Community:Fallout 2 Easter Eggs

1984

 * The citizens in the Tap House of Vault City will sometimes say "I am feeling double-plus good today. You?" This is a reference to the language Newspeak, of which, citizens of the fictitious superpower Oceania are increasingly forced to speak by the ruling totalitarian party in the book 1984 by George Orwell.
 * Slaves at the Stables also repeat the line "Double plus good."

2001: A Space Odyssey

 * The crashed vertibird robot in Klamath Canyon not only says the lines, "I can't let you do that Dave," and "I'm sorry Dave." but also sings Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two).
 * Also, the medical terminal on the first level of Vault 8 will say "I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that." All of these are variations upon lines spoken by the computer HAL in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.

3:10 to Yuma
Ben Wade is the name of the outlaw in the 1957 film 3:10 to Yuma.

A Boy and His Dog
In the film A Boy and His Dog, Vic refers to his telepathic dog (Blood) as "Dogmeat" on a single occasion. However, the whole post-apocalyptic theme of a boy and his dog is iconic in the "Post End of Days" game storyline.

AC-DC
New Reno prostitutes will mention Australian hard rock band AC/DC when revealing that they are up for another bunch of letters, "B n' D" (bondage and dominance/discipline).

Apple Inc.

 * The Pear operating system is a cultural reference to Apple DOS, due to the fruit-based name and operating system use.
 * Apricot brand computers may be a cultural reference to Apple Inc. as both are named using a fruit. It may also be a cultural reference to Apricot Computers, a similarly named real company from the United Kingdom, which also produced personal computers in the 1980s.

Armageddon 2419 A.D.
Chuck Stodgers is a reference to the Armageddon 2419 A.D. protagonist, Buck Rogers.

Army of Darkness
Random enemies will sometimes say: "You want a piece of me? YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME?!" It is one of Lt. Casey's taunts in the game. The phrase also comes from the movie Army of Darkness where the lead character, "Ash" says that (among other things) to various miscreants and ghouls.

Arroyo
Arroyo is the name of the town in Tennessee William's post-apocalyptic one-act play The Chalky White Substance.

As Good as It Gets
In Vault City, when the player character talks to Thomas Moore, the zealous anti-slavery advocate, they can end the conversation by saying "Go sell crazy somewhere else - we're all stocked up here." This is a reference to Jack Nicholson's character Melvin Udall in As Good as It Gets.

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
The man in the bathroom in Vault City will occasionally say "Who does Number Two work for?!?!", mirroring a scene from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

Babylon 5
A low intelligence player character can refer to Marjorie Reed as Delenn, a reference to Babylon 5.

Back to the Future
If the player character becomes a Slaver, sometimes, the victims will yell "Run for it, Marty!" This is a reference to the 1985 film Back to the Future.

Big Trouble in Little China

 * Sometimes, while attacking, Sulik refers to his seven demon bag. This is a reference to Egg Shen's bag of magic.
 * In San Francisco, the two martial arts masters who are vying for the soul of the town are named the Dragon, and Lo Pan. These two characters could be a reference to Wang Chi because of his restaurant's name being Dragon of the Black Pool, and Lo Pan being the villain of the movie.

Bioware
One of the gravestones on the east side of the Den has the name of one of the co-founders of Bioware, Ray Muzyka, written on it.

The Blues Brothers
After recruiting Myron in New Reno, there is a dialogue option which says "It's 106 miles to Arroyo, we've got a full fusion cell, half a pack of RadAway, it's midnight, and I'm wearing a 50-year-old Vault 13 jumpsuit. Let's hit it." This is a parody of Dan Aykroyd's and John Belushi's famous scene from The Blues Brothers movie:

Boogie Nights
When choosing a porn name for the Corsican Brothers, one of the accepted names preset names is "Dirk Diggler," which the brothers remark that it is "a name so bright and so sharp, that it'll just EXPLODE because it's just so powerful." This is a reference to the movie Boogie Nights whose main character, Eddie Adams, chooses the same screen name.

Cat in the Hat
When requesting parts from the Gecko storage, one option to Jeremy is a "moss-covered, three-handled gredunza." This is the plot device for the July 4, 1971 Cat in the Hat TV special.

Christianity
The image and title of the Lifegiver perk is a Vault Boy presented in a manner consistent with representations of Jesus Christ.

Chryslus Motors

 * The company name is derived from Chrysler and General Motors, both American automobile manufacturers headquartered in Michigan.
 * Chryslus Motors is the maker of the Highwayman, and mentioned numerous times, notably in nearly a dozen lines of the mechanics in the Chop Shop, where the car ends up after it is stolen in New Reno.

Clerks
The junkies of New Reno occasionally say "drink - beers - smoking - weed" and "snootchie boochies," phrases exclaimed by Jason Mewes' character Jay in the film Clerks.

Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners
In Broken Hills' residential area, the human woman in the hotel will sometimes say "Come on .. Aileen."

Commando
When fighting boxers in the Jungle Gym, they will taunt the Chosen One with lines from Commando. For example, "I eat green berets for breakfast."

The Corsican Brothers
The Corsican Brothers are a reference to the novella of the same name by French writer Alexandre Dumas.

Damnation Alley
One of Cassidy's quotes is, "I hear they got twisters miles wide in the Midwest. It's a big ol' radioactive dustbowl now." Roger Zelazny's "Damnation Alley" takes place in the (now usual) post-apocalyptic USA. Extreme weather, "twisters miles wide" etc., occur in the Midwest, earning it the name "Damnation Alley." The original short story was published in 1967, expanded into a novel in 1969, followed by a movie in 1977.

The Day The Earth Stood Still

 * In Klamath Canyon, the Crashed vertibird robot that guards the Vertibird and wreckage says, among other references, "Gort! Klaatu Berada Nictu!", a phrase uttered by the alien in the film The Day the Earth Stood Still.
 * In New Reno, if the Chosen One is wearing power armor, porn actresses at the Golden Globes will remark, "What film are YOU trying out for? The Day the Earth Stood Still? Get out of here!"

Dilbert
If the Chosen One has a low Intelligence and is trying to gain an audience with Louis Salvatore, one line they can tell his guard, Mason, is "Oog make Mission Statement." The line is an exact quote from the October 13, 1994 comic where Dogbert was lecturing about technological "haves" and "have-nots," to which the have-nots would still call the shots.

Dirty Harry
The description for the .44 magnum revolver is an exact quote of a line spoken by Clint Eastwood in the film Dirty Harry (1971): "Being that this is the most powerful handgun in the world, and can blow your head clean-off, you've got to ask yourself one question. Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?" In the film, the .44 magnum is "Dirty" Harry Callahan's weapon of choice.

The Dog in the Manger
President Tandi refers to the squatters around Vault 15 as "nothing but dogs in the manger." This is a metaphor derived from the Greek fable The Dog in the Manger. The saying is used to speak of those who spitefully prevent others from having something that they themselves have no use for.

Dr. Strangelove
Slim Picket is a reference to the actor Slim Pickens, best known for his role in the movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb as B-52 pilot Major T. J. "King" Kong. Kong rides a dropped H-bomb to certain death, while waving his cowboy hat as if the bomb were a rodeo bronco. The bomb explodes, triggering the end of the world.

