The 20 Best Parody And Spoof Movies Of All Time, Ranked
Comedy is one of the oldest pastimes, and no person nor work of art is safe from being the butt of a good joke. Being the target of humor doesn’t always mean something’s bad – in fact, it’s often a way to show joy and reverence for human habits and artistic traditions. One need only look at cinema to see that there isn’t a genre of film out there that hasn’t been dissected, mocked, ridiculed, and poked fun at by parody movies.
Despite their mischievous nature, however, the best spoofs are made in good faith and boast heaps of affection for the films they set out to skewer. In some cases, parodies are even better than the movies they’re spoofing, proving that a sprinkling of humor can elevate any genre.
This list will delve into those films that define the parody subgenre at its best, covering everything from horror comedies, to spy capers, to teen flicks and beyond. So, grab some popcorn, buckle in, and get ready to celebrate the creme de la creme of parody and spoof movies.
-
1
Airplane!
The Plot: Ted Striker, a traumatized fighter pilot, must overcome his aerophobia and safely land a plane after the passengers and crew contract food poisoning. It’s enough to discourage anyone from eating an in-flight meal ever again.
The Parody: Directed by Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers, Airplane! satirizes air-based disaster movies, including Zero Hour!, and the Airport series. The ‘70s and early ‘80s were notable for producing classic disaster flicks, but Airplane! turned the deadly scenarios found in these intense thrillers into laugh-out-loud gags.
Memorable Bit: Leslie Nielsen’s Dr. Rumack summons Ted into the cockpit and asks if he can take over the flight and land it. Ted says, “Surely you can’t be serious.” The doctor responds, “I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley.” Nielsen’s deadpan delivery turns what could have been a forgettable pun into an all-timer that will be quoted forever.
- Actors: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Peter Graves, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges
- Released: 1980
- Directed by: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
- Also ranks #1 on 12 Comedies You Didn’t Realize Were Basically Remakes Of Serious Movies
- Also ranks #1 on Stupid Comedies That Are Secretly Brilliant
- Also ranks #1 on 13 Movies That Launched Their Own Genre
Hilarious?featured
subscription
paid
-
2
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
The Plot: Detective Frank Drebin, a man who’s very bad at his job, must stop a villain and brainwashed baseball player from assassinating the Queen of England. While Frank might no tbe the brightest officer, he has a good track record of getting his man, but he doesn’t make it easy for himself.
The Parody: Detective movies typically depict officers who are competent at their jobs. Naked Gun and its sequels remain comedy classics to this day as they follow a wholesome, dimwitted detective who’s hilariously bad at investigating crimes, but is an absolute master when it comes to hilarious one-liners. The first film, released in 1988, built off of Nielsen’s character from the TV show Police Squad!, and it was followed by two equally ridiculous sequels in 1991 and 1994. A fourth film is planned to release in 2025.
Memorable Bit: Frank needs a car to chase a bad guy. Instead of waving his badge and taking someone’s wheels, he hops into a driving instructor’s vehicle in the middle of a lesson for an unseasoned teen student, who proceeds to pursue the criminal. It goes about as badly as one would expect.
- Actors: Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, O. J. Simpson
- Released: 1988 – 1994
- Directed by: David Zucker, Peter Segal
- Also ranks #1 on The 65 Best Slapstick Comedies
- Also ranks #6 on The Funniest Comedy Film Franchises Of All Time
- Also ranks #43 on The 80+ Best Movies About Police, Ranked
Hilarious? -
3
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Plot: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table set out on an ambitious quest to find the titular artifact. Their journey takes them far and wide, and the noble adventurers meet some interesting characters along the way – some of whom they have to chop to pieces.
The Parody: Arthurian tales are as old as storytelling itself, but they mainly focus on dramatic, serious renderings of the English king and his history. Monty Python and the Holy Grail marked a long-overdue deconstruction of the legends, and who better to handle it than the boundary-pushing United Kingdom comedy collective known for their delightful absurdity?
Memorable Bit: King Arthur and his squire Patsy wander through a forest and encounter a Black Knight guarding a bridge they need to cross. so Arthur withdraws his sword and gets into a tussle with his opponent. The king cuts off the knight’s arm, but the enemy refuses to acknowledge it, saying, “’Tis but a scratch.” The situation escalates from there until the knight has lost all of his limbs, yet still refuses to surrender.
