Warning! This article contains minor spoilers for Five Nights at Freddy’s.
Five Nights at Freddy’s features plenty of Easter eggs and references that fans of the games will be aware of, including a slew of hidden cameos from major gaming YouTubers commonly associated with the franchise. While Five Nights at Freddy’s is billed as a simple horror-thriller story in which animatronic animals come to life, the movie is based on an expansive series of video games. What began as a simple indie game in 2014 spawned into multiple sequels, spin-offs, and a surprisingly deep world with wide-reaching lore. Given that the 2023 Blumhouse film is based on such an expansive series, the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie’s video game changes are plenty.
That said, by the time of Five Nights at Freddy‘s ending, the film manages to include several elements that those knowledgeable about the games will recognize. From Five Nights at Freddy’s‘ various Easter eggs of the games’ lore to the iconic movements of the villainous robots, the film adequately recognizes its roots as an adaptation while working as a serviceable horror for those simply looking for a spooky time at the theater. Interestingly though, Five Nights at Freddy’s goes deeper with its references through the inclusion of several cameos from popular YouTubers and online personalities that have long been linked with the world of Freddy Fazbear and his animatronic allies.
7 CoryxKenshin
Of the handful of YouTube personalities who make cameos in Five Nights at Freddy’s, only two of them are in-person, tangible appearances. The first of these is CoryxKenshin whose cameo was first revealed in the marketing for the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie. In the film, CoryxKenshin plays a cab driver who gives a lift to one of the film’s characters, Abby Schmidt, and a broken-down version of the titular Freddy Fazbear. This gives CoryxKenshin’s cab driver a suitable fright which is symbolic of his connection to the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise that explains his cameo in the film.
Since 2009, CoryxKenshin has been a YouTube content creator known primarily for his comedic walkthroughs of various horror game franchises. One such franchise was Five Nights at Freddy’s which serves as one of the more popular games on CoryxKenshin’s channel. This has led to Cory being utilized in other aspects of the games’ merchandising including popular figures like Youtooz. Cory has also been granted demos and early releases of the Five Nights at Freddy’s games as a big part of the franchise’s online community, explaining his cameo as a frightened cab driver in the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie.
6 MatPat (Game Theory)
The other of Five Nights at Freddy’s‘ two physical cameos comes from MatPat, the creator of the popular YouTube channel The Game Theorists, and its most popular series, Game Theory. The YouTube channel, and MatPat, work tirelessly to provide theories, speculation, and discussion surrounding the most popular online game franchises including Five Nights at Freddy’s. Some of the most popular videos on MatPat’s channel involve explainers of the entire FNAF lore, timeline, and other elements surrounding the franchise’s deep history. Given the creator’s obvious connection to the franchise, it makes sense that he would appear as a cameo in the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie.
In the film, one scene involves the characters heading to Sparky’s Diner. Once there, they are served by a waiter played by MatPat himself. The cameo involves MatPat’s waiter sneaking in the YouTuber’s iconic line “That’s just a theory,” a quote synonymous with his many videos. Given MatPat’s importance to the early onset of the Five Nights at Freddy’s games and the understanding of the series’ complex backstory, his cameo serves as a neat reference to those familiar with his connection to the franchise while also working as a tiny footnote in the film’s story for general audiences.
5 8-bit Ryan
The rest of Five Nights at Freddy’s‘ YouTuber cameos come in a quick scene showcasing the past Employees of the Month at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. Visible as the Employee of the Month for December is a creator known as 8-bit Ryan. Much like CoryxKenshin, 8-bit Ryan is known for his various series’ centering on the gameplay of horror franchises. One of these is Five Nights at Freddy’s which 8-bit Ryan has long been associated with, explaining his subtle cameo in the film adaptation of the games.
4 Bazamalam
Another YouTuber spotted as an Employee of the Month in the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie is Bazamalam/Baz. In the film, Baz’s picture can be spotted as March’s Employee of the Month. Similar to the other creators in this list, Baz is primarily known for playing horror franchises on his YouTube channel which includes Five Nights at Freddy’s. This has led to Baz receiving copies of certain games in the franchise early including 2019’s Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted which he played for the first time alongside 8-bit Ryan.
3 Razzbowski
Rhys Williams, commonly known by his YouTube name Razzbowski, is another of Five Nights at Freddy’s’ YouTuber cameos. Like Baz and 8-bit Ryan, Razzbowski is spotted among the Employees of the Month at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. Razzbowski’s picture can be spotted as January’s Employee of the Month which is explained by Razzbowski’s long history of playing through the Five Nights at Freddy’s games on YouTube as well as exploring the series’ Easter eggs, secrets, and theories.
2 Dawko
Popular Five Nights at Freddy’s YouTuber Dawko can also be found in the film adaptation of the game. Listed as July’s Employee of the Month, Dawko’s image can be spotted alongside his peers in the gaming community. Dawko has long been associated with Five Nights at Freddy’s due to his playthroughs of the game as well as interviews with key creators of the game franchise. From interviewing voice actors of the games, Five Nights at Freddy’s’ creator Scott Cawthon, and other important developers of the series, Dawko’s connection to the franchise explains his appearance in the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie.
1 FusionZGamer
The final YouTuber to receive an Easter egg in the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie is FusionZGamer. Recognized as June’s Employee of the Month in the film, FusionZGamer began his YouTube journey as a “Let’s Play” creator in 2011. As with his peers on this list, FusionZGamer has played various installments of the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise which has led to him being recognized in aspects of the series’ marketing such as Youtooz figures alongside CoryxKenshin.
Similarly, FusionZGaming has received early access to several of the games in the FNAF franchise. Due to the long history FusionZGamer, and the many other content creators alongside him, have with the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise, it makes a lot of sense for them to be honored among Freddy Fazbear’s best employees in the film adaptation of the games that made them online stars. As such, these inclusions make for some of the film’s best cameos amid the scares, kills, and story of 2023’s Five Nights at Freddy’s.
