
    During the mall chase scene, the logo for Depasto Oldsmobile is seen. This is a reference to one of John Landis's previous films, Animal House (1978)

Blues Brothers Hidden Details

1 - Jake's relationship to the Mystery Woman is foreshadowed when she is learning how to use the flamethrower.
Jake's relationship to the Mystery Woman is foreshadowed when she is learning how to use the flamethrower.

The Illinois Nazis are members of the American Socialist White Peoples Party, or ASWIPP (asswipe)

1 - A customer in the store is buying a Grover doll. When asked if he found everything he asks if they have a Mrs. Piggy. Both characters were performed by the movie's director, Frank Oz
A customer in the store is buying a Grover doll. When asked if he found everything he asks if they have a Mrs. Piggy. Both characters were performed by the movie's director, Frank Oz

When Jake finally accepts the new Bluesmobile, he says, "Fix the cigarette lighter." Earlier in that scene, he had thrown it out the window. (Link is parody of this scene.)

Takes place in and around Chicago. Parts of the ending car chase, including the bridge scene and freeway shots, are shot in Milwaukee to utilize the construction of a bridge at the time.

Blues Brothers poster
Blues Brothers poster

Blues Brothers Plot

Jake Blues, just released from prison, puts together his old band to save the Catholic home where he and his brother Elwood were raised.

Cast and Details

Here are the full cast and crew of Blues Brothers. 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, Comedy, Crime, Music, Musical
Director John Landis
Stars Tom Erhart, Gerald Walling, John Belushi, Walter Levine
IMDB score 7.9

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