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The following is an alphabetical list of Thomas the Tank Engine-related sightings and references in film.
After Thomas[]
- In a 2006 drama film shown on ITV based loosely on "A Friend Like Henry: The Touching True Story of an Autistic Boy and His Dog", Kyle's family adopt a golden retriever and named him after Thomas the Tank Engine - Kyle's favourite character. Throughout the film, there are a number of Thomas & Friends toys, books, videos, a bed duvet and poster shown in Kyle's bedroom.
Ant-Man[]
- The Bachmann Thomas & Friends HO scale models of Thomas, Annie, Clarabel, and Emily's coaches appear in the final fight scene between Ant-Man and Yellowjacket. At one point, the Thomas model becomes supersized and crashes through his daughter's house. Thomas was actually a digital effect created by DNEG. In some shots, G scale versions of the models were used, modified to resemble the HO scale versions.
Barbie[]
- In a deleted scene shown in the film's blooper reel, Mattel executives suggest setting up the titular character on a date with another Mattel product, including Barney or Hot Wheels, before settling on Thomas the Tank Engine, who is stated to be "recently single". (YouTube)
Be Kind Rewind[]
- Among the titles in the video store are Thomas & Friends tapes and DVDs.
The Benchwarmers[]
- In some of the video store scenes, several Thomas & Friends VHS Tapes and DVDs are visible.
Bullet Train[]
- As is the case with the novel, hitman Lemon is a self-admitted fan of Thomas the Tank Engine, as shown throughout the film, describing how everything he has learned about people he learned from Thomas. He uses a sticker sheet of different illustrations and photographs of engines as his personal system of identifying allies and enemies, notably marking the villains as "Diesels". Edward, Henry, Gordon, and Percy are also all mentioned by name with their personalities described. James, Oliver, Emily, and Mavis also appear on Lemon's sticker sheet.
- "Take Tangerine here. He's a Gordon, this blue one. Now Gordon is the strongest, the most important, but he doesn't always listen to others. I mean, some people are Edwards: wise, kind; some Henrys: hardworking, strong. Some people are Diesels. F*ck me, those are trouble. You though, you know, you seem like a Percy. Young. Sweet. Not all there."
- ― Lemon
(YouTube)
- Throughout the film, many of the characters refer to the series as "Thomas the Train" or "Thomas the Train Engine", both being blanket terms generally used by people unfamiliar with the show.
- Lemon's twin brother Tangerine also makes a reference to Ringo Starr's narrations by giving Thomas a Liverpudlian accent. (YouTube) Lemon keeps on bringing up how others are "Diesels", which leads to Tangerine telling him, "If you mention Thomas the Tank Engine one more time, I'm gonna shoot you in the f*cking face". (YouTube) Lemon eventually talks to the film's protagonist Ladybug, where he mentions again that he learned everything about people from Thomas, and says "you are a Diesel". Ladybug then responds with "I am not a Diesel", with Lemon coming back with "You're the Dieselest Diesel that I've ever seen in my life". (YouTube)
- Additionally, the film features a number of references to events within the franchise, most notably the Duck and the Diesel Engine saga. In one scene, Lemon holds the characters The Prince and The Father at gunpoint and asks them "Which one is the Diesel, which one is the Duck?"
- The original novel also contains references to the Thomas & Friends song Accidents Will Happen, The Railway Series story Domeless Engines and the seventh series of Thomas & Friends episode, The Spotless Record. City of Truro, Arthur, Ned, and Whiff are also mentioned by name.
- The aforementioned sticker sheet was a prop specially made for the film, using character images from both The Railway Series and the Thomas & Friends television series, including the latter's logo from the 1980's.
Daddy Day Care[]
- In Kid Card Match Up, a game included as a bonus feature on the film's DVD release, recoloured Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway toys of Thomas and Harold appear as wrong answers.
Doogal[]
- In the 2006 American dub of the 2005 film adaptation of The Magic Roundabout, during the train chase sequence, Zeebad says to Sam, "We're gonna lose this race to Thomas the Tank Engine? I don't think so! More coal!"
Fred Claus[]
- A wall of various pieces of Thomas & Friends merchandise is seen during the fight scene against the Santa Clauses at Toys R Us.
- Some Thomas toys were also seen being made at Santa's workshop. (YouTube)
Friends with Money[]
- A Wooden Railway table is in the background of a scene with Olivia and Franny.
