The "play-within-a-play" concept is perhaps MOST famous in Hamlet, when the actors perform The Mousetrap, a play that chronicles King Hamlet's murder by his own brother. The point is, sometimes movies and television make up fake movies for the characters in their respective universes, often, the result is hilarious and intriguing, prompting the audience to say "I wish that was a REAL movie!" Here are seven movies, actually, a bit more than that but we wanted this to be "tidy", we wish were real.
7.) The 3: Adaptation
Why It Should Be Real:
The whole point of The 3 script in Adaptation is to show how many Hollywood films rely on bizarre plot points without any actual meaning for substance. Or, it could be Charlie Kaufman making fun of himself for writing such a unique screenplay for Adaptation. Either way, Donald Kaufman's The 3 seems like a hilarious and bizarre thriller that would probably sell a lot of tickets...and it sort of did. Identity starring John Cusack came out the following year, and performed moderately well in the box office despite Kaufman's obvious jab at contrived plot lines.
6.) Satan's Alley, The Fatties: Fart 2, Tropic Thunder: Tropic Thunder
Why It Should Be Real:
It looks like one amazing fictional cast. Kirk Lazarus looks great in Satan's Alley, the film about two gay monks, Jeff Portnoy's The Fatties: Fart 2 looks like a good movie to see when you're high as hell, and obviously the actual film Tropic Thunder looks like an crazy good action/war film.
5.) Home For Purim: For Your Consideration
Why It Should Be Real:
Home For Purim, and later called Home For Thanksgiving because the original title is "too Jewish" looks like a real tear-jerker. It would probably be a good movie to take a date, not to mention that the cast is full of actors who are "ALMOST nominated for an Academy Award."
4.) Chubby Rain: Bowfinger
Why It Should Be Real:
The scenes and lines were pretty campy (on purpose), but Chubby Rain actually looks like a watchable movie. There's aliens, explosions, hot chicks, and a guy whose skin melts off! That's blockbuster stuff.
3.) Angels With Filthy Souls: Home Alone
Why It Should Be Real:
Who doesn't love an incredibly violent old-timey gangster movie? For a long time, a lot of people thought Angels With Filthy Souls was a real movie, and much to their chagrin, they were wrong. Hollywood hasn't put out a bad-ass gangster movie in a while, so why doesn't someone stand up and just make Angels With Filthy Souls?
2.) The Itchy And Scratchy Movie: The Simpsons
Why It Should Be Real:
Cartoon violence is always hilarious, and The Simpsons writers take it to the next level with episodes of Itchy and Scratchy. There's something satisfying about watching a mouse hit a cat with a mallet, but there's something more satisfying about watching a mouse tie a cat down, pump him full of explosives, leave him in the desert, and watch him explode, only for his entrails to be eaten by buzzards. Everyone would see the Itchy and Scratchy Movie dozens of times.
1.) All Of Tracy Jordan's Movies: 30 Rock
Why They Should Be Real:
We all know 30 Rock is the best show on TV, and the hilarious antics of Tracy Morgan's character Tracy Jordan are a big part of that awesomeness. His film career has been pretty ridiculous, especially when you look at his long list of film credits. They're all clearly a dig at the crappy movies Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy have put out lately. Check out these titles: Honky Grandma Be Trippin', Who Dat Ninja, Fat Bitch, President Homeboy, Black Cop/White Cop, and A Blaffair To Rememblack. Everyone would see those movies based on the titles alone.
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