Top 35 The Shining Movie Details

While searching the internet for The Shining movie facts, I found some interesting little known details. Obscure enough that most people could miss it, I want to make you a favor by creating ordered lists with the most intriguing hidden details.

Most of them are not blatantly obvious to be observed at first sight, so take your time and read carefully. We have extensive definitions that accurately explain any behind the scene meaning or famous dialogues.

During the scene where Jack yells at Wendy for bothering him during his writing, there is a chair in the background that disappears momentarily between cuts. This was an intentional move by Kubrick to make you feel unsettled during the scene, without knowing exactly why.
During the scene where Jack yells at Wendy for bothering him during his writing, there is a chair in the background that disappears momentarily between cuts. This was an intentional move by Kubrick to make you feel unsettled during the scene, without knowing exactly why.

Wendy tells the doctor that Jack hasn't had a drink since he hurt Danny. When the bar appears to Jack, he drinks to "five miserable months on the wagon" but later says his hurting Danny was "three goddamn years ago," implying he was secretly drinking for years.

Trivia

I have collected all the famous movie trivia questions with answers from Reddit and other sources. They can be very useful in quizzes or games, or simply to learn more information. Most of the fun The Shining details are suitable for kids.

  1. Danny Torrance (Danny Lloyd) wiggles his finger when his "alternate personality" Tony speaks through him. This concept was actually thought up by Danny, who did it in his first audition for the part at the age of 4

  2. To get Jack Nicholson in the right agitated mood, he was only fed cheese sandwiches for two weeks, which he hates.

Easter Eggs

Finding Easter Eggs in movies is one of my favorite hobbies. Hidden objects, characters, and their meanings are wonderful ways to discover the filmmaker's perspectives of any given movie.

  • 1 - These devil and angel symbolism's in Stanley Kubricks masterpiece The Shining (1980)
    These devil and angel symbolism's in Stanley Kubricks masterpiece The Shining (1980)

  • Makes a reference to Nosferatu (1922)

  • 1 - - "All work and no play..." has double meaning as Jack is working at the Overlook Hotel, in part to finish a play he is writing.
    - "All work and no play..." has double meaning as Jack is working at the Overlook Hotel, in part to finish a play he is writing.
  • 1 - "While they're driving up to the hotel, the 'Dies Irae' theme is playing, which traditionally symbolizes a day of reckoning or wrath."
    "While they're driving up to the hotel, the 'Dies Irae' theme is playing, which traditionally symbolizes a day of reckoning or wrath."

  • Danny Lloyd (Danny in The Shining (1980)) has a cameo in Doctor Sleep (2019). He's the one in the blue cap who says the kid seems like he can read the pitcher's mind.

  • 1 - In the film "Blade Runner" (1982) Tyrell is played by Joe Turkel who also played the bartender in "The Shining" (1980). This is because the bar and Tyrell's studio were actually filmed on the same set.
    In the film "Blade Runner" (1982) Tyrell is played by Joe Turkel who also played the bartender in "The Shining" (1980). This is because the bar and Tyrell's studio were actually filmed on the same set.
  • 1 - Tony the Tiger appears to be spying on Jack and Wendy. Tony is also the name of Danny's "imaginary" friend.
    Tony the Tiger appears to be spying on Jack and Wendy. Tony is also the name of Danny's "imaginary" friend.

Hidden Details

1 - Jack has a scrapbook with newspaper articles on the history of the Overlook sitting on his desk. Later he tells Grady that he recognizes his face because it was in the paper. The scrapbook plays a much larger role in the book, but this is a fun throwaway reference
Jack has a scrapbook with newspaper articles on the history of the Overlook sitting on his desk. Later he tells Grady that he recognizes his face because it was in the paper. The scrapbook plays a much larger role in the book, but this is a fun throwaway reference
1 - You can see this TV Danny is watching is completely wireless even though technology at the time wasn't that advanced. It's one of the first clues that things are not as them seem at The Overlook Hotel.
You can see this TV Danny is watching is completely wireless even though technology at the time wasn't that advanced. It's one of the first clues that things are not as them seem at The Overlook Hotel.
1 - A scene has Wendy bring Jack breakfast in bed. In the reflection of the mirror we see that Jack's T-shirt says "Stovington" on it. While not mentioned in the film, this is the name of the school that Jack used to teach at in the novel. (copied from @41Strange)
A scene has Wendy bring Jack breakfast in bed. In the reflection of the mirror we see that Jack's T-shirt says "Stovington" on it. While not mentioned in the film, this is the name of the school that Jack used to teach at in the novel. (copied from @41Strange)
1 - The scene where Jack talks to Delbert Grady in a discussion of who the Caretaker is, you can see that Jack's eyes are looking in the same direction towards the mirrors, indicating that he is talking to himself and that he is losing his sanity.
The scene where Jack talks to Delbert Grady in a discussion of who the Caretaker is, you can see that Jack's eyes are looking in the same direction towards the mirrors, indicating that he is talking to himself and that he is losing his sanity.