Float[]
- A helicopter toy appears at one point that bears a striking resemblance to Harold. The same render was previously used in Incredibles 2.
Girls und Panzer der Film[]
- One of the battles in the film occurs within an abandoned theme park which features a section entitled "Tortoise Land", a parody of Thomas Land that features a British Tortoise A39 tank (with a face resembling Thomas) as its mascot.
Gumby Dharma[]
- A modified Thomas & Friends Motor Road and Rail James was used in various scenes to show the different locations where Gumby creator Art Clokey has travelled, with Gumby riding in his cab.
The Harry Hill Movie[]
- Thomas & Friends Motor Road and Rail models of Thomas, Annie, Clarabel and Bulstrode cameoed during the end credits.
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers[]
- At one point, a Thomas & Friends lamp appears.
Incredibles 2[]
- A toy resembling Harold can be seen at one point. The same render would later be used in the short film, Float.
Jersey Girl[]
- During the scenes where Ollie and his daughter Gertie were browsing the videos at Blockbuster, a video copy of the Thomas & Friends VHS A Big Day for Thomas was seen in the children's section.
Jingle All the Way[]
- Some ERTL Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends toys are seen in one scene.
- In Jingle All the Way 2, various Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway items are seen in the toy store.
Kingsman: The Secret Service[]
- An ERTL Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Bulgy model appears in one scene.
Labyrinth[]
- The Goblin Knights in the film have coloured helmets, which according to conceptual designer Brian Froud, were inspired by the colours of the engines in The Railway Series and Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. Their lances also feature numbered flags akin to the engines' numbers: the blue knight is number three, the red knight is number five (like James), the orange brown knight is number seven (like Toby) and the green knight is number eight (like Duck).
- "The idea of coloring them differently actually came from the British series, Thomas the Tank Engine. If you peer into the costumes, you'll see little numbers on them which are references to steam engines. And there are drips of oils, so they really are archaic steam engines. That's the in-joke about those characters."
- ― Brian Froud, 2021[1]
The Lego Movie (Blur Studios Pitch)[]
- In concept art, a Thomas & Friends LEGO Duplo Thomas is seen, implying he was possibly going to have a role (how prominent is unknown) if not for the cancellation of the original version of the film.
The Lego Story[]
- At the end of the short film, the Thomas & Friends LEGO Duplo Thomas Starter set can be seen on the shelf in the background. (YouTube)
Little Children[]
- Several Wooden Railway toys appear with the sound of an oncoming train, to symbolise impending danger. (YouTube)
Logorama[]
- The Thomas & Friends My First Thomas logo was used as roller coaster cars and a trackless zoo train in this 2009 short film. (YouTube)[note 1]
Love Actually[]
- A poster for Thomas & Friends - The Big Live Tour can be seen on the side of a double-decker bus, as the show was being toured while the film was being filmed.
Marley & Me[]
- A Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Roundhouse set and Playtable are visible in a scene.
Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?[]
- Drayton Manor Resort was used as a filming location for the film. The Thomas & Friends Knapford Station, and Percy (albeit without a face) also cameoed.
Nine Months[]
- The book "Thomas the Tank Engine Says Good Night" can be seen on the book shelf in the toy store.
One Direction: This Is Us[]
- When One Direction band member Louis Tomlinson was in a Toys R Us where he used to work, Thomas & Friends DVDs such as Tales from the Tracks, The Complete Series 13, The Birthday Express, Curious Cargo and The Best of James were seen on some DVD shelves.
Paprika[]
- A Thomas-inspired attraction can be seen in the Dreamland amusement park within the first dream of the film.
Peter Rabbit[]
- Some plush toys of Thomas & Friends characters make cameos during the toy storage scene. (YouTube)
Smile[]
- Faceless TrackMaster/Motorized Percy toys (both Thomas & Friends and Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go) are seen as birthday cake toppers.
The Smurfs[]
- In the FAO Schwartz toy store, some Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway toys are seen on the wall near the Lionel table where Gargamel is, two of them being Molly and Flora. (YouTube)[note 2]
Notes[]
References[]
| References to Thomas the Tank Engine | Animated Television | Live-Action Television | Film | Publications | Music | Video Games | Advertisements | Toys | Real Life | |
|---|---|---|
| Other Lists | Controversies | References in Thomas the Tank Engine media | |