[4] A stint as a stand-up comedian in New York City led to the inspiration for his first feature film, Ape.

[5] While spending a year as a temp at a Michigan mortgage company led to the inspiration of his second feature film, Buzzard.

[6] The book Walden by Henry David Thoreau was the influence for Potrykus' 2016 feature The Alchemist Cookbook, which builds on his themes of slackers and loneliness.

[7][8] His fourth feature film Relaxer, is a modern interpretation of Luis Buñuel's The Exterminating Angel.

[17] Potrykus has cited the following directors and films as having an influence on his work; Alan Clarke's Made in Britain, Lindsay Anderson's O Lucky Man!, Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver, Vincent Gallo's Buffalo ’66, Rick Alverson's The Comedy, Luis Buñuel's The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Jim Jarmusch's Down by Law, Sam Raimi's Evil Dead, F. W. Murnau's Faust and James Nguyen's Birdemic;[18] as well as the films of Michael Haneke, Kelly Reichardt, Jean-Luc Godard and Quentin Tarantino.