Dune

 * Mentats are used to raise Perception and Intelligence; in Frank Herbert's Dune, Mentats were considered living computers that used Spice to enhance perceptive consciousness.
 * Primitives taunt the player character by saying, "Fear is the mind-killer" when an attack misses the target. The phrase derives from the Bene Gesserit litany against fear.

Dungeons & Dragons
Myron mentions that Dungeons & Dragons, one of the most popular tabletop roleplaying games, taught him a few things about courage.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
The film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is referenced in Gecko by its glowing one inhabitants, who extend a glowing finger out at the Chosen One while droning "Phone home."

Fallout

 * On level three of Vault 8 in Vault City, a man named Martin sings the song Maybe by The Ink Spots. This is the song in the opening and ending credits of the original Fallout.
 * Enclave patrolmen float dialogue includes, "Now I suppose you're going to tell me you're just out looking for a water chip. Do I look dumb? Get him!" referencing the main quest of Fallout.
 * On Second Street of New Reno, huddled around a trashcan fire next to the Jungle Gym, is a three member band Frenchy, Paine, and Sims. They can sing A Kiss to Build a Dream On by Louis Armstrong, the intro song of Fallout 2.
 * When conversing with the Corsican Brothers after the completion of the game, they will comment about making a motion picture of the Chosen One's exploits. The film, Pullout: Post-Nuclear Boogalo, is a reference to Fallout.
 * New Reno prostitutes will reference the Vault Dweller in dialogue, claiming that "for the last time, [they] don't want to dress up as the 'Vault Dweller.'"
 * Cat's Paw girls will reference the Vault Dweller's quest in Fallout, and their Hardened power armor.
 * After the Chosen One becomes a Porn Star in New Reno, many of the residents will comment about the pornographic movies that the Chosen One was in. Vault Sexteen is a spoof on the Vault Dweller's Vault 13.
 * After one completes Stop the Enclave, the Wright children, while playing, will comment that they miss Dogmeat from Fallout.
 * When encountering Lumpy, the Chosen One runs him over in the Highwayman. When asking for help, he refers to a previous encounter with a Nuka-Cola truck. This is a reference to the Nuka-Cola Truck special encounter in Fallout.

Fallout developers

 * Leonard Boyarsky was named after the developer, Leonard Boyarsky.
 * In Arroyo, the Chosen One's nephew standing by the well is named Feargus, as in Feargus Urquhart, founder of Black Isle Studios, the developer of Fallout and Fallout 2. Another Feargus is the subordinate of President of NCR Tandi, whose report to the raiders in Vault 15, when found by the Chosen One, exposes him as a traitor. As Per Jorner says:


 * Many tombstones, notably in Golgotha, mention names of people in the Fallout 2 team.
 * One in particular reads "Jason Anderson: no longer a living god." This is a specific reference to Jason Anderson and the reference to him in Fallout claiming that he is a living god.
 * The graffiti of New Reno has the names of developers such as T. Ray.
 * T-Ray is also the head mechanic in the Chop Shop, see below.
 * Bishop's men and Reno townsfolk remark that, quote "New Reno was designed by Chris Avellone and scripted by Tom French. Rumor has it they will marry soon." Ramirez, of the Mordinos, will act similarly and add on that Avellone and French are "a coupla sick fellas." The Wright teenagers mention New Reno's design as well, while adding on that "Tom plays in a band, and Chris plays with himself."
 * Fluffers and New Reno prostitutes also mention that they were scripted by Tom French and remark that he has "soft, gentle hands."
 * After the Enclave has been destroyed, when junkies are wasted and stoned, they will remark how they were designed by Chris Avellone and scripted by Thomas French, so they are technically not responsible for their Jet addiction.
 * Miss Kitty mentions that just talking is called the "Kesting special," referring to Nick Kesting. This joke is about how broke he is and that talking is all he could afford.
 * Reno townsfolk and New Reno prostitutes remark that they miss Tim Cain, who used to bake wonderful bread and then spank them like small children. They also mention that Feargus Urquhart "got a frowny-look on his face when he saw how many float text messages I have."
 * New Reno prostitutes mention that Chris Avellone and Tom French designed New Reno and they are both sex gods, and that Tim Cain is one of their regular customers.
 * New Reno prostitutes will remark how many strippers were at Feargus Urquhart's bachelor party.
 * The addicts of the Den will question where Sasha is. This is in reference to Vince Denardo. Although he is one of Interplay's old producers, he did not work on Fallout or Fallout 2. It was a small tradition to have his dog, Sasha, somewhere in an Interplay game, in some shape or form. Sasha is normally placed in the special thanks section or some other place in most of the older manuals.

La Femme Nikita
If the Chosen One is both female and a Made Man, Reno townsfolk will comment that they are "La Femme Nikita, then some." This is an allusion of the secret governmental assassin Nikita of La Femme Nikita.

Final Fantasy VII
In combat, John Cassidy will say, "Wish I had a limit break..." In the Final Fantasy series, the term coined in Final Fantasy VII, a limit break is a special ability that exceeds (or "breaks") the maximum limit of stats, like damage, mana and hit points.

The Flintstones
The prostitutes of New Reno may make a reference to The Flintstones in float dialogue; "I had to dress up like WILMA last night, fer Chrissakes."

Flowers for Algernon
Algernon's focused brilliance and his name are cultural references to Flowers for Algeron, a sci-fi short story that focuses on a laboratory mouse whose intelligence has been increased through surgery.

Fly
When junkies are high, among their generic float dialogue is them singing "I…just want to fly. Put your arms around me, baby, put your arms around me, baby." This is a reference to the Sugar Ray song Fly. This is part of the play on words theme of Jet addiction, with the drug being Jet, a Jet addict known as a pilot, and the act of getting or being high on Jet are Fly, Flying, Jetted, and Jetting.

Forbidden Planet/Lost in Space

 * New Reno townsfolk and casino patrons sometimes mention Robbie the Robot and joke "Danger, Will Robinson!", when the Chosen One wears power armor, which references the science fiction television program Forbidden Planet.
 * The crashed vertibird robot that guards the vertibird and wreckage also says "Danger Bill Williamson, Danger!" in addition to "Does not compute! Does not compute!"