- Actors: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Neil Innes
- Released: 1975
- Directed by: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
- Dig Deeper How ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ Was An Absolute Nightmare To Film
- And Deeper Disturbing ‘Monty Python & The Holy Grail’ Scenes That Are Historically Accurate
- Also ranks #1 on The Best British Comedy Movies
Hilarious?featured
subscription
free
paid
-
4
Blazing Saddles
The Story: A greedy Old West politician wants to empty the town of Black Ridge to profit off the railroad construction, so he hires a Black sheriff, hoping the residents will seek new pastures due to their inherent racism. However, the townsfolk grow fond of their new lawman, since he’s a good man.
The Parody: Western movies often present a romantic view of the American West, where admirable gunslingers, ranchers, and lawmen take down enemies who threaten their towns and land. In the process, these movies tend to ignore the racism of the time period. Mel Brooks’s film highlights this aspect of the genre by lampooning it for its historical ignorance, while still being a lighthearted romp. The film also acknowledges every Western cliche in the book, sometimes breaking the fourth wall in the process.
Memorable Bit: Speaking of breaking the fourth wall, Blazing Saddles culminates with a fight between the politician’s hired guns and the Black Ridge townsfolk, but this is no traditional shootout. Instead, they brawl through a Warner Bros. soundstage and have a pie fight. It’s the yummiest battle in the history of cinema.
- Actors: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Slim Pickens, David Huddleston
- Released: 1974
- Directed by: Mel Brooks
- Dig Deeper ‘Blazing Saddles’ Has Some Dark Behind The Scenes Stories That Might Shock You
- Also ranks #1 on The 600+ Funniest Movies Of All Time
- Also ranks #2 on The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
Hilarious?featured
paid
-
5
Spaceballs
The Plot: Lone Starr, a pilot-for-hire, and Barf, a half-dog, half-human alien, set out to save a princess from the clutches of President Skroob and Dark Helmet. To complicate matters even more, the noble heroes must also evade the galactic lone shark Pizza the Hutt.
The Parody: By the late ‘80s, the Star Wars franchise had long taken over the world, making it perfect fodder for Mel Brooks’ brand of ribbing. Spaceballs is the ultimate spoof of George Lucas’s galaxy far, far away, poking fun at everything from the space opera storytelling to the franchise’s rampant commercialism. Most characters are fairly direct takeoffs on Star Wars characters, and every aspect of the original film trilogy is ripe for targeting.
Memorable Bit: The heroes cross paths with a Yoda-like character named Yogurt, who tells them about the power of the Schwartz. When Lone Starr asks him about his place and what he does there, Yogurt breaks the fourth wall and preaches the gospel of merchandising while advertising Spaceballs-themed dolls, t-shirts, and flamethrowers.
- Actors: Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga
- Released: 1987
- Directed by: Mel Brooks
- Dig Deeper John Candy’s ‘Spaceballs’ Costume Was Shockingly Elaborate: Behind The Scenes Of A Comedy Classic
- Also ranks #2 on The 36 Funniest Alien Movies, From “Mars Attacks!” to “Thor: Ragnarok”
- Also ranks #7 on Super-Specific Topical Jokes In Movies That You Might Completely Miss Now
Hilarious?featured
subscription
paid
-
6
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
The Plot: Robin of Locksley (played with camp charm by Cary Elwes) returns to England after fighting in the Holy Crusades to discover that his family home has been taken, and the villainous Prince John and the Sheriff of Rottingham now control the lands. So, with the help of his trustworthy merry men, the hero grabs his bow and gets to work sticking it to the man.
The Parody: Robin Hood is one of the most iconic characters in literature, film, and television, so it was only a matter of time until he was rinsed for comedic effect. It’s a send-up to the swashbuckling action Robin Hood flicks are renowned for, albeit with more spontaneous rapping in Sherwood Forest. Some gratuitous arrow-point-of-view sequences also poke fun at the tradition of establishing the hero’s famed skill with a bow by showing him making ridiculously difficult (or outright impossible) shots.
Memorable Bit: Robin Hood: Men In Tights followed the 1991 release Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, which starred Kevin Costner in the title role. The spoof pokes fun at its more serious predecessor when the protagonist says, “Unlike other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent.” Now, that’s how to throw shade at Hollywood’s questionable casting habits.
