In the novel, one of Prot's favorite movies is Starman (1984).
The yearbook picture of Robert Porter is the actual picture of Kevin Spacey that appears in the 1977 Chatsworth High School yearbook.
The shades worn by Kevin Spacey were actually borrowed from U2's Bono who insisted that they be returned after the movie wrapped.
The original plan was that Will Smith was to play Prot and Kevin Spacey Dr. Mark Powell. When Smith pulled out of the role, Spacey decided to play Prot.
A tenth planet, the planet Xena, larger than Pluto with an orbit coming closer to earth that Pluto was found in 2005 as predicted by Prot in this film. This is only the second instance of fiction predicting astronomical observations: 'Gulliver's Travels' by 'Jonathan Swift' predicted discovery of Martian moons.
Throughout the movie sparkles of light can be seen in the background of almost all scenes, more accurately in the Power's office when he talks with Prot.