Fourth Wall
Fallout 2 has several instances of characters breaking the fourth wall, that is acknowledging that they are characters in a video game.
 * In the Den, if the player character takes too long in delivering Smitty's meal to him, he will go and get his own meal. After this, within a conversation with him, the player character can break the fourth wall and ask for experience points anyway, and he will oblige.
 * In New Reno, after the completion of the game, Bishop's men and Wright teenagers reference the yet-to-be-released Fallout 3, hoping that they get to be a major character in the game.
 * Once the Enclave is destroyed, Mordino's men reference their audition to be one of the major NPCs, but that they only got a bit part and hope to not be typecast.
 * When having a conversation about the Chosen One's sexual relations with Leslie Anne Bishop's daughter Angela, the Chosen One mentions that equipping the condom is not as obvious as one would think and it is a bit of "designer humor."
 * When conversing with the Corsican Brothers after the completion of the game, the Chosen One can remark in regards to Pullout: Post-Nuclear Boogalo, itself is a reference to Fallout, that they would or would not do the movie while mentioning the game itself.
 * When listening to the Shark Club comedian's horrible act, he will mention optional traits, Jinxed, and Critical Failures.
 * After completing the game, the player character can converse with Father Tully, who will give them the Fallout 2 Hintbook, after which, he will comment on how most players "today" do not finish games.
 * After defeating the Enclave, New Reno prostitutes, fluffers, and Wright teenagers mention that the player should replay the game as a different kind of character.
 * When observing the Wright children's character model, it states that the female model's hair is conveniently chopped short as to reuse the male character model. When Marcus is introduced to the children, they will make fun of his fidget animation. Once the quest Stop the Enclave is completed, the Wright children will ask the Chosen One "Are you gonna delete us from yer hard drive now that you finished the game?" While playing after the completion of the game, the Wright children will comment that "I miss Dogmeat from Fallout 1.", "Think there's gonna be a Fallout 3? I wanna be the hero of that one!", and that "Fallout 2 was brought to you by the letter Z."
 * New Reno prostitutes also realize that they are just NPCs, but they are offended by the portrayal of women in New Reno and that they seem to be designed by some immature sex-starved geek who lives in his parent's basement.
 * After the completion of Stop the Enclave while being a female Porn Star, New Reno prostitutes will comment that "The way [the Chosen One] acts, you'd think [the Chosen One] was a hero model instead of a porn star."
 * Jagged Jimmy J remarks that he likes the player character and does not want them to be up the "barter screen" with "its fuses and wires and all."
 * The junkies break the fourth wall multiple ways; when wasted and high, they will comment how even though Fallout 2 is not a 3D game, it should support their new 3DFX card. At the time, this would have specifically been a Voodoo2. When wasted and stoned after the destruction of the Enclave, they will comment on how they are just NPCs, their potential deletion from the hard drive, if they will exist after said deletion and how the player should restart the game with a drug-biased character, recommending the Chem Reliant trait. When wearing power armor, they will remark that the player is in the wrong game and recommends a battle mech PC game.
 * When about to have sex with Leslie Anne Bishop, if the player character refuses to have sex with her without giving an excuse and she calls the guards, one of the lines they can end dialogue is by saying "Fuck, I hate this game." This also appears within the conversation about using a condom when having sexual relations with her daughter, Angela Bishop.
 * When wearing power armor while talking to the Wright teenagers, they will remark that "You look like you belong in a battle mech computer game. This is Fallout 2. Maybe you opened the wrong folder on your hard drive?"
 * Stuart Little will remark that he does not take offense to be called short and that everyone in the game seems to have the habit of making an instantaneous judgment on other NCPs based solely on their physical appearance.
 * After hacking a terminal, Myron will boast that he has used the Science skill successfully.
 * When first meeting Miss Kitty at the Cat's Paw, there is dialogue to discuss Cat's Paw magazines. The player character can remark how irritating it was not knowing what the magazines were, and that examining it over and over only revealed the same message, and they would still get the same message even though it has been identified.
 * When talking to any of the Reno townsfolk while wearing a suit of power armor, they will imply that the player character was on their way to a "battle-mech PC game and got lost." After the completion of Stop the Enclave, they will also dismissively comment that they are the Avatar too.
 * If the Chosen One is of significantly low Intelligence and is drunk, on the third conversation with slot machines, the Chosen One will utter that they finished the game and now they are just wandering around, worried that it is all over. They will also comment that Fallout 2 does not support their 3DFX card while complaining that they spent so much money on it, as well as the fact that they spent their points wrong and now they have a shitty character.
 * The Wrights may also question themselves after beating the game, if they will live on, even if a player deletes/uninstalls Fallout 2 from their computer.
 * In Vault City, Joanne Lynette says "Do you like my little dreadlocks? I think Scott Rodenhizer has a strange sense of humor.", "I don't know what you intend to gain by clicking on me, but I won't tolerate it much longer.", and "Perhaps you find clicking on me... amusing. Perhaps you will find the Corrections Center just as humorous."
 * When talking to Phyllis in the Vault City clinic, when asking to donate sperm, one can say to Phyllis, after donating, "Oh well, I thought there weren't any children because this might be the European version of Fallout 2. Goodbye."
 * In Vault City, at the end of the quest Drink your weight in Alcohol-Z, gaining one of the raised or lowered hit point perks, the Chosen One tells the Parlor Room bartender that they need to "pop out of dialogue for a second and check my max hit points."
 * When in NCR, if the Chosen One talks to the Enlightened One and says they are one of the enlightened when she asks what level they are, the Chosen One can respond by saying "Last time I checked my character page, I was level [#], but if I keep fighting random encounters, I'm sure I'll get to level 99 in no time." Saying this will reward an extra 100 XP.
 * There are unused comments in Lynette's dialogue file, where she again mentions Scott Rodenhizer but also mentions T-Ray, who she thinks has too high thoughts of himself.
 * Lynette has an unused comment saying "Explain to me again why Fallout 2 doesn't have any black hero models?", a reference on that by default the only player characters are white (Caucasian). This is continued in the Cafe of Broken Dreams by a black hero model.
 * Another unused comment is where Lynette would say "Oh, boy! Sleep! That's where I'm a Viking!"

From Dusk till Dawn
Sheb outside of the Cat's Paw in New Reno constantly shouts advertisements about the "booty" sold within the establishment in a manner identical to a similar character played by Cheech Marin in From Dusk till Dawn.

Full Metal Jacket

 * If the Chosen One has no reputation, is a Slaver, or has Sulik as a companion, New Reno prostitutes will occasionally comment "Me so horny." This is an allusion to the hooker scene in Full Metal Jacket.
 * In Gecko's nuclear power plant, a ghoul may randomly say "A day without leakage is like a day without sunshine," which is another reference to Full Metal Jacket, in which the main protagonist Pvt. Joker says, "A day without blood is like a day without sunshine" (he in turn is quoting John Wayne).
 * In New Reno, if Myron is currently a companion, a pimp can sometimes say "Can she suck a golf ball through a garden hose? Hell, yes." This is a reference to the famous first scene with drill instructor.

Funny Farm
In the town of Modoc, when the player character goes to Rose's Bed and Breakfast, one can enter the brahmin fry eating contest. Right as the Chosen One breaks the record, they learn that the brahmin fries are actually brahmin testicles. In the movie Funny Farm, Chevy Chase enters a Lamb Fry Eating Contest and his reaction (when he learns that they are sheep testicles) to it is identical to the player character's in-game.

G.I. Jane
New Reno prostitutes solicit and call female characters "G.I. Jane," the codename of the combat medic of the G.I. Joe Team from the G.I. Joe franchise.

The Godfather
In Broken Hills, the player character can find an intelligent scorpion wearing spectacles. If these spectacles are taken and given to Renesco in New Reno, then he will, begrudgingly, thank the Chosen One and offer a reward. One of the dialogue options is to reply "Someday - and that day may never come - I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day accept these glasses as a gift on my daughter's wedding day." This is a reference to the 1972 gangster movie The Godfather.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

 * In the Mercenary raiders' cave, there are three sets of dog tags that match the three main characters from the Western film, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Angel Eyes, Tuco and Blondie.
 * Acting on Louis Salvatore's orders to get money from Pretty Boy Lloyd, if the player (unwisely) agrees to follow Lloyd's directions to the location of the loot in Golgotha, Lloyd directs the player to find a grave marked "Arch Stanton." There is no such grave. The exact name, its presence on a supposed grave marker, and the difficulty/impossibility of finding it are all references to the site of the reputed buried treasure in The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. Doing this quest correctly can lead to the dialogue option: "There are two kinds of people in the world Lloyd. Those with guns and those that dig." This is also from the film.

