Intertextuality

Intertextuality is the shaping of texts' meanings by other texts. For example, many films have aspects found in The Matrix. Such as Shrek, which contains the famous slow-motion fight. Texts like Alice In Wonderland  have references to the rabbit hole, and being offered a magical key to another dimension of reality. Many of the actual concepts on The Matrix came from comic books, anime art work and there might even be a direct copying of a Doctor Who episode where the doctor fights the master of gallifrey, in a digital universe called The Matrix.
Some texts deliberately play with intertextuality, teasing the audience to spot the references; this has been called one of the codes and conventions of a post-modern text. For example, The Simpsons.

Auteur Theory
Auteur Theory suggests that the best films will bear their maker’s ‘signature’.  Which may manifest itself as the stamp of his or her individual personality or perhaps even focus on recurring themes within the body of work. Alfred Hitchcock plays this idea up in most of his movies where he makes sure that he appears on screen in a brief cameo spot. This became a game that viewers would engage in, waiting to find out when he would appear. One of the themes Hitchcock used are extreme close-ups. This theme has diminished from thriller/horror genres over the years as it can be seen as comical.
One of the problems with auteur theory is that it tends to diminish the role that others play in the creation of a film. Hitchcock himself downplayed the role that others played in his films. He was often critical of his actors and usually did not give his screenwriters the recognition that they deserved.