During filming of this movie in NYC, the following note was posted on a production trailer: "Yes, we are filming a movie. It is called 'Serendipity'. It stars John Cusack and some girl from Britain that you wouldn't know - even if we told you her name. We will be shooting tonight until midmorning. Please don't ask the crew any questions. Even if they don't look like they are working, they are thinking."
Following the destruction of the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001, images of the World Trade Center towers were digitally removed from all skyline shots of New York City.
The book that Jonathan searches for, "Love in the Time of Cholera", is also mentioned by John Cusack's character in High Fidelity (2000) in a list of books he's read.
On a subway staircase behind Jon, an ad for a play called "Six Degrees of Separation" can be seen. "Six Degrees of Seperation" is a theory which claims that any two given people on the planet are linked by a chain of only six mutual acquaintances.
This is the third movie in which John Cusack's love interest is dating a "spiritually enlightened" character. The other movies are Pushing Tin (1999) (Billy Bob Thornton) and High Fidelity (2000) ('Tim Robbins' ).
Peter Chelsom wanted Dawn French to play a role but the studio vetoed this
Jonathan (John Cusack) tells Sara about the constellation Cassiopeia. In the movie The Sure Thing (1985), Cusack's character also tells the love interest (Alison) about Cassiopeia.
Cool Hand Luke (1967) was also mentioned as John Cusack's character's favorite film in America's Sweethearts (2001).
The drink Sara and Jonathan drink at Serendipity 3 is its famous Frozen Hot Chocolate. Also, since the movie opened, the table where they sit has been called the Star Table at the restaurant.
Lars:
How does Bora Bora sound?
Sara:
Very sexy sexy.
Jonathan:
I hope you enjoy the gloves you bought yourself.
Sara:
Oh, I'm sure I will, I usually enjoy my own thoughtfulness.
Jonathan:
Maybe I am just getting cold feet.
Dean:
I'm telling you right now British women do not age well. Eight years ago she was a luscious treat, you know, she probably looked like, you know, Baby Spice, now she could look like...
Jonathan:
Old Spice.
Eve:
You know who plays golf? Guys who are too fat to play tennis, like this guy.
Dean:
I hate to break up a good thing, but we have half a dozen strippers waiting for us, we're late.
Halley:
You mean exotic dancers?
Dean:
No, I actually mean strippers.
Jonathan:
This is the ultimate blend to drink. How'd you find this place?
Sara:
I first came in because of the name: Serendipity. It's one of my favorite words.
Jonathan:
It is? Why?
Sara:
It's such a nice sounding word for what it means: a fortunate accident.
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
So... you write for the obituary?
Dean:
Absolutely.
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
Hmm. You must be very proud.
Dean:
Uh-huh. I'm the one with the last word.
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
Not tonight.
Dean:
Yes, I am.
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
Don't think so.
Dean:
Absolutely.
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
Fat chance.
Dean:
Still talking!
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
Last line!
Dean:
You're the shit!
[man next to him on plane looks over at him thinking he's talking to him]
Jonathan:
[to the guy] That would be me, the shit.
[Jon referring to Halley hitting the Smoke Detector with some blunt object]
Jonathan:
Don't hit it with the thing!
Sara:
Ok, favorite movie?
Jonathan:
The correct answer is Cool Hand Luke.
Sara:
I've never seen it?
Jonathan:
Oh, come on! You've never seen Cool Hand Luke? Paul Newman? Oh my god! Come on! "Failure to communicate", sadistic cop with sunglasses with no name, who reminds me of you in that way.
Dean:
Contrary to popular New York myth the Times is not omniscient.
[Discussing the Cool Hand Luke poster Sara saw]
Eve:
Sara, it was a movie poster, it's no big deal.
Sara:
It's peculiar though, right? Don't you think?
Eve:
I thought you were through with all this new-age bullshit, feng-shuey and all that crap.
Sara:
Eve, for someone who owns a new-age store you're incredibly earth-bound
Eve:
Oh yeah, well, for a shrink-in-training, you're a little bit crazy, I'll tell you that much.
[Jonathan is trying to get Sara's information from her old Bloomingdale's account]
Jonathan:
Would $20 help?
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
It might if I were a health inspector.
[discussing Lars' music video]
Lars:
No, no, no, cut, cut.
Lars' agent:
What's the problem?
Lars:
Well, the problem is you can't fight off an army of blood-thirsty Vikings with a shenai, it's illogical.
Lars' agent:
No, no, see, you're lulling them into submission with the music. See, that's the whole point of the song, really, mystic surrender.
[the Viking is covering his ears in agony]
Lars:
You don't think he looks like he hates the music?
Eve:
Prada! Ooh! Prada! I love this stuff!
Salesman:
That's 20 bucks.
Sara:
Eve, that's a horrific knockoff! At least my knockoff says 'Pradi,' yours says 'Prado!'
Eve:
Well, I say for a dollar I can buy a magic marker and fix it. I'll take it!
Eve:
[commenting on Sara's craziness] They should make pills for this.