Goodfellas
Flick in the Den says the following line: "What you talkin' about? You think I'm a fucking stupid pirla? Some dumb filio di puttana? You think I'm some kinda clown? Am I here to amuse you, is that it?" This is a direct reference to the scene where Joe Pesci is talking to Ray Liotta in the gangster movie Goodfellas by Martin Scorsese.

The Goonies
When the Chosen One goes down into the well in the center of town in Modoc, there will be several bags of coins lying around. If one is picked up, then the player character will say a line almost identical to the line spoken by "Mouth" (played by Corey Feldman) in The Goonies when he and his friends find themselves at the bottom of a wishing well.

The Graduate
Depending on the Chosen One's attributes, Leslie Anne Bishop may make sexual advances toward the player character. The encounter and parts of the dialogue are a reference to a similar situation in The Graduate where Mrs. Robinson attempts to seduce Ben for the first time.

Grease
The mechanics in the Chop Shop of New Reno remark "Go, greased lightning, go." and "Grease is the word that I heard…dum dum dum dum…", these are lyrics from the songs Greased Lightnin and Grease, from the musical Grease.

Great Balls of Fire
After the Chosen One becomes a Porn Star in New Reno, many of the residents will comment about the pornographic movies that the Chosen One was in. Great Balls for Hire! is a spoof on the story of Great Balls of Fire.

Good Will Hunting
After the Chosen One becomes a Porn Star in New Reno, many of the residents will comment about the pornographic movies that the Chosen One was in. Good Will Humping is a spoof on the story of Good Will Hunting.

Gunsmoke
Miss Kitty is a character in the television Western drama Gunsmoke. A line of dialogue the Chosen One and Miss Kitty also mimics is Chester's catchphrase "Ah, shucks."

Head Like A Hole
Male punks of the Tanker vagrants will say, "In fact, I'd rather die than give you control." The mild delivery of this line is a contrast to the way it is sung in Head Like A Hole.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The dead carcass of a sperm whale and a broken houseplant are obvious references to The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, a comedic science fiction novel where a ship's improbability drive turns two nuclear missiles into a sperm whale and a bowl of petunias – one chapter details the thoughts of the two entities, as they plummet towards their death.

The Incredible Hulk
From Marvel Comics's The Incredible Hulk.
 * The image for the perk Mutate! is an allusion to Bruce Banner and his alter-ego the Hulk.
 * The image for the perk Bonus HtH Damage is an allusion to the Hulk's anger and strength.

The Isley Brothers
When talking to the spirits with Sulik in a non-descript location, Sulik will occasionally say a little bit softer now, a little bit louder now, and Shout! This comes directly from the The Isley Brothers song Shout.

John Henry "Doc" Holliday,
The names of the three mid-game doctors (Doc Holliday, Dr Henry, and Painless Doc Johnson) are references to John Henry "Doc" Holliday, a gunfighter, gambler, and dentist of the Wild West.

In Living Color
In Shady Sands, Doofus wrote a song. Before singing the song, the line he says ("Wrote a song about it wana here it here it goes") is a reference to a sketch from In Living Color. Involving Calhoun Tubbs who says the same phrase before playing the blues.

Interstate '76
Skeeter, the mechanic ghoul in Gecko, is a reference to the mechanic Skeeter in the video game Interstate '76.

Jerry Maguire
One of the dialogue options when talking to the Great Ananias, the showman in the Den, is "Show Me The Mummy!", a homage to the line, "Show me the money!" from the movie Jerry Maguire, starring Tom Cruise.

John Wayne
The sheriff in Redding, Earl Marion, is a triple reference to John Wayne who was born Marion Robert Morrison and nicknamed "The Duke." Both earl and duke are titles of nobility, duke surpassing earl. John Wayne is famous for playing sheriffs in various western movies.

Kevin and Bean
In the Vault City toilets, an occupant mentions Kevin and Bean bathroom interviews, a humorous segment on a popular radio show hosted by Kevin and Bean in which unsuspecting men relieving themselves are subjected to an impromptu and uncomfortable interview between bathroom stalls.

KFC

 * When the Dunton brothers, Chuck and Buck, are asked about their meat jerky, they will say, "Well, our drymeat is an incredible blend of eleven herbs and spices. Let me tell you, it’s finger-lickin’ good." This is an allusion to Kentucky Fried Chicken.
 * According to Military base holodisk 5 (in the footlocker in first tent on the left on the surface of Military base ruins), Colonel Sanders ordered the Mariposa Military Base excavation. This is an allusion to Colonel Sanders.

Lassie
Laddie is a cultural reference to the television show Lassie, and the trope it created, Timmy in a Well. Jonny is described as a typical all-American kid with blonde hair and blue eyes, and fell down the town well while playing cowboys and Indians.

Lewinsky scandal
The secretary in the president's reception chambers indicates she and Dick Richardson are having an inappropriate workplace relationship. This is an allusion to the Lewinsky scandal, poking fun at Monica Lewinski, a government employee who worked for former United States President Bill Clinton. The ball gag in her inventory furthers the joke.

Little Shop of Horrors
In Broken Hills, there's a talking spore plant named Seymour. This is an allusion to the talking plant in Little Shop of Horrors called Audrey II. However, Seymour is the hapless main character that feeds Audrey II.

Logan's Run
The ankh necklace and the goal of the Renewal Cult is a cultural reference to Logan's Run. Fallout Bible 5: "59c. The other question was about renewing. I had always killed the rat God before I got to necropolis. Now I know (as of about 3 days ago actually) that renewing was the term the ghouls used for becoming truly human again. (I had just asked what it was before and what the heck the ghouls meant.) Any further info on renewing would be much apreciated. (though I don't expect you to explain how to actually do it or anything it remained pretty vauge in fallout2 and I just couldn't find a way to get it to happen. Everytime I tried to optimise the plant Vault city would wipe out the ghouls. Was it actually doable or just a clever ruse from the brain to take over the world? (he never did in my games and i didn't have to do anything to stop him, like in the cartoon his plans fall apart on their own I suppose) Thanks for your time once again. ''It was not possible for the ghouls to "renew" in Fallout 2 - it was part of the Brain's plans to get them human again (under his control). It is possible to save Gecko and VC - one of the walkthroughs on the Fallout fan sites should have info on it.'' And here's what the Brain specifically has to say about Renewal:
 * The Brain: Well as part of my plan to rule the world I intend to reward my Ghoul followers by finding a way to restore their humanity.
 * Chosen One: How are you going to do that?
 * The Brain: When I unite Gecko and Vault City under my rulership I will dedicate Vault City's medical labs to finding a way to reverse the effects of radiation that turned the people into Ghouls. They will be renewed, reborn, as humans once again.

And:
 * The Brain: In order to take over the world I have to make sure that there's something worth taking over. I need to build a strong powerbase using Gecko and Vault City.
 * Chosen One: A rat plotting to take over the world?
 * The Brain: Well, despite your feelings about a rodent ruling the world; the actions I propose would benefit thousands of Vault City and Gecko's citizens. You may not care for me or my motives but the results are still well worth working towards.

Also, according to designer Matt Norton, "renew" was also a reference to the movie (and book) 'Logan's Run.'"

