30 Iconic Fictional Shows and Movies Featured in Real Films and Series

Abed’s beloved series from Community bears a resemblance to Doctor Who, though American audiences might find its spin-off, Epochs of Eternity, more relatable.

Those white officers are determined to locate that missing Toyota.

While Scandal is impressive, Defamation offers 40% more intense Oval Office Eagle drama.

The most enduring fictional show within a show in television history. Now, let’s hope for that long-awaited Poochie spin-off.

Your ideas of diversity are unfortunately limited to humans. Love between binary beings is still love, and this futuristic soap opera from the year 3000 could bring even HAL 9000 to tears.

Screw you, John.

Originally envisioned as a playful yet sincere nod to daytime soap operas, Twin Peaks finds its most authentic embodiment of this vision in Invitation to Love.

Will there ever come a time when the public grows weary of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck? Or will we never have that opportunity?

The cleverly self-referential opening scene of Scream 2 unfolds during the premiere of Stab, a movie based on the events of the first Scream. By the time Scream 4 rolls around, we’re already on the seventh installment of Stab (confusing, right?), creating a dizzying loop of films within films that leaves you questioning which one you’re actually supposed to focus on.

Christopher Moltisanti met his end in a manner that perfectly mirrored his life: utterly clueless.

While technically a faux trailer embedded within a film, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s witty tribute to 1970s horror cinema earns its place here. Honestly, I’d be first in line to see it.

This brilliantly crafted spoof of gangster films was so convincing that many viewers believed Kevin was watching a genuine classic movie during his pizza delivery trick, rather than a clever imitation. Home Alone 2 even features a snippet from its fictional follow-up: Angels with Even Filthier Souls.

Take that, Kenneth Branagh. (Honestly, I’m shocked this isn’t a real film.)

Even if cable disappears, will adult content vanish too? (Just a joke—porn will always find a way to exist.)

Dirk Diggler’s acting skills were never his strong suit, but you’ve got to admire his effort.

The most convincing movies-within-movies almost make you believe they’re genuine—and Joe Dante’s Mant! is certainly no stranger to the bizarre charm of ‘50s sci-fi films.

Even if you don’t fully grasp the silent film nods, Jean Hagen’s exaggerated accent is guaranteed to make you burst into laughter.

Some Canadian films pale in comparison to this one’s production quality. Absolutely worth watching—no doubt about it.

This animation is an absolute masterpiece—a heartfelt tribute to the golden age of theatrical animated shorts, standing toe-to-toe with the best of them.

It’s baffling how this didn’t sweep every single Oscar—truly a mystery.

Is this film-within-a-film mocking Simple Jack, or is it a sharp critique of Hollywood’s portrayal of disability? And is Tropic Thunder, a decent but otherwise ordinary comedy, really the hill to die on for such a debate?

Released in 1999, when America’s capacity for shock was still intact but limited, this film left us all slightly stunned by its oddly catchy song celebrating casual encounters with one’s uncle.

It’s a mystery why James Cameron is so focused on churning out endless Avatar sequels when this is clearly what the world is craving.

This was released before Hamilton hit the stage. While I’m no legal expert, it seems pretty clear that Lin-Manuel Miranda might owe Tracy Jordan some royalties.

A duck doubling as a detective might not be everyone’s preference, but it’s a hit among the Gravity Falls crew.

This concept succeeds because Bert has always seemed just one rough day away from a full-blown meltdown.

BoJack Horseman would absolutely take the lead in a biopic about Secretariat’s life, and trust me, it’s far from a cheerful tale.

While sauerkraut is an underappreciated treat, I’d still binge-watch this without hesitation.

Galaxy Quest, the film, revolves around the fictional TV series Galaxy Quest. In the movie, real aliens mistakenly believe the actors from the show (who are, in reality, actors in the film) are the actual characters they portrayed in that beloved, yet entirely fictional (both in storytelling and existence) TV series.

So, yes, this is as meta as it gets.

Back then, we didn’t endure years-long waits for reboots. Sometimes, they’d reimagine a story before you even exited the theater. A prime example is the ending of Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, which offers a more thrilling and action-filled take on the movie we’d just seen. Thankfully, they included a cameo for Paul Reubens.