A body of films featuring fictional films as part of their narrative. These are also called films within films.
List of films
Film Fictitious film Year Description Adaptation 2002 In the comedy drama film, one of the twin brother protagonists adapts the 1998 book The Orchid Thief into a film and draws the jealousy of his brother. After the Fox 1966 In this comedy film, crooks attempt to smuggle gold through an Italian village by pretending to make a neorealist film about gold smugglers. Facing delays, they wait by filming more scenes. The resulting footage is screened as evidence at their trial, where a film critic in attendance proclaims it to be a masterpiece.All That JazzThe Stand-Up1979A film directed and edited by the main character, Joe Gideon. A piece of the film, a monologue done on the five stages of grief by the titular stand-up comedian, is shown multiple times. Alvin and the Chipmunks: ChipwreckedJungle Monster 42011The film seems to be a parody of low budget monster films. The film may also be slight foreshadowing due to the fact that the chipmunks get stranded on an island.An American Werewolf in LondonSee You Next Wednesday1981John Landis includes his favorite fictional film, this time as a pornographic movie showing in Piccadilly Circus. The fictional movie was actually the first thing to be shot in the production for the horror film, and starred Linzi Drew, a real Page 3 girl. 2011 In the romantic comedy-drama film, Jean Dujardin is an actor who plays the hero in the film A Russian Affair in which he is rescued from a Russian villain by his dog.Be My Cat: A Film for AnneBe My Cat2015In the found footage horror movie, an aspiring Romanian filmmaker shoots a demo film to send to actress Anne Hathaway to convince her to star in his upcoming film. Moreover, the demo film is about the making of another fictional film. Berberian Sound Studio 2012 In the horror film, a sound engineer is tasked with working on the Foley effects for the never seen film.Big Fat LiarBig Fat Liar2002Marty Wolf, the main antagonist, produces a film under Wolf Pictures. This film however, plagiarises Jason Shepherd's English assignment. In the end, the film is released with Jason getting writing credits.Blow OutCoed Frenzy1981Jack Terry, played by John Travolta, works for a film production studio as a sound editor for cheap horror films, including the film. Logjammin 1998 In the comedy film, the Dude watches a pornographic film with Maude and sees Bunny Lebowski starring in the film. Boogie Nights Brock Landers: Angels Live In My Town 1997 In the period drama film, Mark Wahlberg plays a rising porn actor. In part of his acting career, the character stars as a cop in a series of pornographic action films, with the partner played by John C. Reilly. Bowfinger Chubby Rain 1999 In the comedy film, film producer Bobby Bowfinger, played by Steve Martin, aims to produce his dream science fiction thriller film Chubby Rain and uses shots of an unsuspecting person, played by Eddie Murphy for the film. Bowfinger Fake Purse Ninjas 1999 In the comedy film, characters played by Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy infiltrate a factory where Chinese ninjas counterfeit goods. Brief Encounter Flames of Passion 1945 A film Laura and Alec see at the theatre on one of their Thursday rendezvous. Broken City Kiss of Life 2013 In the crime film, a softcore romance film is featured, which The New Yorkers Richard Brody described, "flowery dialogue and poetic views of nature are followed by the actress's hot and naked sex scene with the sensitive leading man." Burn After Reading Coming Up Daisy 2008 The black comedy film features a film based on a chick lit book by Cormac McCarthy.Chicken LittleChicken Little: The True Story2005 Action film recently released to theaters based on the events of the main film.ClerksHappy Scrappy Hero Pup, numerous pornographic films including The Best of Both Worlds1994 A mother asks for Happy Scrappy Hero Pup at the video store for her daughter. Randal is on the phone with the distributor and after ordering a large number of pornographic movies, asks the mother the film's name again. Later on in the film, he goes to Big Choice Video and rents a hermaphroditic pornographic film entitled The Best of Both Worlds.Crocodile Dundee in Los AngelesLethal Agent III2001 Mick Crocodile Dundee investigates the filming of a sequel to a box office bomb action film franchise, which is actually used as a cover up for smuggling several paintings looted during the Yugoslavian Civil Wars.Contempt Odyssey 1963 The film follows a screenwriter's marriage to his wife disintegrating as they shoot the film Odyssey directed by Fritz Lang playing himself.Day for NightMeet Pamela 1973 The film follows the lives of the cast and crew while they shoot the film Meet Pamela.Daddy's Home 2Missile Tow 2017 When they are returning from the winter home, the three families encounter a blizzard, causing them to seek shelter in a movie theatre, where they watch the Liam Neeson-led Missile Tow.Death Becomes HerDark Windows 1992 In this black comedy film, Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn) watches a movie starring her rival Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep) and continuously rewinds and rewatches a scene in which Madeline's character is strangled to death onscreen.Dirty WorkMen In Black Who Like To Have Sex With Each Other 1998 In the comedy film, two cinema employees (Norm MacDonald and Artie Lange) get revenge on their manager by replacing a print of Men In Black with a pornographic parody when the corporate bosses arrive to inspect the theatre.Drive-InDisaster '761976This comedy film follows the adventures of various employees and patrons at a drive-in theater during a screening of a disaster film that includes allusions to everything from the Airport film series to The Towering Inferno to Jaws.Everybody Dies by the EndBattery Acid, Psycho Menace, Kill Time Now2022In the horror comedy mockumentary, after making a handful cult films, Alfred Costella (Vinny Curran) returns