Looney Tunes

 * Shadow-Who-Walks and the addicts of the Den quote Elmer Fudd's famous catchphrase, "Be vewy vewy quiet. I'm hunting for wabbits."
 * In one of her floats, Dorothy asks the Chosen One if they happen to have an illudium Q-38 space modulator; this references the cartoon series Marvin the Martian, where the titular character often attempts to destroy Earth using an "illudium Q-36 explosive space modulator."

Love in an Elevator
New Reno prostitutes will greet the player and say "Oh, hello, Mr. Tyler. Going…down?" This references the music video for Aerosmith's 1989 song Love in an Elevator.

Loveline
The LoveLine phone sex brand is a cultural reference to Loveline, the syndicated radio call-in program, offering medical and relationship advice to listeners.

Network
Mercenaries in random encounters will sometimes say during combat "I'm MAD AS HELL! And I'm not going to take it anymore!", which is a direct quote of the movie Network.

Mad Max

 * If the player character attacks Dogmeat while he is not in their party, a character named Mel will appear and attack the player character. This is a reference to Mel Gibson's lead role in the Mad Max series, and to Max and his dog's partnership in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior.
 * Making fun of Stuart Little's character model prompts him to call male players "Madd Maxx wanna-be."
 * Many non-player characters will sing a line or two of Tina Turner's We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome), which was the theme to Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, after the completion of the game.
 * The town Broken Hills is a reference to the town of the same name that Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior was filmed in.
 * The sprite of a male main character with a leather jacket is designed to look like Max Rockatansky, the protagonist of the Mad Max films.

Magic: The Gathering
In Gecko, the bartender Wooz will try to get the Chosen One interested in the card game called "Tragic the Garnering." Tragic the Garnering is an obvious parody of Magic: The Gathering. Even the names of cards are similar - "Vox Muby" is an equivalent of "Mox Ruby," "Black Dahlia" of "Black Lotus" and "Earths" are the equivalent of "Lands."

M*A*S*H
In Sierra Army Depot VI, the Munitions Access Terminal states that Klinger from the 8063rd is in need of a mechanical part. This references the M*A*S*H franchise, specifically the episode Out of Gas, in which Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger trades wine for parts.

Masters of the Universe
Addicts in places such as the Den say, "I have the power!" This is a cultural reference to the Masters of the Universe media franchise where it is the catchphrase of the protagonist, He-Man.

Mickey Mouse
The float dialogue of both the Cat's Paw prostitutes and New Reno prostitutes shows that they are refusing to wear Mikey Mouse ears.

Microsoft Windows

 * Macrosoft, a computer company whos name is a reference to the Microsoft Corporation.
 * The name of the Winblows 57 operating system is an obvious reference to Microsoft Windows.
 * Fenestra '98: "Fenestra" means "window" in Latin, making it a reference to Windows 98.
 * The name of the Wyndoze 99 operating system is an obvious reference to Microsoft Windows.

Mike Tyson
In the basement of Shark Club in New Reno, there is a boxer, Mike "The Masticator", who says that he likes ears. Additionally, the characters Mike "The Masticator" and Evan Holyfeld who the player character fights in the New Reno boxing matches are references to Mike Tyson and the boxer whose ear he bit off, Evander Holyfield. There are also other parameters for other NPCs to remark on Mike:
 * If the Chosen One is a Prizefighter, porn actresses and New Reno prostitutes will remark, "Watch out for the Masticator. He's a real jerk. He tried to bite my ear off once."
 * If the Chosen One is a Prizefighter or a Made Man, the Wright teenagers will sometimes remark, "Watch out for the Masticator, all right? He's a mean one. Sooner bite your ear off than look at you."

Monty Python

 * Monty Python and the Holy Grail
 * The special encounter Bridge Keeper, is an allusion to the Bridge Keeper scene in the Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Wherein the Bridgekeeper will ask three questions, answering any of the questions wrong results in immediate death. However, the third question is a trick question and if answered correctly, it will lead to the immediate death of the Bridge Keeper. In the movie, everyone who answers incorrectly is magically thrown into the gorge, while the game initiates the Bloody Mess death script.
 * The special encounter the Holy Hand Grenade, is an allusion to the scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail where King Arthur's knights use the Holy Hand Grenade (of Antioch) to destroy the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog. In the special encounter, however, the knights are in search for the grenade.
 * In a deleted special encounter, which exists intact in the pre-patch files, although it is not accessible in a regular game, had these same King Arthur's knights fighting a Vorpal Rat with a Holy Hand Grenade.
 * In Klamath Canyon, the crashed vertibird robot that guards the Vertibird and wreckage says, among other references, "None shall pass." a nod to the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
 * Mom she says she has rat pie, rat loaf, and spaghetti with rat sauce, to which the Chosen One can ask, "Can I have something without so much rat in it?" This is a reference to Monty Python's Dead Bishop skit, in which Michael Palin's character asks for 'a slice of strawberry tart without so much rat in it.'

Mork & Mindy
In Klamath Canyon, the Crashed vertibird robot that guards the Vertibird and wreckage says, "Nanoo-nanoo," a traditional greeting on the planet of Ork, Mork's home planet, in the television sitcom Mork & Mindy.

Mr. Roboto
Casino patrons and Reno townsfolk may express concern that "Mr. Roboto" (Skynet) scanned them, referencing the 1982 Styx song of the same name.

Mr. T
Stuart Little asks the Chosen One if they "pity the foo," the catchphrase of Laurence Tureaud, better known as Mr. T.

Muhammad Ali
When the Chosen One is a Prizefighter, both Lil' Jesus Mordino and Ramirez will say "Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Thaz you, right there;" this plays off of Muhammad Ali's saying, "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee" from the The two fights between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston for boxing's World Heavyweight Championship.

My Living Doll
In Klamath Canyon, the Crashed vertibird robot that guards the Vertibird and wreckage says, among other references, "Does not compute! Does not compute!" The origin of which is from My Living Doll.

Obsession
Wooz's remark that "Well, Tragic the Garnering isn’t just a game -- it’s an obsession. Not a cologne, either." is an allusion to the Calvin Klein brand of cologne: 'Obsession'.

Of Mice and Men
Low Intelligence player character's dialogue lines in New Reno with Angela and Leslie Anne Bishop, as well as Miss Kitty, reference Lennie Small and his obsession with rabbits from Of Mice and Men.

On the Waterfront
When the Chosen One knocks out boxers while boxing at the Jungle Gym, they will utter the phrase "Coulda been a contender!" This is a reference to Marlon Brando's character, Terry Malloy, in On the Waterfront. The specific line is "You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley." It is in regard to Terry Malloy being forced to take a dive in a fight he could have easily won, due to the mob union-boss of the waterfront, Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb) instructing him to.

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
Elmo references the song One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer when complaining on how he got into jail.

Peter, Paul and Mary
Eldridge exclaims "Holeeee Peter Paul n' Mary!" when seeing power armor, referencing the folk singers of the same name.

The Pink Panther
In the Den, Tyler runs a gang and asks who sent you if you approach him. The Chosen One may reply with, "The pink panther."

Pinky and the Brain
In Gecko's access tunnels, there is a large intelligent mole rat called "Brain." Whom has a lust to take over the world, and his simpleminded ghoul protector Zomak is a reference to Pinky and the Brain.

