Zack Snyder has hidden plenty of easter eggs in Army of the Dead, but the paratroopers mixed into the ruins of Las Vegas are some of the most difficult to spot. Described as a game of "Where's Waldo?," the press notes for Army of the Dead challenged viewers to find the corpses of unfortunate paratroopers in the background of the zombie-heist film. The number of paratroopers in the movie has not yet been confirmed, but at almost two-and-a-half hours long, there are plenty of opportunities to sneak in some paratroopers among the world-famous casinos of Las Vegas. Here are the locations for every paratrooper easter egg in Army of the Dead.
The paratroopers certainly aren't the only easter eggs in Army of the Dead. Some of Army of the Dead's easter eggs refer to other Zack Snyder works, including Justice League and Snyder's iconic zombie movie, Dawn of the Dead. As the crew busts into the vault for the first time, the Snyder Cut of Justice League can be spotted on the shelves inside. Snyder replicated a few iconic scenes to give a nod to his zombie origins in Dawn of the Dead, including the humorous elevator scene and the RV being stormed. Zack Snyder himself even makes an accidental cameo in the movie, appearing in one of the hotel suite mirrors during the opening sequence. The accidental cameo was spotted during production but was ultimately left in the movie with the belief that no one would notice it.
Some of the easter eggs, however, are exclusive to the Army of the Dead universe. Looking closely at some of the zombies in the movie reveals they aren't normal zombies at all, but robots with glowing blue eyes and electrical components hidden under their skin. The origin of these robotic zombies has yet to be revealed, and the prequel Army of Thieves offered no answers to the mystery. Aliens can also be spotted hiding in the background of the zombie flick — white it could just be a cute nod to the fact that Zeus, the main protagonist, was being transported from Area 51, it could also be a hint at the origins behind the zombie outbreak. With so many hidden easter eggs, there is plenty to find on every rewatch of Army of the Dead.
The Opening Sequence Paratroopers
The first paratroopers appear in the Army of the Dead opening credits. As Richard Cheese and Allison Crowe croon a cover of Elvis Presley's Viva Las Vegas, the city of Las Vegas is falling to the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. In an attempt to rescue the civilians trapped inside, paratroopers are deployed over Las Vegas. The plan goes horribly wrong, however, as the paratrooper goes down shooting into a large horde of zombies. The paratrooper suffers a horrible fate, watching his death approach but unable to do a thing about it. Some of his compatriots share a different — but equally horrible — fate. Instead of falling into the shamblers below, some of the paratrooper's parachutes get stuck on various monuments and neon signs throughout the Las Vegas strip, leaving them stranded on their perches. Their bodies were never removed from the zombie-infested city, serving as grotesque ornaments for the crumbling city. It is these leftover bodies that eagle-eyed fans can spot in the background of Army of the Dead.
Hanging From A Casino Sign
As the crew meets for the first time ahead of Las Vegas in Army of the Dead, with the addition of the fictitious Vegas Bly, making it possible to track the crew's path as they move past iconic Las Vegas landmarks. This is one of the easier paratroopers to spot, but the speed of the scene and monochrome of the background help to camouflage the corpse.
The Mirage Sign
As Peters (Tig Notaro) flies over the decimated Las Vegas strip, there are plenty of opportunities for hidden easter eggs in the sprawling city below. The background of Army of the Dead is frequently blurred due to the custom vintage housing on the cameras that the movie was filmed with, and that can make spotting the paratrooper in this scene a little difficult if you aren't looking for it. As the helicopter es the crumbling sign for the legendary Mirage Hotel & Casino, a small flutter of the parachute and a small body below are just enough to give away the paratrooper hiding in the background of this shot. Of the hidden paratroopers, this one is the most difficult to spot — the speed of the scene combined with the blur make it possible to miss with a quick blink.
The Luxor Monument
The paratrooper on the Luxor sign is yet another that can be spotted during the cinematic helicopter ride. In an attempt to bring the team to safety, Army of the Dead's Peters navigates through the ruins of Las Vegas — all while dealing with Zeus and Scott's battle in the back of the helicopter. As they fly by the iconic obelisk that marks the location of the Luxor Hotel & Casino, sitting atop the Egyptian-style monument sits an unfortunate paratrooper whose parachute snagged on its pointed top. The Luxor obelisk is an impressive 72-feet tall, meaning this paratrooper would have quite a drop if they attempted to escape. There are two chances for those who are looking to spot this paratrooper in Army of the Dead; the corpse can be seen both as the helicopter approaches the monument, and as it zooms away.
