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Easter eggs
Hidden details in every movie and series: 27 in total. Tap a poster to see its eggs. Titles you haven't marked as seen stay locked so nothing gets spoiled.
- Referencenod to comics or other movies
- Cameoa familiar face shows up
- Setupplanted now, pays off later
- Behind the scenesproduction trivia
- Behind the scenesThe script came from the writer's own high school
Adam Herz wrote the script from his days at East Grand Rapids High School in Michigan. He wanted a teen comedy that talked to kids on their level, which meant an R rating. He finished the first draft in six weeks, and Universal bought it for $750,000 in 1998.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe title used to be different
During filming the movie was called Great Falls. After a test screening where audiences reacted badly to the name, it became American Pie. Universal turned the new title down several times and only accepted it late in production.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesWho almost played Jim and Stifler
Universal wanted Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Jim, but he turned it down. Bill Murray was considered for Jim's dad; the role went to Eugene Levy, who made him a neurotic, overprotective father. According to a Blink-182 book, Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus auditioned for Stifler.
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- Behind the scenesTwo versions, one trimmed for the R rating
The film came out in a theatrical cut and an unrated cut. For the theatrical version, 19 scenes were altered, which secured the R rating.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe 3 Doors Down song was reworked for the film
In April 2001 a new track by 3 Doors Down was announced. The band modified "Be Like That" from their debut album to fit the film.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesMichigan's lake was shot in California
Shooting ran from February 14 to April 27, 2001 in Southern California towns such as Seal Beach. The house the friends paint is in Long Beach.
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- Behind the scenesThe wedding was shot at Half Moon Bay
The outdoor wedding scene was filmed at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay near San Francisco.
source ↗ - Reference"Into the Mystic" switches singers midway
The couple's first dance song begins with Van Morrison's recording and switches midway to The Wallflowers' cover over licensing. The Wallflowers' singer, Jakob Dylan, is the brother of director Jesse Dylan.
source ↗ - ReferenceStifler's dance has an 80s soundtrack
In Stifler's dance-off at the Chicago bar you hear "Maniac", "Heaven Is a Place on Earth", "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)", "Venus" and "The Reflex", among others.
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- Behind the scenesJason Biggs and Seann William Scott became producers
The two signed first and received executive producer credits. They helped convince the rest of the original cast to return. Biggs and Scott each reportedly earned about $5 million.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesMichigan became metro Atlanta
Filming took place in metro Atlanta, Georgia, on a $50 million budget. The school is Newton High School in Covington. The beach at Lake Lanier stood in for Lake Michigan.
source ↗ - CameoCameos by Neil Patrick Harris and Chad Ochocinco
Actor Neil Patrick Harris and NFL receiver Chad Ochocinco have cameos in the film. Ali Cobrin was cast as Kara.
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- Behind the scenesThe first direct-to-DVD spin-off
Band Camp came out on DVD in the U.S. on December 26, 2005, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. It's the first film in the American Pie Presents series.
source ↗ - CameoEugene Levy and Chris Owen return
Eugene Levy returns as Noah Levenstein, now the camp's Morale and Conflict Resolution Officer. Chris Owen reappears as Chuck Sherman, the Sherminator, the school's guidance counselor. Tad Hilgenbrink plays Matt Stifler, Steve's younger brother.
source ↗ - ReferenceA soundtrack with Jimmy Eat World and Good Charlotte
The soundtrack includes "The Middle" and "The Authority Song" by Jimmy Eat World, "The Anthem" by Good Charlotte, and "Laid" in Matt Nathanson's cover, a song also heard in other films of the franchise.
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- ReferenceThe Naked Mile was a real event
The title comes from a real University of Michigan event. From 1985 to 2000, graduating students ran or biked a campus course lightly dressed on the last day of class. Smaller groups kept going until 2004. The city cracked down in 2000.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesShot in Toronto
College scenes were shot at McMaster in Hamilton and at the University of Toronto's St. George campus. The run itself was filmed at Victoria College. The high school is Port Credit in Mississauga.
source ↗ - CameoEugene Levy in the series' fifth film
Levy returns as Noah Levenstein, a role he had already played in the previous four films of the series. John White plays Erik Stifler, Steve's cousin.
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- Behind the scenesThe writer wanted a fraternity movie
Erik Lindsay, who wrote the film, pitched it by saying they would never top Animal House, but after 25 years a straight pledging movie was worth making. He spent six years in a fraternity and drew on it.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesShot in seven or eight weeks
Filming began June 4, 2007 and lasted about seven to eight weeks, in Toronto, at the University of Toronto and at Pinewood Toronto Studios. The budget was under $10 million.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesIt was the middle of a trilogy that never finished
The film was meant as the center of a trilogy that began with The Naked Mile. There were talks about a final entry, but it never came. Eugene Levy returns, for the sixth time, as Noah.
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- ReferenceThe Book of Love is the one from the first film
The book destroyed in the fire is the tip guide compiled by former students that Kevin's brother hands him in American Pie. Here, the book's creator, Mr. Levenstein, helps the students recreate it.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesStraight to DVD in December 2009
The film was released December 22, 2009 in the U.S. The director is John Putch and it runs 96 minutes.
source ↗ - ReferenceA soundtrack with Katy Perry and Fall Out Boy
Songs include "Hot N Cold" by Katy Perry, "Dance, Dance" by Fall Out Boy and "Say Yes" by Elliott Smith.
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- Behind the scenesThe script started with boys and ended with girls
In 2010, David H. Steinberg was hired for a follow-up called American Pie Presents: East Great Falls, about four boys who fall for the same girl. In 2017, Universal brought in new writers to flip the gender of every character.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesEleven years after the last spin-off
The film was released on demand and on DVD on October 6, 2020, by Universal, eleven years after The Book of Love. It runs 95 minutes and is directed by Mike Elliott.
source ↗ - ReferenceCritics weren't kind
Teo Bugbee of the New York Times wrote: "The original American Pie was tasteless; this version is flavorless." The Hollywood Reporter review noted the creative team was almost all male.
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