Meta films are nothing new, but they remain a staple of Hollywood, and there’s a good reason for that. There’s something fun about a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously, especially when it can be self-referential in intelligent ways. The new Anaconda reboot looks to be the latest line in meta filmmaking, as it seemingly focuses on two friends, played by Jack Black and Paul Rudd, who set off to remake the 1997 original only to find themselves face-to-face with an actual monstrous snake.
Obviously, we don’t yet know if this approach will result in a quality end product, but it’s a solid direction for such an inherently ridiculous concept as a large killer snake. Still, if Anaconda can stick the landing, it’ll be in some good company, as the meta “genre” has produced some truly excellent films.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Watch The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent on MovieSphere+/Amazon Prime Video
Anaconda director Tom Gormican is no stranger to engaging in meta filmmaking, and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is proof that the director is actually quite adept at it. The movie sees Nicolas Cage playing a fictionalized version of himself as he becomes entangled in the life of a wealthy superfan (Pedro Pascal) who pays him a million dollars to attend his birthday party.
Of course, things go wrong, and what results is one of the best action buddy comedy films in recent memory, and it’s only strengthened by its meta commentary on Cage’s career and persona. If Gormican can recapture even half the wit he brings to The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, then we’re in for a good time with Anaconda.
The Truman Show
Watch The Truman Show on Tubi
Arguably one of the most prescient examples of metafiction, The Truman Show is aging like an incredible wine. Centered on the eponymous Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey), a man who doesn’t know he’s living inside an intricately designed fake reality show. Not only is The Truman Show an excellent commentary on media at large, but it also predicted the rise of societal obsession with reality television.
But The Truman Show is also so much more than that. Beneath the clever premise and obvious meta themes, there’s a hilariously sad film about a man who tries to conform to societal standards while feeling like an outsider. Carrey gives one of the best performances of his career, and it’s easily one of the best comedy films of the ’90s.
The Scream franchise
Watch Scream (2022) on Paramount+ and Hulu
The Scream franchise is one of the most enduring horror series around, and a lot of that has to do with its meta commentary on the slasher genre. The original Scream, released back in 1996, was a game-changer for slasher-horror flicks. It not only made direct references to slasher conventions and tropes, but it turned them all on their heads.
While the original two films remain the best and smartest in the franchise, Scream has remained a staple in horror even throughout its newer entries. And as the horror genre itself continues to change and shift with the rise of elevated horror films and stylistic slashers, there seems to be plenty left for the series to comment on.
The Cabin in the Woods
Watch The Cabin in the Woods on HBO Max and Tubi
Another example of horror just fully embracing metafiction, The Cabin in the Woods doesn’t restrict itself to just slashers, but horror as a whole. The premise is deceptively simple: a group of college kids find themselves at a cabin (in the woods) and begin to be hunted down by supernatural forces. But it’s all actually part of a secret ritual, based on horror tropes, by a secret organization to appease ancient gods so they don’t destroy humanity.
The Cabin in the Woods is extremely intelligent in how it unfolds, with each character representing a stereotypical horror victim, but due to manipulation and mind-altering drugs. There’s even some fun nods to different cultural horror tropes and foreign horror films, which are often scarier than anything in Hollywood. The Cabin in the Woods is just as interested in showcasing its love for horror as it is breaking free of the shackles that have defined the genre for decades.
Deadpool
Watch Deadpool on Disney+
The entire Deadpool trilogy is probably the most popular example of metafiction, and there’s a big reason it has captured viewers the way it has. The superhero genre has cemented itself as one of the most enduring of the modern era, and Deadpool is content to make light of that fact. But really, it’s Ryan Reynolds’ performance as the eponymous anti-hero that really sells the whole thing.
Each Deadpool film has extended sections of the character breaking the fourth wall in hilarious ways, and it never lets the audience forget that what they’re watching should not be taken seriously. But there’s also a surprising amount of heart at the center of these films, even as they embrace all the bloody thrills that an R-rating and a vulgar, smart-mouthed main character can offer. Also, the character has resulted in some wild fan-made movie trailers.
Metafiction is here to stay
I don’t really see meta movies going out of style anytime soon, so it’s hardly surprising to me that Anaconda is swinging in that direction with its reboot. Like the spoof films of old, metafiction is that sort of comedy that modern audiences seem to cling to, and these films are some of the best examples of it. If you’re looking for a different type of comedy, however, these sitcoms are ones you can watch forever without getting bored.
