20 incredibly funny parodies of popular films

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Mel Brooks and the Zucker Brothers classics, Scary Movie and many other great comedies.

Many consider parody films to be one of the "lowest" genres. There is some truth in this. Such paintings often have small budgets, they rarely last more than an hour and a half. In addition, parody plots usually retell familiar stories, only in a comedic key.

Hence the lack of popularity among critics and the lack of prestigious awards. But they perform their main function - they simply amuse the viewer. Therefore, many successful parodies have gone down in history, sometimes even better remembered than the original films.

A considerable part of the pictures from our selection were shot by the same authors: the legendary Mel Brooks and the equally famous trio of the Zucker brothers and Jim Abrahams. But I come across remarkable works from other directors.

1. "Monty Python" and the Holy Grail

• Great Britain, 1975.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

Members of the British comic troupe "Monty Python" in a humorous manner retell the famous legend about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. There is enough room for both vulgarity and completely absurd jokes for which this team of artists was famous.

The film not only became Terry Gilliam's directorial debut, but was also sold for quotes, and some characters literally turned into a standard of strange humor. For example, the Black Knight, who demanded to continue the fight, even when two of his arms and one leg were cut off.

2. Young Frankenstein

• USA, 1974.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Mel Brooks came up with a parody of the classic horror movies of the thirties together with his longtime friend, actor Gene Wilder, who played the main role. The plot tells about the grandson of Dr. Frankenstein. He inherits the castle, where the notorious grandfather conducted his experiments, and also revives the monster.

Brooks tried to copy classic films not only in plot, but also visually: black and white picture, transitions between scenes and even music recreate a retro atmosphere. Interestingly, the picture was filmed in the same scenery as the 1931 "Frankenstein".

3. This is Spinal Tap

• USA, 1984.
• Comedy, musical.
• Duration: 82 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

The mock documentary follows several months of the history of the fictional glam rock band Spinal Tap, which is rapidly losing popularity after its finest hour.

It's funny that the artists from this film subsequently actually formed a group and even recorded several albums. Well, in the film itself, it's easy to notice the irony over documentaries about bands such as Kiss or Judas Priest. Although at the first screenings, the audience was unhappy - many did not understand that the plot was dedicated to a fake group.

4. A zombie named Sean

• UK, France, 2004.
• Comedy, horror.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

Sean's life is very boring - he works as a consultant in a store and cannot get his life back on track. But one day he has to forget about everyday problems: everyone around turns into zombies, and now Sean, together with his friends, needs to somehow escape.

The talented director Edgar Wright took classic films about the living dead as a basis. Even in the original title, it's easy to see a reference to Dawn of the dead by the famous George Romero. And visually, Wright copies horror footage literally in every second scene.

But in the end, the director came out not just a funny parody, but an original stylization that the audience loved very much. Subsequently, Wright, with the same team, continued his experiments in the films "Kind of Cool Cop" and "Armageddian" - parodies of police films and science fiction about aliens.

5. Airplane

• USA, 1980.
• Black comedy.
• Duration: 88 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

This famous comedy from the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker trinity parodies such classics as Zero Hour !, The Airport, and all sorts of disaster films. A former military pilot finds himself in a falling plane. Now only he can save all passengers from death, but the problem is that the hero does not believe in himself because of the trauma of the past.

This parody is considered one of the best in the history of the genre. The authors did everything perfectly: they took a clichéd tragic plot and exaggerated all its components to such an extent that it became ridiculous. Two years later, the film received a sequel, which was named "Airplane-2: Continuation". Its action takes place already in space. But the second time to repeat the success did not work.

6. Glittering Saddles

• USA, 1974.
• Comedy, western.
• Duration: 93 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

The film parodies classic westerns and, first of all, the picture "Exactly at noon". Greedy villains want to lead a railroad through a small town. But for this they need to expel all residents. To make everything look legal, they send a gang of thugs to the city and appoint a new sheriff who hardly knows how to shoot, and even a black one.

Director Mel Brooks appears frequently in his films. But here he distinguished himself especially and played not only the stupid governor, but also the leader of the Indians, who for some reason speaks Yiddish.

7. Naked pistol

• USA, 1988.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 85 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Another parody legend grew out of the comedy series Police Squad! The authors make fun of a variety of detectives and action films, from "Dirty Harry" to "Columbo". The main character, played by Leslie Nielsen, has to expose a large-scale conspiracy and save the Queen of Great Britain herself.

The film has two sequels, which, in terms of humor, are practically not inferior to the first part. So you can watch them all in a row. And the biggest fans of Nielsen can appreciate the original "Police squad!".

8. Top secret

• USA, 1984.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

American singer Nick Rivers arrives in Germany for a festival and finds himself at the center of spy games. The military from the GDR kidnapped a scientist and are trying to create a terrible weapon. But Nick, along with the charming girl Hillary and the rebels, resists the villains.

The film parodies many paintings and even entire genres at once. Thus, musicals with Elvis Presley, spy stories from the Cold War times, and even "Blue Lagoon" were also hit by the authors.

9. Space eggs

• USA, 1987.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 1.

Four years after the final episode of George Lucas' classic Star Wars trilogy, a parody of the franchise has appeared on the screens. The story is about the same: the evil emperor and Lord Grand Slam are trying to conquer the galaxy, and the princess turns to the warrior-wanderer for help.

Interestingly, Lucas, who was very fond of Mel Brooks's previous films, not only allowed the director to make a parody of his creation, but also helped him with special effects and sound at work.

And by the way: not everyone knows that this film has a sequel. In 2008, the animated series Comic Eggs was released, consisting of 13 episodes.

10. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

• USA, 1997.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 94 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Against the background of universal love for James Bond, numerous parodies dedicated to super spies could not but appear. And the most striking of them is a series of films about Austin Powers, a favorite of women and a tough agent from the sixties, who lay in the freeze for about 30 years.

After awakening, he will have to confront Doctor Evil, who demands a huge ransom from the governments of large countries, threatening to blow up all volcanoes.

A special mention here deserves the leading role Mike Myers, who played not only Austin Powers, but also his enemy Doctor Evil, and in the sequels and several more characters.

11. Robin Hood: Men in Tights

• USA, 1993.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 104 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

Robin from Locksley returns from captivity to his native land, finds a new friend Ap-Chhi and soon discovers that his ancestral castle was taken by the Sheriff of Rotten Hem for debts. Now the hero needs to collect funny guys in tights and fight with Prince John. And at the same time fall in love with the maiden Marian, who wears a chastity belt.

First of all, this film parodies the famous "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" with Kevin Costner. But at the same time, references to many iconic paintings are used, even "The Godfather" is recalled.

12. Hot heads

• USA, 1991.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 85 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

This film is clearly inspired by the famous "Top Shooter" starring Tom Cruise. The plot is dedicated to the pilot Topper Harley, who is trying to overcome complexes associated with his father in an Indian settlement. But he is found and returned to the base to participate in the military operation in Iraq.

It's funny that even the leading actor - Charlie Sheen - in those days was quite similar to Tom Cruise. Although in the second part, they clearly did not think about the similarities of the characters - the sequel parodies the film "Rambo".

13. Hot American Summer

• USA, 2001.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 97 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

After "American Pie" won the audience, a whole wave of vulgar comedies about teenagers poured onto the screens. And then director David Wayne decided to do the impossible - to make a parody of silly comedies. The idea was initially not appreciated, but over time the film became a cult.

The action takes place on the last day of rest in a summer camp, where the heroes fall in love, quarrel, drown, talk with cans, get drugs, participate in musicals and save the Earth from the threat from space.

And after almost 15 years, the director went even further - he shot a prequel story with the same actors.

14. Manitou Moccasins

• Germany, 2001.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 87 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

This parody of westerns was filmed in Germany. But this is not surprising, because many classic films of the genre came from this country: remember at least "Chingachgook - Big Snake" with Goyko Mitic or "The Faithful Hand - Friend of the Indians" jointly produced by Germany and Yugoslavia.

This is the story of blood brothers Abahachi and Ranger, who decided to buy a bar, and then were unfairly accused of murdering the Cowardly Rabbit - the son of the Sly Slug leader. The heroes need to live up to their name and find the treasure at the same time. But the Indians have already dug up a folding chair and declared war.

15. Fear of heights

• USA, 1977.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 94 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

This film is a parody and at the same time a declaration of love by Mel Brooks for the films of Alfred Hitchcock. Even the name itself hints at the classic painting "Dizziness", and in the plot you can see references to "Psycho", "Birds" and other works of the master.

Dr. Richard Thorndike (played by Brooks himself) has been appointed director of the neuropsychiatric clinic for the most severely ill. But in the process of work, he himself becomes as nervous as his patients.

16. Don't threaten South Central while sipping juice in your neighborhood

• USA, 1996.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 89 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

In the nineties, dozens of films about life in poor neighborhoods inhabited by blacks appeared on screens. And director Paris Barclay decided to parody this trend.

In his full-length debut, there is not even a sensible plot, just a set of miniatures about the life of two cousins: Ashtray and Lok Dog. One of them is more restrained and well-mannered, but the second loves to create real chaos. Interestingly, the main characters were played by brothers Sean and Marlon Wayans - members of a huge acting family.

17. Three amigos

• USA, 1986.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 105 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 5.

The robber El Guapo and his charges terrorize a Mexican village. For protection, the inhabitants call on fearless heroes known as the "three amigos". The only trouble is that in fact they are silent film actors who have confused the real danger with the next shootings.

It's not hard to see that this movie is clearly making fun of the classic Western, The Magnificent Seven. And that, in turn, is based on the film by Akira Kurosawa "Seven Samurai".

18. Scary movie

• USA, 2000.
• Black comedy.
• Duration: 88 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 2.

A witty parody of "The Scream" retells the story of a maniac, turning all the heroes into idiots, and the plot - into outright madness. By the way, the main roles were again played by Sean and Marlon Wayans, and their brother Keenen Ivory Wayans was the director.

The film spawned a whole wave of sequels and offshoots parodying popular films. But still the first part is considered the brightest and funniest.

19. Agent Johnny English

• UK, France, 2003.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 87 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 2.

And one more parody of James Bond. This time performed by the famous "Mr. Bean" - Rowan Atkinson. He plays Johnny English, a clerk formally in the British Secret Service MI7. But after a series of accidents, he turns out to be the only surviving agent. And then he is attracted to the salvation of the world, although he has absolutely no idea what to do.

The combination of typical Atkinson antics with a spy comedy hit the audience. There have already been two sequels to this story.

20. Loaded weapon - 1

• USA, 1993.
• Comedy, thriller.
• Duration: 84 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 1.

Policemen with the speaking surnames Colt and Luger join the fight against the drug cartel, which is led by General Mortars (not to be confused with General Motors). But then the confrontation turns into personal revenge.

You shouldn't pay attention to the number 1 in the title - the second part was never even in the plans. And the plot clearly parodies Lethal Weapon and many other police action films. A separate merit of the film is the performers of the main roles. Here you can admire Charlie Sheen's brother and Breakfast Club star Emilio Estevez and young Samuel L. Jackson.