Steve Guttenberg invited his Police Academy (1984) co-stars Michael Winslow, Marion Ramsey and Leslie Easterbrook to appear alongside him, after producers told Steve he could choose any of his past colleagues to star alongside him in the film. This was also the reason for the hiring of Steve's friends Nia Peeples from The Wonderful World of Disney: Tower of Terror (1997) and Patrick Renna from The Big Green (1995).

When Colton (Steve Guttenberg), Chris (Patrick Renna), and Pirate Jack (Ralph Garman) are driving in the pirate car, Jack exclaimed, "Owwww. They took out The Blue Oyster. I love that place." This was a reference to the infamous gay bar found in the Police Academy film franchise.

Steve Guttenberg accepted a part in this movie, after expressing regret at turning down the lead role in Sharknado (2013), which turned out to be a cult hit.

At one point, in the scene when the lavalantulas are attacking the Los Angeles street, Colton runs into Ian Ziering and says that he's busy dealing with sharks. A reference to the Syfy hit Sharknado (2013) in which Ian starred.

Ian Ziering made an appearance as Fin Shepard, confirming that this movie and Sharknado (2013) are in the same universe.

During one of the eruptions on the street, a large globe falls from a building. A man dressed like Indiana Jones is seen running from the globe before being run over. An homage to Steven Spielberg.

When the two soldiers are pinned down by the truck and one looks up, he says, "clever girl". A reference to Jurassic Park (1993) when Muldoon is lured into an ambush by the velociraptors.

At 4:25 a character says "'Clown Cops' was twenty-five years ago", a reference to Police Academy (1984).

When Colton meets Fin Shepherd, the latter is wearing a shirt with crossed chain saws, which are his weapon of choice in the Sharknado film franchise.

Steve Guttenberg's character poking one of the lavalantulas in the eye is a reference to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), when Sam does the same thing to the spider Shelob in order to save Frodo.