Plugs linger long after the credits roll

Product placement in movies has been around since Lassie was a pup. Sometimes, the plugs are upfront and shameless: 1985's "The Coca-Cola Kid," 2004's "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle," last year's "Because of Winn-Dixie." Other times, they're somewhat subtler — like the "sweet rocks" the bugs crave in "The Ant Bully," revealed to be Jelly Belly jelly beans. And on occasion, they're just plain unavoidable. Steve McQueen had to drive something in "Bullitt" (a Ford Mustang GT). Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan had to use some server (AOL) to let each other know "You've Got Mail." And the cars of "Cars" have to be, well, cars.

Miramax Films Read reviews of "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." See movie showtimes (enlarge photo) (enlarge photo)

In Will Ferrell's new comedy, "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," Applebee's takes an alternate approach by showing a sense of humor about itself. During an especially long stock-car crash, the announcers cut to a commercial for the restaurant chain. Later on, a family dinner turns disastrous, leading to the movie's final dysfunctional-family-bonding line. "Let's all go get thrown out of Applebee's!"

Here are some memorable plugs from other movies.

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"E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982)

M&M's blew the opportunity of a lifetime when they let Reese's Pieces become the little alien's favorite snack.

"The Firm" (1993)

Tom Cruise could've guzzled Budweiser, but he went for the lesser-known Red Stripe.

"Risky Business" (1983)

Cruise again. Sales of Ray-Ban sunglasses jumped almost 50 percent.

"Minority Report" (2002)

Cruise, again. When he walks into a mall, a hologram ad for the Gap addresses him by name and recalls his previous purchases.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961)

Audrey Hepburn munching a Danish outside your store at dawn can't hurt business.

"The Island" (2005)

Scarlett Johansson realizes she's a clone when she sees her original, a fashion model, in a Calvin Klein perfume ad.

"Click" (2006)

Adam Sandler searches for a new remote control and finds it at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

"The Da Vinci Code" (2006)

Audrey Tautou rips through Paris in a teeny Smart car ... which will be available in the States starting in 2008.