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"All of a sudden the gages started lighting up like a pinball machine." Susan Anton, Cannonball Run II, 1984 |
| The pinball machine has made it's
appearance in many films. You don't believe me? Well,
take a look at the list below, which I will update every
time I see a pin in a movie. In the films, don't expect
to see closeups of the pins due to copyright issues. If
you are a pro, you can ID the pin by the cabinet or by a
corner shot of the backglass. EMAIL ME if you can ID some of these mystery pins or have seen a pin in the movies not mentioned on this page. When I started this site in April, 2001, there were 37 films listed with pins. As of May, 2005, there are 56 just on page 1 alone, 191 films listed total....so far. So that you may find the scene quicker, I have indicated what numbered scene if I saw the movie on DVD. I've included links for each pin to the Internet Pinball Database, where you can view pics for most of these pins and get the information on them. If you wish to look up the movie in which the pins appeared, the Internet Movie Database is a great source. Wanna see more pins in the movies? Try John's Robertson's site of pins his business, John's Jukes rented to Hollywood for movies and television. Also, don't miss Russ Jensen's comprehensive article, "The Time Of Your Life...And More!" Also, don't miss Federico Crocci's "Tilt!" page on pins in the movies and more. (thanks Marco Rossignoli for the link.) Also, if you want to view a bunch of screen shots, there's an excellent site HERE. *indicates a new entry |
| MOVIE | PINBALL MACHINE | SCENE | ||||
The Abyss |
Secret Service, Data East, 1988(thanks Marco Rossignoli, author of The Complete Pinball Book) | underwater station, when they have had their first contact with the "waterworm" that transform itselfs "nose" to the main character's face. (thanks Stefan L.) |
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| The Accused | Scorpion, Williams, 1980 Genie, Gottlieb, 1979 Slam Dunk/Space Invaders, Bally, (a custom pin for the film, with a SI pf.) More info at this site |
bar rape scene (thanks Thomas for jotting my memory) It's the flashback about 3/4 into the movie when Kenneth, the video playing college kid, is called to witness, not in the beginning of the movie as sometimes incorrectly stated. All three pins are widebodies. Jodi Foster is raped on a Slam Dunk/Space Invaders custom made pin. There is possibly a fourth pin which I couldn't identify. This game, however isn't there during the rape scene, but its sideart is seen when the DA and police come to the bar to look for suspects and it doesn't fit any of the games listed and it doesn't really appear like a widebody either. (thanks Sampo) |
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All I Want For Christmas |
Cyclone, Williams, 1988 |
About fifteen minutes in the movie, the two kids are seen playing the pin. The scene starts off with a great rolling shot of the playfield and then centers on the two kids playing as they discuss some family biz. (thanks Dave Abeling) | ||||
Alley Cats Strike |
Doctor Who, Bally, 1992 Tommy, Data East, 1994 |
Bowling alley, 4 pins, including two 60's pins. (thanks Svensson) | ||||
| American Graffiti | Buckaroo, Gottlieb, 1965 Royal Guard, Gottlieb, 1968 Sky Rocket, Bally, 1970 Vampire, Bally, 1971 Wild Wild West, Gottlieb, 1969 (First game by Mfg. To use 3" flippers) |
It's the scene where the Pharaohs go to a mini golf course, and enter the arcade where there are several pinball machines, ranging from 1965-71, and the movie takes place in 1962. Kinda like Happy Days, set in the 50's-60's, and the pins are from the 70's! |
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Anatomy Of A Murder |
World Champ, Gottlieb, 1957 |
prominently displayed in the background of one bar scene, and the rape victim (Lee Remick) tells Stewart in another that pinball is one of her favorite pastimes. (thanks Gene A.) | ||||
| *Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy | ?Bally, Night Rider EM? and Mata Hari, Bally, 1978 | DVD, chapter 2, 4 min. 22 sec. into movie, biker bar scene | ||||