Dean:
[commenting on Jonathan's craziness] They should make pills for this stuff.
Dean:
What's wrong? You all right?
Jonathan:
Her name's Sara Thomas.
[Jonathan hands Dean the book]
Dean:
How?
Jonathan:
Halley gave it to me as a wedding present.
Jonathan:
So are you gonna meet your boyfriend now or what?
Sara:
No, I think he's out probably doing what you're doing.
Jonathan:
Getting a crush on somebody else's girlfriend? No, I'm sorry, I just meant I had a really nice time. You know, maybe you should give me your phone number. Just in case.
Sara:
In case of what?
Jonathan:
In case of life. I just had a really great time and for all we know I wouldn't be able to find you again.
Sara:
Well, if we're meant to meet again, we'll meet again. it's just not the right time now.
Jonathan:
Maybe we're supposed to meet on British time and we're five hours too early.
[at Bloomingdale's]
Jonathan:
Happy anniversary.
Sara:
When did you get to be so unimaginably romantic?
Jonathan:
I think that it's good luck that we return this year to the scene of the crime. (pours a paper cup of champagne) Cheers.
Sara:
Cheers.
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
Oh, I don't think so, no beverages on the premesis, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave.
Jonathan:
Hey, how are you doing? Don't you remember me?
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
Yes I do.
Jonathan:
This is her, This is the girl!
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
Ms. Carbon-copy.
Jonathan:
Yes.
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
I see.
Jonathan:
This is the guy who helped me find you!
Sara:
Oh, hi!
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
If you're not going to purchase anything, please make room for paying customers.
Jonathan:
We do, we want some gloves, some cashmere gloves.
[closing bell rings]
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
Oh, I'm sorry, that would be the closing bell. Perhaps tomorrow...
Sara:
You're not serious...
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
Store hours 10 to 7 except Sundays and holidays.
Jonathan:
He warms up...
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
At the discretion of management or with the possible visit of dignitaries...
[Sara goes behind the counter]
Bloomingdale's Salesman:
No, no, no, no, please, on the other side of the counter! You cannot come back here, this is for authorized personnel only, please stay on your side of the counter, thank you very much!
Dean:
Yet even in certain defeat, the courageous Trager secretly clung to the belief that life is not merely a series of meaningless accidents or coincidences. Uh-uh. But rather it's a tapestry of events that culminate in an exquisite, sublime plan.
Dean:
Johnathan Trager, prominent television producer for ESPN, died last night from complications of losing his soul mate and his fiancee. He was 35 years old. Soft-spoken and obsessive, Trager never looked the part of a hopeless romantic. But, in the final days of his life, he revealed an unknown side of his psyche. This hidden quasi-Jungian persona surfaced during the Agatha Christie-like pursuit of his long reputed soul mate, a woman whom he only spent a few precious hours with. Sadly, the protracted search ended late Saturday night in complete and utter failure. Yet even in certain defeat, the courageous Trager secretly clung to the belief that life is not merely a series of meaningless accidents or coincidences. Uh-uh. But rather, its a tapestry of events that culminate in an exquisite, sublime plan. Asked about the loss of his dear friend, Dean Kansky, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and executive editor of the New York Times, described Jonathan as a changed man in the last days of his life. "Things were clearer for him," Kansky noted. Ultimately Johnathan concluded that if we are to live life in harmony with the universe, we must all possess a powerful faith in what the ancients used to call "fatum", what we currently refer to as destiny.
Jonathan:
Forget about privacy laws. You know what privacy laws do?
Leasing Office Temp:
No.
Jonathan:
They protect millionaires. You know who those millionaires are?
Leasing Office Temp:
Who?
Jonathan:
Tell him who they are. Tell him.
Dean:
Kids your age. Pimple-faced college drop outs who have made unhealthy sums of money forming internet companies that create no concrete products, provide no viable services, and still manage to generate profits for all of its lazy day-trading son-of-a bitch shareholders. Meanwhile, as a tortured member of the disenfranchised proletariat, you find some altruistic need to protect these digital plantation-owners?
Jonathan:
[reacting to Dean's speech] Wow!
Jonathan:
[to Temp] Come on.
Dean:
You know the Greeks didn't write obituaries. They only asked one question after a man died: "Did he have passion?".
Jonathan:
[Man takes black cashmire gloves] Whoa, whoa, whoa, sir, there are ours.
Customer at Bloomingdale's:
Oh, your gloves? Well how come, I mean, they're just sorta hanging there. Sleeping with their little price tag on
Jonathan:
We were just discussing them. This is uhh...
Customer at Bloomingdale's:
Well I have news for you, you can go on discussing them long after I've paid for them.
Jonathan:
Listen, just calm down, all right. Just calm down.
Customer at Bloomingdale's:
[to Sara] It's 5 days before Christmas and I'm in the middle of a New York department store and he's asking me to calm down?
Jonathan:
Listen these were meant to be a very special gift for someone.
