Wolf of Wall Street made easily missed joke in quaaludes scene when DiCaprio fell down stairs

The Wolf of Wall Street has a pretty easily missed joke in the iconic Quaaludes scene when Leonardo DiCaprio was tumbling down the stairs.

It’s been over nine years since Martin Scorsese’s film hit UK cinemas but so many people are still chatting about the acclaimed smash hit.

DiCaprio stars as lead Jordan Belfort in the biographical three-hour long crime comedy which tells the stockbroker’s career in New York City.

Also starring Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie, The Wolf of Wall Street follows the corruption and fraud that led to Belfort’s downfall - all based on the 2007 memoir.

The film was nominated for a number of Oscars, BAFTAs and Golden Globes with DiCaprio picking up the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

And apparently, there’s still moments in his performance we’re missing as we watch the film over and over.

Paramount Pictures

Such as a set detail in the Quaaludes scene - the ultimate meme-worthy moment.

The drug was particularly popular in the US back in the 1970s as the sedative pill was taken recreationally by many, known formally as methaqualone and in the UK as Mandrax.

By 1984, it was listed as Schedule I in the US and is a Class B drug in the UK.

And when Belfort takes it in the movie, we see him hilariously dragging his body along the floor before reaching the small set of six stairs outside.

Attempting to get to his car, when DiCaprio’s character looks down he sees at least around three times as many steps than there actually are.

Paramount Pictures

A movie-loving user pointed out on Reddit: “When Jordan rolls down the stairs high on the Lemmon drug the stairs appear to be longer than normal to highlight how he experienced it.”

This clever effect just makes it even funnier and even more dramatic as the character tumbles down in the legendary scene.

It’s so legendary people even go to the location to recreate it themselves, with one user commenting: “I live right near the country club this scene was filmed at. People are always going there and recreating the scene for snapchat and stuff.”

Another praised the scene, writing: “This whole part is my favourite in the entire movie the drive home is hilarious.”

While a third said: “Never caught this. Wow. Was too focused on the car.”

Topics: Leonardo DiCaprio, TV and Film, Drugs

Jess Battison

Jess is an Entertainment Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include keeping up with the Twitter girlies, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021 and has previously worked at MyLondon.

@jessbattison_