Maverick (1994)
Shaun Of The Dead #1 (2004)
The In-Joke: “We’re coming to get you Barbara,” shouts Ed down the phone to Shaun’s mum. It’s an echo of the first line of Night Of The Living Dead , where a brother scares his sister with the words, “they’re coming to get you Barbara.”
Why It’s Great: Shaun Of The Dead is so jam-packed with zombie in-jokes, it’s hard to single any out for special praise, but this one sticks in the memory for some reason. Top class geekery from Edgar Wright.
If It Was Reversed: It actually has been; Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright had blink-and-you-miss-them zombie cameos in Romero's Land Of The Dead, released a year after Shaun. We deeply wish the line 'you've got red on you.' had made an appearance though.
Shaun Of The Dead #2 (2004)
The In-Joke: Simon Pegg’s merry little band run into a similar posse of British TV stars, headed up by his Spaced co-star Jessica Stevenson.
Why It’s Great: It’s a great visual gag, as Martin Freeman, Reece Shearsmith and Matt Lucas all crop up as Sean and co.’s respective counterparts.
If It Was Reversed: We’d happily watch the same film told from the second group’s perspective. Sequel?
Charlie's Angels (2000)
The In-Joke: Drew Barrymore’s character crashes into a living room that looks more than a little like the one found in E.T.
Why It’s Great: It’s a neat throwback to Drew’s roots, although the E.T. poster hanging above the TV spells it out a little too broadly.
If It Was Reversed: We’d see a leather catsuit hanging in young Gertie’s wardrobe. Might be a bit weird, on second thoughts…
The Lost World (1997)
The In-Joke: As the T-Rex rampages through San Diego, a movie poster is spotted promoting Arnold Schwarzenegger in King Lear .
Why It’s Great: Arnie as King Lear is something we’d genuinely like to see… for about five minutes or so.
If It Was Reversed: Let’s face it, an Arnie-starring King Lear would probably have dinosaurs in it anyway.
Last Action Hero (1993)
The In-Joke: A poster can be spotted for The Terminator , starring none other than… Sly Stallone!
Why It’s Great: Last Action Hero is full of knowing references like this one. A top bit of inter-action hero banter.
If It Was Reversed: Arnie as Rocky? Hey, Hollywood has had worse ideas…
Back To The Future pt 2 (1989)
The In-Joke: Robert Zemeckis pokes gentle fun at his executive producer, by predicting Jaws 19 will have hit cinemas by 2015.
Why It’s Great: The additional detail is excellent, with the holographic movie credited to one Max Spielberg, real-life son of Steven.
If It Was Reversed: One of Jaws ’ panicked sunbathers makes a hasty getaway from the beach via what looks like a floating skateboard.
Home Alone 2 (1993)
The In-Joke: Young Kevin McCallister enters the Plaza Hotel and asks a familiar looking figure where the lobby is.
Why It’s Great: It’s only Donald Trump, isn’t it, then owner of the Plaza. Ridiculous hair, as ever.
If It Was Reversed: Macauley Culkin would crop up as a helpful janitor during The Apprentice . What do you mean he’s not playing a part?
Die Hard With A Vengeance (1995)
The In-Joke: When asked how he’s been spending his retirement, Bruce Willis replies, “I was just getting used to my day job, smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo.”
Why It’s Great: Willis sings the same Statler Brothers lyric just before he runs over Marsellus Wallace in Pulp Fiction .
If It Was Reversed: Butch would yell “Yippie-kay-ay” as he ploughs into Marsellus.
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
The In-Joke: Amid the mayhem of the hospital scene, one stricken nurse spies a nearby chainsaw in a callback to director Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 2 .
Why It’s Great: The whole scene takes its visual cues from the Evil Dead series, and this shot is the icing on the cake. Groovy.
If It Was Reversed: Perhaps a mutated spider might have a part to play in the upcoming Evil Dead remake.
