The Thing (1982)
The Cameo: John Carpenter can be spotted in the video footage of the Norwegian research team.
Why It’s Cool: It’s not very obvious, so there’s a real sense of satisfaction to be had when you eventually pick up on it.
Jason X (2002)
The Cameo: David Cronenberg appears briefly as Dr. Wimmer, the scientist in charge of the Camp Crystal Lake research project.
Why It’s Cool: Cronenberg goes out in time-honoured fashion as Jason chucks a spear through his back.
Blackmail (1929)
The Cameo: One of Hitchcock’s more prominent cameos, in which he appears as a disgruntled commuter being pestered by an unruly child.
Why It’s Cool: When the little blighter pulls Hitch’s bowler down over his ears, you’re fully expecting the big man to tear him limb from limb!
Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)
The Cameo: Peter Jackson can be spotted as one of the menacing locals in the village of Bree, chowing down on a carrot, as menacing locals are wont to do.
Why It’s Cool: Jackson loves a cameo, and the more grotesque the better. This slack-jawed hick is one of his finest.
Scream 3 (1997)
The Cameo: Roger Corman shows up as a studio exec in Wes Craven’s in-joke laden third instalment of the Scream franchise.
Why It’s Cool: It’s a nice tip of the hat from one horror icon to another.
Airplane! (1980)
The Cameo: The Zucker brothers make an on-screen appearance as a pair of hopeless ground crewmen. Needless to say, their bungling has explosive consequences…
Why It’s Cool: Hilariously, the brothers send an aircraft smashing into the airport terminal. Oh dear…
What Dreams May Come (1998)
The Cameo: Werner Herzog is one of the sea of faces in Hell, claiming to be the father of Robin Williams’ character.
Why It’s Cool: Herzog is on suitably deranged form, as he brings some genuine terror to this saccharine tosh.
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
The Cameo: Bryan Singer can be spotted in the home stretch, taking over Worf’s station as Picard is saying his goodbyes to Riker.
Why It’s Cool: When you know how much of a nerd Singer is for all things sci-fi, there’s something immensely gratifying about seeing him get his face in a Star Trek movie!
Singles (1992)
The Cameo: Tim Burton plays a grungy filmmaker in just one of many cameos in Cameron Crowe’s star-laden film.
Why It’s Cool: Burton fits the bill of brooding outsider in the same way as fellow guests from the likes of Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, and Soundgarden.
Staying Alive (1983)
The Cameo: Sly Stallone gets his face on screen as a nameless pedestrian who bumps into John Travolta while he’s getting his strut on.
Why It’s Cool: Because just when you're doubting whether Stallone was really, truly the director of this uber-camp sequel, there he is, right before your eyes!