| Animal House | A row of about 5 pins I think. They were loaned out to the frat house during the filming of this movie. You have to look closely for them. One is Gottlieb's Domino, 1968. (thanks Derek Moore) Also, possibly Shipmates, by Gottlieb, 1964, which you can see the upper right corner of the backglass, and a woodrail from the 50's with score reels, and some other pins I can't quite see. |
DVD, scene 5, "The New Pledges" |
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Another Day In Paradise |
Olympic Hockey, Williams, 1972 |
DVD, scene 1, 4 min. into movie, Bobbie is robbing some vending machines, there is the pinball machine in the room. It's first seen as shaky Bobbie examines the game, but then he decides to go for the vending machines. Then he is surprised by the security guard, who lays him sprawled on the playfield glass, when the game's sideart is clearly visible with hockeystick-like images. A bloody fight ensues, during which the game can be seen in the background. Parts of the scene, with the game, can also be seen in the beginning of the trailer at the IMDB. (thanks Sampo S.) |
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| Arthur | Eight Ball, Bally, 1977 | Gameroom scene with Dudley Moore and Liza Minelli | ||||
Backroads |
Sinbad, Gottlieb, 1978 Stellar Wars, Williams, 1979 |
A sailor was playing against a hood for money on a "Sinbad" pinball. There was some good shots of a "Stellar wars" and others as well. (Thanks "Some bozo") |
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Bad Luck Love (Finnish movie) |
South Park, Sega, 1999 | a South Park appears twice in the movie, just between these appearances the lead character is supposed to have spent four years in prison. A South Park pin didn't exist four years prior to the shooting of this film. There's also another modern steep-pitch pin in the background, but it can't be identified, there's always someone's head in the way. Even the guy who rented the games for the shoot can't remember the pin anymore. And there is also a friend's bubble-gum machine supposedly stolen by the lead character's brother for his welcome home present. (Thanks Sampo S.) | ||||
| Bad News Bears |
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Bonanza Arcade scene |
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Bad Santa |
The Getaway: High Speed II, Williams, 1992 and ? |
Mall arcade, scene 8, 34 minutes into movie. Billy Bob Thorton hitting on a girl, literally, while playing a HS II. (thanks Paul Davis). There is another pin to the left, beside it, with a blue cabinet and blue sun patterns. |
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| Before Sunrise | Space Riders, Atari, 1978 | characters play this pin for 5 minutes. I haven't seen this movie yet. |
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| *Behind Enemy Lines | Terminator 2, Williams, 1991 | The pin is seen a few times in a shootout in an abandoned bullet-ridden arcade about 80 mins into the movie, along with some arcade games.A pin is also seen about 20 mins into the movie in the Serb forces bunker in Bosnia. Its visibile side is in shadow, you can only see the outline. Probably the same T2 was used here as a prop and having the same pin appear twice in the movie in different spots would have looked odd, so they decided to shoot it dark the first time. (thanks Sampo) | ||||
| Big | Pinbot, Williams, 1986 | Tom Hanks apt., asks Elizabeth Perkins to "sleep over." (thanks Sean K.) |
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| Big Daddy | Space Station, Williams, 1987 | Adam Sandler's apt. (thanks again Thomas) |
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Big Fat Liar |
Hit and Run, Williams, 1970 Pinbot, Williams, 1986 |
DVD, scene 6, 30 min. into movie. Kids stuck in Hollywood prop warehouse. DVD, scene 7, 38 min. into movie. Main character plays a Pinbot, only cabinet seen. pin makes EM sounds. (thanks Vinnie) |
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*Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure |
? |
DVD, scene 13, 1 hr. 5 min. into movie, mall skating rink. There is a blurry shot of 2 pins and 3 vids. From a distance, all you can tell is the pins are some sort of solid state, not electromechanical. | ||||