to filmmaking to make one last picture with a dark twist. Evil Ed Loose Limbs 5 1997 In the horror comedy film, a newly hired film editor goes insane while editing the latest in a long running series of slasher films. Crash Course 1973 In the horror film, before the mother's daughter is possessed, the mother stars in a film about student activism. The Fabelmans Gunsmog, Escape to Nowhere 2022 The films within the film are fictionalized portrayals of the real-life amateur films Steven Spielberg made during his adolescence. Gunsmog is a western film that rips off John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). Escape to Nowhere is an original war film set during World War II. The Fall GuyMetalstorm2024The sci-fi film within the film in which Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) is called in to perform stunts and find the missing lead actor. A reference to Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared Syn, a real sci-fi film with which it shares a very similar tagline. The Final Girls Camp Bloodbath 2015 In the comedy horror film, the fictional film is entered by the protagonists to escape a fire in the theatre the fictional film is being shown in. The sequel to the fictional film is also referenced. For Your Consideration Home for Purim 2006 In the comedy film, the fictional film featured as a tribute to the Jewish holiday Purim. The studio executives in For Your Consideration change the film's title to Home for Thanksgiving to avoid isolating Gentile audiences.Friend of the WorldUntitled art project2020In the horror comedy film, experimental filmmaker Diane Keaton (Alexandra Slade) is filming an art project when she runs into Gore (Nick Young), who has an outlook on war and propaganda. Funny People Re-Do 2009 In the comedy drama film, Adam Sandler plays a successful film actor who learns that he is dying of leukaemia and decides to revisit his stand-up comedy career. One of the actor's featured films was the comedy Re-Do, which starred him as trapped inside an ordinary baby's body. Grindhouse Machete, Werewolf Women of the SS, Don't, Thanksgiving, Hobo with a Shotgun 2007 Fake trailers made for the film. Machete, Thanksgiving, and Hobo with a Shotgun were eventually made into real films. History of the World Part I History of the World Part II 1981 A trailer for a sequel to the title film that was never planned on being made. A television series with that name premiered in 2023. Deception 2006 In the romantic comedy film, one of the main characters is a movie trailer producer. One of her featured works is the action film Deception starring James Franco and Lindsay Lohan in the film. Holy Motors Untitled monster movie 2012 In the fantasy film, the protagonist creates a motion capture performance with a female counterpart, which is later revealed to be two snakelike creatures. Home Alone Angels with Filthy Souls 1990 In the family comedy film, Kevin McCallister is accidentally left at home during Christmas when his family went to Paris without him. Kevin watches Angels with Filthy Souls (a parody of the 1938 film Angels with Dirty Faces) which his parents and his uncle forbade him to watch. He later uses the film to distract burglars that break into his home. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Angels with Even Filthier Souls 1992 In the family comedy sequel, Kevin McCallister watches the sequel to Angels with Filthy Souls. Home Alone 2s director studied 1930s and 1940s film noir to make Angels with Even Filthier Souls appear authentic. The Icicle Thief 1989 In the comedy film, an Italian neorealist black and white film is broadcast on television and repeatedly interrupted by full colour commercials. The television audience, watching in their homes, are completely oblivious of the interruptions even when a model from one of the commercials end up in the nested film's universe. I'm Thinking of Ending Things Untitled Robert Zemeckis movie 2020 An unnamed janitor is watching a corny film about a café waitress who gets fired after her boyfriend makes a scene while she's working. When the credits roll, Robert Zemeckis is credited as the director. Inglourious Basterds Stolz der Nation 2009 The war film features a Nazi propaganda film called Nation's Pride (German: Stolz der Nation) that is a key plot element in the film's climax. Inland Empire On High in Blue Tomorrows 2006 The film centers around actress Nikki Grace (Laura Dern), who gets a role in a remake of a cursed Polish film. Invasion Force Untitled action movie 1990 This film's plot starts with the shooting of an unnamed action film. Additionally, as the film itself ends, it is revealed to be a film shooting of its own. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season, Bluntman and Chronic 2001 In the comedy film, the duo Jay and Silent Bob encounter the making of Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season, a satirical sequel to Good Will Hunting. The making of the sequel also featured the original film's director Gus Van Sant and its stars, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Bluntman and Chronic is a fictional movie based on Holden McNeil and Banky Edwards' comic from Chasing Amy, where Mark Hamill plays a villain named Cocknocker, and fights the titular characters. Jingle All the Way Turbo Man: The Motion Picture 1996 In the festive comedy film, whilst Arnold Schwarzenegger is driving all around toy stores around the area to find the doll of the fictional super hero Turbo Man, he is seen driving past the town's cinema showing Turbo Man: The Motion Picture on the day. Joker: Folie à Deux Untitled TV movie 2024 In the film, the characters mention a TV film based on the events which happened in Joker numerous times. Johnny Dangerously Your Testicles and You 1984 A public health film about the fictional condition, "Enlarged Scrotum Syndrome" 1977 In the comedy film, the spoof film combines elements of exploitation film, television commercials, pornography, and the martial arts film Enter the Dragon (1973). Kiss of the Spider Woman He