5 Movies-Within-Movies We NEED To See (And 5 That Would Suck)

Tropic Thunder features several hilarious fake trailers, many of which offer self-reflexive critiques of the film industry, with specific focuses on over-dramatic Oscar-bait movies and childish family comedies.

While all the trailers are undoubtedly entertaining, Satan's Alley, starring Dick Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) and Tobey Maguire (himself), is probably the most unforgettable.

This fake film is set in a monastery and focuses on the "forbidden" love between two monks. The trailer shows off Lazarus' signature brand of allegedly Oscar-winning overacting and also features a dramatic (slightly questionable) orchestral score and hilariously terrible dialogue ("I've been a bad boy, Father").

While the trailer is deliberately tongue-in-cheek, the film itself would likely be a sincere attempt for Lazarus to win his sixth Oscar (and Tobey Maguire his second MTV Best Kiss Award), baiting award judges while likely putting off potential audiences.

Of course, none of the fake films featured in Tropic Thunder are particularly appealing, especially the exceptionally tone-deaf Simple Jack, but Satan's Alley, the ostensibly tasteless rip-off of Brokeback Mountain, is definitely the most memorable (for all the wrong reasons).