| Blair Witch 2 | Time Warp, Williams, 1979 | Dead owl crashes through window at complex in the woods. Pin seen in the background, left side of the screen. |
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Blue Collar |
Big Hit, Gottlieb, 1977 |
bar scene (thanks Derek Moore) | ||||
| Blues Brothers | 4 Square, Gottlieb, June 1971 | DVD, chapter 25?, Rawhide (bar scene, maybe not Rawhide number though) |
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| Blues Brothers | Monte Carlo, Bally, 1972 | same scene as above |
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Boogie Nights |
Stardust,
Williams, 1971 Aladdin's
Castle, Bally, 1975 Hot Line, Williams, 1966 |
DVD, scene 14, 56 minutes into movie, at the disco DVD, scene 23, 1 hr. 21 minutes into movie, Dirk Diggler's house (thanks Marco Rossignoli, author of "The Complete Pinball Book.") |
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Bottle Rocket |
Power Play (Bobby Orr), Bally, 1977 |
Luke and Owen Wilson, about 15-20 minutes into the movie, are having a discussion in a diner, while they are playing the pin. One guy storms out of the diner, and the other chases after him asking if he can finish his game. (thanks Ron D.) | ||||
Bowling For Columbine |
Circus Voltaire, Bally, 1997 Black Rose, Bally, 1992 |
DVD, scene 7, 14 min. into movie, arcade scene. Black Rose is later in the scene, when the two kids are playing air hockey. | ||||
Bustin' Loose |
Superman, Atari, 1979 |
arcade scene, 29 minutes into movie, front of cabinet barely visible | ||||
Car Wash |
Spirit Of 76, Gottlieb, 1975 |
DVD, scene 4 (19 min. into flick), "Title Song," kid uses pin as a lunch table, and scene 13, "Pop Bottle Bomber," (1 hr 7 min into flick.) | ||||
| Chasing Amy | Pin-Up,
Gottlieb, 1975 Whirlwind, Williams, 1990 |
Arcade scene, about 40 min. into movie. Ben Aflick accidentally throws a skee ball which smashes the playfield glass of Pin-Up. When they walk into the arcade, you can see the head of a Whirlwind pin and the head of two Premier/Gottlieb pins. (thanks, Mike M.) |
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| Chi l'ha vista morire | Harmony, Gottlieb, 1967 | About 20 minutes into the film (from memory) in a coffee bar in the centre of Venice. A real nice shot of the upper playfield "in action" with the ball rolling around. (thanks Marco Rossignoli) | ||||
Children Of The Corn |
Medusa, Bally, 1981 |
DVD, scene 1, 2 minutes into flick, EM sounds heard in background, but you can see Malachai playing the Medusa pin. The cabinet is clearly visible. | ||||
China Syndrome |
Jack In The Box, Gottlieb, 1973 |
a few pins in the bar where Jane Fonda meets the nuclear plant people. (thanks Jim Schelberg, editor of Pingame Journal and Derek Moore for ID'ing the pin). This movie ALSO has the only known clear vison of the gameshow the Magnificent marble machine ... it's on the monitor before they go live in the nuk power plant ... IT had a pinball machine in it, well ... the GIANT game machine, but a machine just the same. (thanks again JS). | ||||
Chrome And Hot Leather |
Doodle Bug, Williams, 1971 |
Bar Scene, biker plays the pin throughout the movie. He was playing it everytime they were in the bar, some old man asks if he can play but the biker says he is going for the championship. (thanks Tiedyemo) | ||||
*Code Of Silence |
Playboy, Bally, 1978 |
About 3/4 of the way through the movie, Chuck Norris takes on the bad guys in Comacho's bar. (thanks Dave Gersic) | ||||
Con Air |
Space Time, Bally, 1972 |
DVD, scene 1, couple minutes into movie, bar scene, pin in corner. | ||||
| Cop Land | Lethal Weapon 3, Data East, 1992 | Opening scene, Drunken Stallone playing this pin in a bar. |
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Now, Gottlieb, 1971 |
first 15 minutes of the film as Conti is going over his scrapbook on the playfield glass. Several screen-filling shots of the backglass. This is an independent film, and Ldnayman's pin was used in this film.(thanks Ldnayman). | |||||
| Dazed And Confused | Fireball, Bally, 1971 | ? |
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Desperate Living |
Gusher, Williams, 1958 |
It's in the strip bar in Mortville. (thanks Ldnayman) | ||||
| Detroit Rock City | KISS,