Pocahontas
After the Chosen One becomes a Porn Star in New Reno, many of the residents will comment about the pornographic movies that the Chosen One was in. Pokeahotass is a spoof on the story of Pocahontas.

Preacher
Cassidy occasionally makes reference to the fact that "My father named me after a character in some pre-war comic book..."etc., as well as asking if you think Texas survived the war. The comic book Preacher, by Garth Ennis, is set largely in or around Texas, and has a main character who is a vampire(!) named Proinsas Cassidy, who for obvious reasons, tends to use only his last name.

The Princess Bride
Trapper Town is the home of way too many rats, and a man who will tell you of rodents of unusual size, a reference to the beasties from the swamp in The Princess Bride, combined with a timely warning about pig rats and mole rats below the town.

Punch-Out!!
In the Jungle Gym in New Reno, when Stuart Little asks the Chosen One what he wants his Prizefighter name to be, two of the choices are Glass Joe, Bald Bull. These are in reference to the Punch-Out!! series.

Red Dawn
John Cassidy will sometimes say, "Wonder if Texas survived the war..." which is a line from the Red Dawn film.

Red Dwarf
When talking to Dr. Andrew about receiving the Dermal Impact Assault Enhancement, he will explain the decrease in Charisma by saying, "All the curves you got are gonna become right angles, near as I can tell." In response, the Chosen One can reply that they have always wanted to look like Kryten, the angular android from the British sci-fi sitcom, Red Dwarf.

Robin Givens

 * Mike The Masticator mentions how he hates Robin Givens, whom was Mike Tyson's wife for a year and accused him of spousal abuse. Also, if a female Chosen One is not a Prizefighter, the Masticator will ask if you are Robin.
 * Rabid boxing fans mention that the Chosen One is tougher than Robbin Givens if they are a Prizefighter, alluding to Given's accusations against Tyson of spousal abuse.
 * Pimps mention Robin Givens, a real world actress, in one of their Prizefighter floats.

Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)

 * When the Chosen One asks Renesco what he sells at Renesco's Pharmacy, the last line of the conversation is; "Rocketman, huh? Know the line in that Elton John song, "Rocketman, burning off the mmmncfnfm there at home?' What's he really saying there?" This is a reference to Elton Johns' song Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time).
 * When junkies are high, among their generic float dialogue is them singing "Rocketman, burning off the mmmmumble there alone…", "And I think it's gonna be a long, long time…"

Rocky

 * When fighting boxers in the Jungle Gym, they will make multiple references to Rocky, by quoting Mickey Goldmill, Ivan Drago, Clubber Lang, Rocky Balboa and referencing Adrian Pennino. When they taunt the Chosen One, they will say "Adrian! Adrian!", "I must break you.", "You're fighting like a bum!", "You got no guts!", "You're a bum! A bum!", "Gonna beat you like a dog..." When they are in the corner, they will say "Ain't gonna be no rematch!", "Hit like a butterfly...", "Keep your hands up...", "Stay sharp!", "Fight past that shit!", "Get critical!", "Cut me, Mick.", "Remember, stick the jab!", "I see three of 'em!" And when they either knock out the Chosen One or get knocked out in return, they will say, "And stay down!", "You got knocked da fuck out!", "Who's your Daddy?", "If he dies, he dies.", "Coulda been a contender!", "How could such a... geggghhh...", "*Huuuuurrrrllllll*", "Ooo, care bears...", "I think I'll just lay here for a little while.", "No pain, no pain, no pain..."
 * Before boxers head to the ring, Stuart Little mentions the song Eye of the Tiger which is the theme song of Rocky III.
 * Several name choices for the Prizefighter title are references to Rocky.

Ron Jeremy
When choosing a Porn Star stage name for the Corsican Brothers, Ron Jeremy is an option that causes the brothers to remark that that name carries bad connotations and nobody wants to see a porno starring someone with a name like that.

Sanford and Son
Lumpy in Broken Hills will say "I'm comin' to meet you Elizabeth!" when idle (and under the Highwayman), as he is in considerable pain. This is a phrase based off of Sanford and Son in the episodes when Fred Sanford fakes a heart attack to manipulate his son, lamenting, "You hear that, Elizabeth? I'm comin' to join ya, honey!"

Scarface

 * The addicts of the Den comment; "Say hello to my little friend." This is the famous quote from the movie Scarface.
 * When the Chosen One becomes a Made Man with any of the New Reno crime families, "Scarface" is among the titles that can be chosen.

Scooby-Doo
One of Robodog's float text is "Rooby-Doo!" This is a reference to the cartoon Scooby-Doo.

Schoolhouse Rock!
Reno townsfolk will occasionally repeat the phrase "Conjunction, Junction." This is an allusion to the episode Conjunction Junction of Schoolhouse Rock!

Sesame Street
Once the Chosen One completes the game, Reno townsfolk will announce that "This game was brought to you by the letter Z." Not only does this break the fourth wall, but it also references Sesame Street messages of a scene being sponsored by a letter of the alphabet. Similarly, the Wright children will announce "Fallout 2 was brought to you by the letter Z."

Sharpe series (Books and television) Written by Bernard Cornwell
In Redding, during the Sheriff's missions, the Chosen One will come across Obadiah Hakeswill who has 'cut up' a local whore. He says he did it because she insulted his mother. In the Sharpe series, Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill is Sharpe's nemesis for a large part of the series. A rapist and murderer who obsesses over his love for his mother, to the point of talking to himself. He also quotes Hakeswill's often repeated line, "You can't kill me."

Shaft
The Corsican Brothers mention that "Shaft…he's one bad mutha --." Reno townsfolk, New Reno prostitutes, and Wright teenagers similarly remark "That mutant one big mutha." These are allusions to the 1971 film Shaft.

Street Fighter
When fighting boxers in the Jungle Gym, they will make comments while punching. These comments include "Haadookin" and "SUPER... NUCLEAR... TORNADO... FIST..." These are references to Ryu's attacks from Street Fighter.

Robert W. Service
The two head miners in Redding, Dangerous Dan McGrew and Marge LeBarge, are referring to Robert Service poems: The Shooting of Dan McGrew and The Cremation of Sam McGee (who died near Lake Lebarge). Furthermore, the Malamute Saloon is where most of the Ballad of Dan McGrew takes place. This saloon also features a lady known as Lou.

Short Circuit
In Klamath Canyon, the Crashed vertibird robot that guards the Vertibird wreckage says, among other references, "Number five is alive!" This is a reference to the 1986 science fiction film Short Circuit. That was robot Number 5's favorite words.

The Silence Of the Lambs

 * Within Sierra Army Depot VI, the player can find the experiment log holodisk of one Dr. H. Lector, who sent some liver, from Private Callow, and fava beans to "the boys in bio storage" who played a joke on him by altering the settings of the Vault-Tec automated organ extractor.
 * Dr. Wong Yi Tze makes the "with some fava beans and a light Chianti" reference when explaining what he plans to do with Chip's recently removed spleen. Until he finds out that it is human in origin.

The Simpsons
One of the old ghouls at Broken Hills will occasionally say "It's cold and there are wolves after me." This is a quote from Abe "Grampa" Simpson, from the Simpsons episode Cape Feare.

