2001 gets a lot of references and homage in popular culture though. Hal did that commercial for Apple as the real 2001 rolled around. MST3K's final episode on Comedy Central was a huge homage, culminating in a giant monolith in the shape of a VHS tape of "The Worst Movie Ever Made.

The Simpsons and Futurama have done more 2001 jokes over the years than I can count.

Modern movies pay homage to it as well. From the Discovery pod lying in Watto's junkyard, to Kevin Flynn's hideout on the grid.

I must confess I'm a fan of that other space opera Joss Whedon wrote the script for.