Bally, 1978 Nugent, Stern, 1978 Power Play (Bobby Orr), Bally, 1977 Strikes And Spares, Bally, 1977 |
53 minutes into flick, Convenience store scene. Power Play is barely visible on the far right in a row of four pins. |
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Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star |
Glimmer Gang, ?originally Williams pin? late 70's? |
DVD, 23 min. into movie, David Spade enters his garage house, and a former Williams SS pin identified by coin door, repainted with psychedlic pattern and a "Glimmer Gang" backglass. | ||||
| Diner | ?, film set in late 50's | Tim Daley, Steve Guettenberg, Pool hall scene(thanks Sean K.) | ||||
Diggstown |
8 Ball Deluxe, Bally, 1980 and ? |
bar scene (thanks Tiedyemo) |
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Divorce American Style |
Big League, Chicago Coin, 1965 and ? |
DVD, scene 12, about 44 min. into movie, bowling alley. There is some sort of woodrail pin, late 50's, judging by the fact it has score reels. | ||||
*Dodgeball |
Meteor, Stern, 1979 |
DVD, (13 min. into movie), "Average Joe's Gym" | ||||
Double Take |
Revenge From Mars, Bally, 1999 |
DVD, (1 hr 13 min. into movie), scene 24, "A couple of snags" (shooting scene in the mansion at the end of the movie) | ||||
| Dude, Where's My Car? | Junkyard, Williams, 1996 | DVD, (1 hr. 1 min. into movie), scene 17, at "Captain Stu's Space O' Rama Arcade." Look for the pin in the back right corner. (thanks Svensson) |
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| Eddie And The Cruisers
II: Eddie Lives! |
High
Speed?, Williams, 1986 8 Ball Deluxe, Bally, 1980 |
About 15 min. into movie, bar scene, ?High Speed? About 50 min. into movie, during band practice, 8 Ball Deluxe seen in background |
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| Easy Money | ? | bar scene, about 1 hr 10 min. into movie. left corner of pin’s head, barely noticeable solid state display, but em sounds in background |
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Electric Horseman |
Sheriff, Gottlieb, 1971 |
bar scene (thanks Derek Moore) | ||||
The Enforcer |
Hot Shot, Gottlieb, 1973 |
About half-way into the movie, Dirty Harry Callahan has once again been suspended from his duties and is playing pool in a bar. His boss comes to ask him about a detail in a case and the pin is once seen in the background. (thanks Sampo) | ||||
Escape From New York |
Victory, Genco, 1941 |
DVD, scene 25, "No Dead President", 1 hr 15 min into movie, there is a woodrail. It's the scene where Donald Pleasance is rescued by Harry Dean Stanton and Adrain Barbeau. During the brief fight scene, you can see a 40's style woodrail in the background. The cabinet is painted blue, with white stars. The pin gets bumped by a guy that Adrian Barbeau kills but the pin survives. Backglass is barely visible. It's a V shaped pattern with blue in the top center. | ||||
Firstborn |
Gold ball, Bally, 1984 |
In character's house and played throughout movie (thanks Dave M.) | ||||
Footloose |
Gorgar, Williams, 1979 |
DVD, scene 4, 31 minutes into movie, Sarah Jessica Parker walks into diner, notices videogames are being wheeled out the door and says, "What's up with this town?" Gorgar is to the left in the background. | ||||
The French Connection |
Big Brave, Gottlieb, 197 , (or Big Indian?) Sheriff, Gottlieb, 197 |
scene where Gene Hackman is in a bar in France buying drinks for the bartender. When they show Hackman from the front, you can see these pins, (although somewhat out of focus). (thanks Frank) | ||||
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare |
? |
A pin in the gym of the youth shelter and you barely get a glimpse of the cabinet. |
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Freddy Vs. Jason |
------- |
No actual pin, but on the DVD, chapter 12, 1 hr. 5 min. into the movie, Freddy wills Jason to bounce around the walls of an abandoned steel mill, and Freddy makes motions with his fingers like he is hitting flippers on a pinball machine, with electromechanical sounds in the background. Jason falls and Freddy shouts, "Tilt!" | ||||
Frequency |
?Fish Tales, Williams, 1992 | Seen from a distance. Scene in diner where son confronts killer, I think. |
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