South Park

 * Cheezy poofs, a cheese-flavored snack food, is a direct reference to the snack food of the same name in South Park.
 * T-Ray's line "Damn, bitch! I just gave you sweet love five minutes ago! You trying to KILL me?" (when offering sex for batteries) is a nod to Chef's line from the episode Weight Gain 4000.

Spice Girls
New Reno prostitutes reference the British girl group Spice Girls when they solicit their services, saying that they are either Filthy, Homely, Slutty, Old, or Dirty Spice.

Star Trek: The Original Series

 * In the special encounter Federation Crash Site, there are dead crew members (Red shirts, naturally) and a hypo.
 * The special encounter Guardian of Forever, references the episode of the same name. The stone ring portal is a reference to the Star Trek episode City on the Edge of Forever, and the only way out of the encounter is to create and fulfill a predestination paradox.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

 * The leader of the Slags is named "Vegeir." In the Motion Picture, there is an alien intelligence that found an earth space explorer "Voyager" that they referred to as V'Ger (pronounced vegeir) because the letters 'oya' on it were covered over with dirt.
 * In Klamath Canyon, the crashed vertibird robot that guards the Vertibird and wreckage says, among other references, "Vee-jer, Veee-jer."

Star Trek: The Next Generation

 * Captain Pickard is a reference to Jean-Luc Picard, captain of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
 * When the Chosen One drops into the Ghost Farm caverns, Protectors are ordered to bring all surfacers to their leader, Vegeir. An option to respond to them is to tell them to got to hell, at which point they respond by elaborating that if the Chosen One resists, they will be harmed. In response, the Chosen One can reply "No, I know resistance is futile. I'll go with you." This is an allusion to the Borg and their famous phrase "resistance is futile."

Star Wars

 * In Klamath, if asked "Whiskey" Bob about the Den, he will reply "You will not find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. Now where did I hear that?" Obi-Wan Kenobi first spoke the sentence in Star Wars, describing the Mos Eisley spaceport.
 * In New Reno, if the Chosen One is wearing power armor, porn actresses at the Golden Globes will remark, "Aren't you a little short for a Stormtrooper?" This line was originally spoken by Princess Leia in A New Hope.
 * If the Chosen One is wearing power armor, junkies will remark, "Well, if it ain't Mr. Darttth Vadrrr."
 * Defeating the Enclave prompts a whole new set of float dialogue from Reno townsfolk, including, "I felt a great disturbance…as if a hundred evil bastards on an oil derrick suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. Strange." This is another variation of an Obi-Wan Kenobi line, this time from when the Death Star destroys Alderaan.
 * Casino bouncers do not let robots within the Shark Club and the Desperado. They will continually refer to them as "Droids." Even quoting Wuher, the bartender of Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina "We don't serve droids." and "No droids. They wait outside."
 * One of the dialogue options when negotiating with T-Ray is "Perhaps you feel you are being treated...unfairly?" a line from Darth Vader to Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back.
 * The cut content, Casino pit bosses, also have these lines.
 * In the Den, if the Chosen One threatens Aidan, a bodyguard at the Slavers' Guild, for information on where they find their slaves, he will initiate combat by saying, "Now, young jet eye, you will die." This is a slight variation on a line spoken by Palpatine to Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi.
 * In Vault City, if the Chosen One threatens Senior Council Member McClure, they can say the line; "Your powers are weak, old man. You are no match for me." This is what Darth Vader says as he battles Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope.
 * In Gecko, when communicating with the Enclave communications officer in the Poseidon Oil Nuclear reactor #5, the Chosen One can say the line; "Uh, we're all fine here. How are you?" This quote is from Han Solo as he breaks into the Death Star prison block in A New Hope.
 * At the Control Station Enclave, the Enclave soldiers on the oil rig will remark that "These are not the droids we are looking for," a reference to the Jedi mind trick Obi-Wan Kenobi uses to get past the stormtroopers on Tatooine.
 * In San Francisco, the functionality of ACE's healing abilities is similar if not the same as the "Bacta tank," first appearing in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back.
 * World Map
 * On the world map, in the box where the Highwayman will appear, in the top right corner of it says TK-421, a reference to the stormtrooper of the very same name. It also says AA-23, which is the name of the detention block where Leia was held on the Deathstar.

Stranger in a Strange Land
In regards to Josh Laurence's sense of humor in his unique profession, mortician/bartender of the Last Gasp Saloon and Funeral Parlor, the Chosen One can tell him that he finds him creepy. In response Josh Laurence, offended, makes a comment about tribals eating their dead, to which the Chosen One can remark "How else could we grok their essence?" This prompts Josh Laurence to comment that he confused the "Martian" as a tribal. This is an allusion to Grok in the 1961 science-fiction novel, Stranger in a Strange Land.

Grok is a word coined by Robert A. Heinlein for his 1961 science-fiction novel, Stranger in a Strange Land meaning; "Grok means to understand so thoroughly that the observer becomes a part of the observed—to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience. It means almost everything that we mean by religion, philosophy, and science—and it means as little to us (because of our Earthling assumptions) as color means to a blind man."

Taxi Driver
When the Chosen One has either no reputation, or the Prizefighter, Made Man, and/or Slaver reputations, or if the companions Skynet, Marcus, and Sulik are active, junkies will repeat Robert De Niro's famous line "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me?!" from Taxi Driver.

Terminator

 * Skynet, the artificial intelligence that uploads itself into a robobrain at Sierra Army Depot, is a reference to Skynet; the artificial intelligence that became self-aware and created a robotic army to extinguish humans and gain control of the planet in the Terminator series.
 * The image for both the Dermal Impact Armor and Dermal Impact Assault Enhancement perks depicts Arnold Schwarzenegger's character from Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

They Live
This may actually be a reference to Duke Nukem, but the line originated in this movie.
 * In the 1988 sci-fi film They Live, the protagonist (John Nada) utters the phrase "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I am all out of bubblegum." When opening dialogue with the Sheriff of Redding, Earl Marion, the Chosen One might choose the opening line "I'm here in town to kick ass and chew bubblegum - and I'm all out of gum." Buster's guards utter a similar line: "I'm here to kick ass and chew bubble gum. Good thing for you I have one stick left."
 * In the Hubologists' headquarters in San Francisco, the guards there will say "Obey," "Sleep," and "Consume." when spoken to. In They Live, after the protagonist (John Nada) acquires the special sunglasses, he is able to see the subliminal messages the aliens have placed in mankind's everyday urban surroundings in order to brainwash them. The commands "Obey," "Sleep," and "Consume" are among the many messages people without the glasses cannot see.

The Time Machine
When getting Micky's help to retrieve the treasure from the town well. However, once it is retrieved, Micky will be stuck in it forever, with humorous floats persisting throughout the game. One of them says "Oh my god! Morlocks!" which is an allusion to the Morlocks of The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.

Tired of Waiting for You
In Broken Hills, the old ghouls in the old ghouls' home sings the first two verses of the song: Tired of Waiting for You by The Kinks.

Tobacciana
Many of the characters in Fallout 2, particularly around Redding, share names with brands of tobacco pipes: Ben Wade, Ascorti, Savinelli, Stanwell, Caminetto, and Ferndown, for instance. Rattray is a popular brand of pipe tobacco, as is the Frog Morton line of tobaccos made by McClelland.

Tomb Raider
Making fun of Stuart Little's character model prompts him to call female players "Laura Kroft wannabe." This is an allusion to the Tomb Raider series.