When Jack takes his first drink, he makes the same face as when he dies

The spot where Danny Torrance left his teddy bear in the hallway is where Dick Halloran gets murdered by Jack.

1 - Jack is clearly reading a PlayGirl magazine in the lobby of the Overlook
Jack is clearly reading a PlayGirl magazine in the lobby of the Overlook

Danny watches the movie Summer of '42 on a TV that is not plugged in

1 - When Wendy discovers Jack's manuscript, the "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" line sometimes appears as "All work and no play makes Jack ADULT boy".
When Wendy discovers Jack's manuscript, the "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" line sometimes appears as "All work and no play makes Jack ADULT boy".
1 - Jack walks by and looks at the bat Wendy would later use against him
Jack walks by and looks at the bat Wendy would later use against him
1 - Before the scene with Jack and Grady in the bathroom, you can see a bloody handprint on the woman's dress.
Before the scene with Jack and Grady in the bathroom, you can see a bloody handprint on the woman's dress.

Jack Torrance can be seen reading an issue of Playgirl magazine that contains an article about incest, one of many clues that Jack sexually abuses Danny

1 - Danny (Tony) is seen watching a roadrunner and Wile E Coyote cartoon, foreshadowing the chase scene in the hedge maze in which Danny outsmarts his father during the evasion.
Danny (Tony) is seen watching a roadrunner and Wile E Coyote cartoon, foreshadowing the chase scene in the hedge maze in which Danny outsmarts his father during the evasion.
1 - Jack Nicholson's tie pattern resembles the maze near the end.
Jack Nicholson's tie pattern resembles the maze near the end.
1 - Adult twin sisters with long brown hair are seen leaving the hotel and even say goodbye to the man showing Jack and Wendy around the hotel. (Video of relevant portion in comments)
Adult twin sisters with long brown hair are seen leaving the hotel and even say goodbye to the man showing Jack and Wendy around the hotel. (Video of relevant portion in comments)

During The Scene Where Jack Sells his Soul to Lloyd the Bartender, He Briefly Looks At the Camera and Smirks Right After He Says "It Could Have Happened To Anybody" Before Continuing On With His Diatribe.

1 - Dick Hallorann initially opens the fridge door to the right, but in the next scene, the door is shown to be open to his left. This was possibly done to indicate the mystical ability of the hotel and as part of a mirroring technique that is used throughout the film.
Dick Hallorann initially opens the fridge door to the right, but in the next scene, the door is shown to be open to his left. This was possibly done to indicate the mystical ability of the hotel and as part of a mirroring technique that is used throughout the film.

- Before the "All work and no play" reveal, when Jack continues typing you hear *click* *double click* *deep click* which corresponds with typing out "ALL (spacebar)" 2:48

1 - Today is the day Jack Torrance in The Shining (1980) would have been able to leave the Overlook Hotel and give up being the caretaker for the winter. But...well we know what happened instead
Today is the day Jack Torrance in The Shining (1980) would have been able to leave the Overlook Hotel and give up being the caretaker for the winter. But...well we know what happened instead

Stanley Kubrick's camera angle reinforces Jack's feeling of mental imbalance. "Oh God, I'm losing my mind."

1 - Kubrick foreshadows the death of the cook Halloran in the first half hour, by placing a black doll on the floor (to the left of Jack)
Kubrick foreshadows the death of the cook Halloran in the first half hour, by placing a black doll on the floor (to the left of Jack)
1 - In the movie "the shining" jack busts the right panel with the famous line .. here's Johny but 5 seconds later both door panels are gone
In the movie "the shining" jack busts the right panel with the famous line .. here's Johny but 5 seconds later both door panels are gone

The first time we see Danny and the infamous Bear scene are identical. This is one of many visual cues hinting Danny is sexually abused.

The Shining poster
The Shining poster

The Shining Plot: A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future.

I am pretty sure that you've watched The Shining, maybe in a theater near you or on the small screen, but probably not many of the small details have taken your attention. Most of the previous facts are hidden for some reason, but still, there is plenty of randomly forgetten stuff that makes the movie unique and interesting. The more you know, the more fascinated you'll be about The Shining and will watch it online, download or stream it again and again.

Genre Drama, Horror
Director Stanley Kubrick
Main Actors Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers
IMDB score 8.4

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