100 Greatest Director Cameos
Caught on camera
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.
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter
Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox
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!
There was "no version" of Sonic 3 that wouldn't include Live and Learn according to director Jeff Fowler: "The fans would hunt me down"
Amid Oscar buzz, Zoe Saldana opens up on her new perspective on Hollywood and why she's only really proud of Avatar and Emilia Pérez: "I think I just have to accept who I am as a creative person"