Films featuring snippets of fictional movies aren’t rare, but some are so intriguing, viewers wish they were real. While some movies merely mention these fake films (like Back to the Future Part II with Jaws 19), this list focuses on films that show actual footage of these in-world movies. Sometimes, these films play a vital role in the plot, and sometimes, they’re just there for laughs. Either way, here are 10 movies that feature films we wish we could watch in their entirety.
The Night the Reindeer Died from Scrooged (1988)
Richard Donner’s Scrooged stars Bill Murray as Frank Cross, a miserly TV executive. The movie opens with a trailer for the network’s Christmas lineup, including Robert Goulet’s Old Fashioned Cajun Christmas. The highlight, however, is The Night the Reindeer Died.
In this Christmas action film, Santa’s workshop is under siege by “psychos.” Luckily, Lee Majors (as himself) shows up to save Santa, in a hilarious parody of action tropes. Although intended as a joke, similar comedy action Christmas movies have since hit screens, like Fatman (2020) and Violent Night (2022).
The Stab Franchise from the Scream Franchise
(Spoilers for the Scream franchise ahead.)
Stab first appears in Scream 2 (1997), based on Gale Weathers’ book about the Woodsboro Murders. Stab, directed by Robert Rodriguez (sort of), stars Heather Graham as Casey Becker, Tori Spelling as Sidney Prescott, and Luke Wilson as Billy Loomis.
Footage from the Stab movies appears in Scream 4 (2011), opening with a scene from Stab 6 being watched by characters who are then revealed to be in Stab 7. A clip from the 2021 Stab reboot appears in Scream (2022), featuring a chrome-masked Ghostface wielding a flamethrower. It’s meta-horror at its finest!
Rick Dalton’s Films in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)
Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood showcases actor Rick Dalton’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) filmography. Some films are real, with Dalton added in, like his appearance in The Great Escape (1963). There are also original movies created for Dalton.
For example, there’s Operazione Dyn-o-Mite, an Italian James Bond-style film using footage from Moving Target (1967). Then there’s The 14 Fists of McCluskey, where Dalton torches Nazis with a flamethrower, much like Inglourious Basterds (2009), which also features a fictional film, Stolz der Nation.
Pineapple Express 2: Blood Red from This Is the End (2013)
After Pineapple Express (2008), Seth Rogen planned a sequel, but Sony axed it. The idea was then included in This Is the End. Rogen and James Franco (playing themselves) shoot the sequel in a home movie style.
Pineapple Express 2: Blood Red features Red (Danny McBride) as a drug lord threatened by Woody Harrelson (Jonah Hill) wanting to legalize weed. Dale (Rogen) and Saul (Franco) must assassinate Harrelson. The low production values, like toy cars for car chases, add to the humor.
Batman vs. E.T. from Chip’ n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)
Chip’ n Dale: Rescue Rangers is packed with cameos and jokes. Chip sees posters for fake movies like Mr. Doubtfire (with Meryl Streep) and Fast & Furious Babies. One that catches his eye is Batman vs. E.T.
He watches this parody of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), where E.T. dies in Batman’s arms, saying, “E.T. forgive Bat,” and Batman replies, “Fine.” Chip sheds a tear, declaring, “Yeah, right, like that would happen.”
Jump Street Sequels from 22 Jump Street (2014)
22 Jump Street ends with Captain Dickson (Ice Cube) asking Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) to go on another mission, which they decline. To satisfy audiences wanting more, the end credits offer glimpses into imaginary sequels, poking fun at franchise trends.
Some sequels only get posters, like 38 Jump Street: Dance Academy and 43 Jump Street: Mariachi School. Others get short clips. 27 Jump Street: Culinary School stars Bill Hader as the villain, while 29 Jump Street: Sunday School swaps Jonah Hill for Seth Rogen, with assurances that no one will notice.
Mant! from Matinee (1993)
Set in the early 1960s, Joe Dante’s Matinee revolves around Lawrence Woolsey (John Goodman), a William Castle-esque filmmaker promoting his new movie, Mant!. Dante shot Mant! first, creating a 15-minute short film.
Mant! is a love letter to ’50s monster movies, inspired by films like Them! (1954) and The Fly (1958). Though comedic in tone, Dante aimed to create effects similar to those of the time, avoiding deliberate cheesiness.
Numerous Films from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
Toward the end of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, the duo enters the Miramax studio lot and encounters several film shoots. There’s Scream 4 (which was then fictional), starring Shannen Doherty and an orangutan as Ghostface. Plus, there’s Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season.
In Good Will Hunting 2, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Scott William Winters reprise their roles. After a verbal spar, Will pulls out a shotgun and blasts the guy away. Then, there’s the Bluntman and Chronic film adaptation, where Jay and Silent Bob are mistaken for stunt doubles and fight supervillain Cocknocker (Mark Hamill) in a Star Wars-esque battle.
Hamlet from Last Action Hero (1993)
Meta-comedy Last Action Hero stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Jack Slater. The film opens with Jack Slater III. The movie kicks off when Danny is sucked into Jack Slater IV during a car chase.
One of the best scenes is when Danny daydreams of Slater in Hamlet. Instead of dithering, Slater brazenly murders Claudius. “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, and Hamlet is taking out the trash,” says the narrator. Schwarzenegger as Hamlet needs to be a real movie.
Angels with Filthy Souls from Home Alone (1990)
If you thought the gangster movie in Home Alone was real, you’re not alone! This film—featuring the line “Keep the change, ya filthy animal”—helps Kevin fight off the Wet Bandits (and appears in Detective Pikachu, too).
The film-within-the-film was shot in one day. Art director Dan Webster explains the title was chosen when they needed a label for the tape. The name Angels with Filthy Souls is a nod to Angels with Dirty Faces (1938). Home Alone 2 (1992) then necessitated a sequel: Angels with Even Filthier Souls.
These fictional films add layers of creativity and humor to their respective movies, often leaving us wanting more. They prove that sometimes, the best stories are the ones we only get a glimpse of.
Which of these films-within-films do you wish you could see in full? Leave your comment below!