Sara:
Yeah, we've put quite a lot of thought into those.
Customer at Bloomingdale's:
Aww, is that right? Well, who were they for?
Jonathan:
[says simultaneously with Sara] My girlfriend. Her boyfriend.
Sara:
[says simultaneously with Jon] My boyfriend. His girlfriend.
Customer at Bloomingdale's:
One pair of gloves for two people?
Jonathan:
This is hard to explain.
Customer at Bloomingdale's:
Try.
Jonathan:
[to sara] All right, go ahead.
Sara:
Oh, uh, well he is at the present time my boyfriend...
Jonathan:
-but in 18 months...
Sara:
-after the operation
Jonathan:
-he will be...
Sara:
-she will be...
Jonathan:
-my girlfriend. Do you understand?
Sara:
You don't have to understand. You just have to have faith.
Janitor:
They called the whole thing off!
Jonathan:
Maybe the absence of signs is a sign.
Jonathan:
Let's go do something.
Sara:
Alright, what d'ya wanna do?
Jonathan:
I don't care.
Sara:
Alright, come on.
Dean:
[Lying on the grass with Jonathan, outside Sara's house] Maybe we're lying here because you don't wanna be standing somewhere else.
Errors in geography: Dean is an obituary writer for the New York Times. Jonathan asks a cab driver to take him to Dean's office on 42nd Street in Manhattan. The Times' office is on West 43rd Street.
Continuity: When Jonathan and Sara are in Serendipity the night they meet, their straws keep changing positions as they talk.
Continuity: Kate has tickets for an American Airlines flight, yet the exterior shots of the plane she is about to board show a German flag and registration number.
Crew or equipment visible: Reflection of camera on crane is visible in Bloomingdale's' window during the opening credits.
Miscellaneous: When Jonathan is reading the letter from his friend Dean, a person in the background can be seen mouthing the words "shooting a movie".
Continuity: When Sara is telling Eve that they are going to New York, the tickets she is holding in her hands disappear and reappear between shots.
Errors in geography: The ferry that Sara is riding from San Francisco Ferry Building is seen moving left to right across the screen with the Bay Bridge in the background. This is the direction ferries travel on the way to San Francisco.
Crew or equipment visible: During the hunt for "Love in the Time of Cholera", the camera crew is reflected in the black Range Rover that passes in front of the bookstore that Jonathan and Dean are exiting.
Continuity: While Sara is picking up her bag and Jonathan's scarf at Serendipity, she picks up his gloves too. Then when she puts the scarf on him, she is no longer holding the glove
Revealing mistakes: Jonathan Trager (John Cusack) calls Dean Kansky (Jeremy Piven) "Gerald", Cusack's real life pet name for his life-long friend Piven.
Anachronisms: Jonathan writes his name and telephone number on a post 1999 five dollar bill, even though it's supposed to be 1994.
Continuity: When Jonathan Trager is lying down looking up at the snow falling, the glove lands on his stomach below his hands, but in the next shot the glove is above his hands, lying on his chest.
Revealing mistakes: When Jonathan finds the receipt for the gloves the date on the receipt is in 1990, when he was supposed to have met her in 1994.
Revealing mistakes: Although the film is supposed to take place during colder weather seasons, it was actually filmed in July, so if you look past the extras, you can see many people in tank tops and summer clothing in the background. This is especially noticeable when Jonathan is reading the letter from Dean. Also, all the trees are in full summer foliage.
Anachronisms: When Jonathan is on the subway in 1994, an advertisement for "Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical" that mentions its nomination for Best Musical can be seen behind him. Jekyll and Hyde opened on Broadway in 1997.
Miscellaneous: His character claims that Cool Hand Luke is his favorite movie, but he says the "Man with no eyes and no name". The Man with No Eyes' name is Boss Godfrey.
Continuity: When Jonathan and Dean arrive at Serendipity, Sara and Eve are just getting in the cab. But when the cab drives off, there's nobody in the back seat.
Continuity: When Sara is in the plane on her way home, the flight attendant hands the seven dollars to the man next to Sara. Then she hands it to him again, in exchange for his ten dollar bill, which she is already holding.
Continuity: When in the opening scene when Jon and Sara are fighting over the gloves, the older male shopper says that it is five days before Christmas. However, when Jon finds the receipt years later the date is 12/21 which is only four days before Christmas.
Continuity: When Sara is seen getting in the second cab at the New York airport, Eve's black suitcase is seen in the front seat. But in the next shot Eve is seen heading to the cab towing the suitcase behind her.
Continuity: When Sara walks into the room where the wedding was supposed to take place (right after she hears it's over) the amount of sweat on her back changes.
Boom mike visible: The shadow from the boom mike is visible above the door and behind Sara's head in the room she enters at the hotel where the wedding was supposed to take place (right after she hears it's over).
References
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather: Part II (1974)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Star Wars (1977)
The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
High Fidelity (2000)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Referenced in
Path of Darkness: Making 'Silent Hill' (2006) (V)
- poster seen in rehearsal room