Top Gun
A pornographic movie named Top Bun is mentioned by Vikki Goldman. This porno is a spoof on the film Top Gun, of whom the lead actor is Tom Cruise, who in turn is spoofed by Juan Cruz. Both share a dialogue file.

Toy Story
In Gecko, Percival Crump wants the Chosen One to find his friend Woody in the Den. Upon arriving in the Den, the Chosen One can discover that Woody has dozed off and has been put on display as "A Jan-u-wine Egyptian Mummy" as part of The Great Ananias' attraction. Once paid for viewing, the Great Ananias will open the chipped paper-mache sarcophagus with Woody sleeping inside. Upon recognizing that it is the missing ghoul Woody, the Chosen One will yell at him to run in a similar fashion to that scene from the movie Toy Story (1995) in which Woody pretends to be Buzz by holding his dismembered arm out Sid's window and waving it at the other toys. Upon inspecting the sarcophagus: "Hey, wait a minute. That's not a Mummy. That's a ghoul. WOODY! Hey WOODY! Is that you? Holy shit! That *is* Woody! Run Woody, run for it! Well, uh, gimp for it then! Go Woody go!" The exact lines are not remembered, but in Toy Story it goes something like this: "Hey, wait a minute, that's not Buzz! That's WOODY! HEY WOODY! IS THAT YOU?"

Transformers
When wearing power armor around the casino patrons of New Reno, they will jokingly ask if it turns into a jet and flies around. This is a reference to Starscream of Transformers.

Underdog
Occasionally, Robodog will play the Underdog's line from the theme song " Not bird, nor plane, nor even frog, just lil' old me - Robodog!" This is a direct reference to the cartoon Underdog.

United States Armed Forces
Enclave soldiers may sometime hum "Jody's home now, smokin' grass, Jody's pumpin' your wife's," which is a reference to Jody, a recurring character in American military cadences.

In random encounters, the Chosen One can encounter Press Gang mercenaries. They repeat allusions to the United States Armed Forces: An alteration of the motto of the United States Marine Corps; "The few, the proud, the Marines." ("The few, the proud, the mercenaries.") A direct quote of the slogan of the United States Army at the time of the games' make. "Be All (That) You Can Be." As an insult they direct the Chosen One to "Go join the Navy." They reference Join, or Die, the well known political cartoon of Benjamin Franklin. They reference the military ranks of the services, their recruits, and being a 4F which is a military classification under the United States' Selective Service System for candidates found to be unfit for military service after formal examination by the Entrance Processing Command.
 * United States Marine Corps
 * United States Army
 * United States Navy
 * Join, or Die
 * Military ranks

Unwashed Villagers
There is a reference to The Unwashed Village community that is more than likely the oldest Fallout community in existence. The Unwashed Villagers present in a special encounter are some of the oldest and most respected members of the Unwashed Village (though the situation has changed over time). The spammer they are fighting is the Grim Reaper or Grim, a legendary spammer who plagued the Interplay forum for a long time as the archnemesis of the UV. Several members have unique entries in Fallout 2, including Buffy (Rebecca Dyer, who runs the bar in the first town), Thrakazog (in an entry in a Hubologist holodisk), and the Enlightened One (in NCR).

The Unwashed Village community is still in existence at Unwashed.eu combining both members old and new, they are still devoted to the Fallout community and the part they played in Fallout history.

Wall Street
In Gecko, there is a ghoul outside the old incomplete reactor up north named Gordon, he is an allusion to Gordon Gekko, the main character of the 1987 film Wall Street. Gordon also says a speech similar to the one from the film:

WarGames
The medical terminal on the first floor inside Vault 8 will randomly say "Strange game. The only winning move is not to play." This line was originally said by the NORAD supercomputer artificial intelligence WOPR (War Operation Plan Response) in the movie WarGames, having learned the concept of Mutual Assured Destruction.

We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)
Once the player character completes the main quest Stop the Enclave, several characters sing We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) by Tina Turner, which played over the end titles of the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. The characters that sing this include junkies and Wright teenagers, who sing "We don't need another hero, we don't need to know the way home..." On Second Street of New Reno, huddled around a trashcan fire next to the Jungle Gym, is a three member band Frenchy, Paine, and Sims whom also sing this song.

Where the Wild Things Are
New Reno prostitutes will solicit by asking if their clientele "wanna go to Where the Wild Things Are?", referencing the children's book Where the Wild Things Are.

Who's your daddy?
When boxers knock out the Chosen One while boxing at the Jungle Gym, they will use the phrase "Who's your daddy?" This is in reference to the slang expression that, takes the form of a rhetorical question, used as a boastful claim of dominance over the intended listener.

The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz is mentioned throughout Fallout 2; these references include:
 * In Shady Sands, the Chosen One will come across a woman and her robobrain standing outside of the power plant. The woman's name is Dorothy, and her trusty robot who follows her everywhere is Toto, (whom barks like a dog).
 * In the special encounter Tin Man, the player character encounters someone standing, rigid and unmoving, in power armor, saying repeatedly, "Oil can." When the player uses a nearby oil can on the figure's armor, the Tin Woodsman walks away, after gifting the Chosen One 150 Microfusion cells.
 * If the player character is wearing power armor, the New Reno prostitutes may make this comment; "Look, Tin Man, if you want me to dress up as Dorothy or Toto, that's extra."
 * Casino patron in New Reno sometimes ask, "Lose your heart, tin man?", an allusion to the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz.
 * After defeating the Enclave, Eldridge will sing, "Ding-dong, the Enclave's dead, the Enclave's dead," an altered form of the song the munchkins sing after the Wicked Witch of the West is killed by a Dorothy's falling house: "Ding-dong, the Witch is dead, the Witch is dead!"
 * There is a subtle reference to the fium in the Den. If the Chosen One asks Vic's guard who his boss is, he will respond by questioning why you would walk into a place you know nothing about. At which point, the Chosen One can respond that they thought that they were in Kansas.

The X-Files
Choosing to mock Stuart Little's appearance by asking if he worked at a circus prompts an argument from him. This entire argument (and the Chosen One's final line) draws extreme resemblances from the The X-Files season 2 episode: Humbug when Mulder angers a man of short stature by asking if he works as part of the circus (which he and Scully are investigating a murder at). The short man proceeds to stereotype him as someone who works for the FBI from his tie and suit and the short man remarks how a person of his stature got a degree in 'hotel management.' Mulder also responds in exactly the same way by saying that he is actually an FBI agent.

Xena: Warrior Princess

 * If the Chosen One is a female Prizefighter, the Corsican Brothers will compare her to Xena, referencing the eponymous heroine of the television show Xena: Warrior Princess and tell them to "battle on." If the Chosen One is a male Prizefighter, the Corsican Brothers will compare them to Hercules.
 * When asking Miss Kitty, the madame of the Cat's Paw, for special dramatic request the Chosen One, if male, will ask to be "'Herk,' a nubile young slave stolen from his village by a band of lusty female slavers." and if female, "'Zena,' a nubile young slave stolen from her village by a band of slavers."

X-Men
Both of the cut content Casino pit bosses will have remarked on Marcus being an active companion, saying that they do not care he is one of the "Ex-Men" and that mutant has to stay outside. This is a cultural reference the comic book franchise centered around superhero mutants known as the X-Men.