- Actors: Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, Roger Rees, Amy Yasbeck, Dave Chappelle
- Released: 1993
- Directed by: Mel Brooks
- Dig Deeper What The ‘Robin Hood: Men In Tights’ Cast Members Are Doing Now
- Also ranks #1 on Underrated Movies Starring ’80s Heartthrobs Made After They Stopped Being Heartthrobs
- Also ranks #1 on 15 Surprisingly Good Movie Adaptations About Public Domain Characters
Hilarious?featured
subscription
paid
Airplane!
The Plot: Ted Striker, a traumatized fighter pilot, must overcome his aerophobia and safely land a plane after the passengers and crew contract food poisoning. It’s enough to discourage anyone from eating an in-flight meal ever again.
The Parody: Directed by Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers, Airplane! satirizes air-based disaster movies, including Zero Hour!, and the Airport series. The ‘70s and early ‘80s were notable for producing classic disaster flicks, but Airplane! turned the deadly scenarios found in these intense thrillers into laugh-out-loud gags.
Memorable Bit: Leslie Nielsen’s Dr. Rumack summons Ted into the cockpit and asks if he can take over the flight and land it. Ted says, “Surely you can’t be serious.” The doctor responds, “I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley.” Nielsen’s deadpan delivery turns what could have been a forgettable pun into an all-timer that will be quoted forever.
- Actors: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Peter Graves, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges
- Released: 1980
- Directed by: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
- Also ranks #1 on 12 Comedies You Didn’t Realize Were Basically Remakes Of Serious Movies
- Also ranks #1 on Stupid Comedies That Are Secretly Brilliant
- Also ranks #1 on 13 Movies That Launched Their Own Genre
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
The Plot: Detective Frank Drebin, a man who’s very bad at his job, must stop a villain and brainwashed baseball player from assassinating the Queen of England. While Frank might no tbe the brightest officer, he has a good track record of getting his man, but he doesn’t make it easy for himself.
The Parody: Detective movies typically depict officers who are competent at their jobs. Naked Gun and its sequels remain comedy classics to this day as they follow a wholesome, dimwitted detective who’s hilariously bad at investigating crimes, but is an absolute master when it comes to hilarious one-liners. The first film, released in 1988, built off of Nielsen’s character from the TV show Police Squad!, and it was followed by two equally ridiculous sequels in 1991 and 1994. A fourth film is planned to release in 2025.
Memorable Bit: Frank needs a car to chase a bad guy. Instead of waving his badge and taking someone’s wheels, he hops into a driving instructor’s vehicle in the middle of a lesson for an unseasoned teen student, who proceeds to pursue the criminal. It goes about as badly as one would expect.
- Actors: Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, O. J. Simpson
- Released: 1988 – 1994
- Directed by: David Zucker, Peter Segal
- Also ranks #1 on The 65 Best Slapstick Comedies
- Also ranks #6 on The Funniest Comedy Film Franchises Of All Time
- Also ranks #43 on The 80+ Best Movies About Police, Ranked
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Plot: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table set out on an ambitious quest to find the titular artifact. Their journey takes them far and wide, and the noble adventurers meet some interesting characters along the way – some of whom they have to chop to pieces.
The Parody: Arthurian tales are as old as storytelling itself, but they mainly focus on dramatic, serious renderings of the English king and his history. Monty Python and the Holy Grail marked a long-overdue deconstruction of the legends, and who better to handle it than the boundary-pushing United Kingdom comedy collective known for their delightful absurdity?
Memorable Bit: King Arthur and his squire Patsy wander through a forest and encounter a Black Knight guarding a bridge they need to cross. so Arthur withdraws his sword and gets into a tussle with his opponent. The king cuts off the knight’s arm, but the enemy refuses to acknowledge it, saying, “’Tis but a scratch.” The situation escalates from there until the knight has lost all of his limbs, yet still refuses to surrender.
- Actors: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Neil Innes
- Released: 1975
- Directed by: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
- Dig Deeper How ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ Was An Absolute Nightmare To Film
- And Deeper Disturbing ‘Monty Python & The Holy Grail’ Scenes That Are Historically Accurate
- Also ranks #1 on The Best British Comedy Movies
Blazing Saddles
The Story: A greedy Old West politician wants to empty the town of Black Ridge to profit off the railroad construction, so he hires a Black sheriff, hoping the residents will seek new pastures due to their inherent racism. However, the townsfolk grow fond of their new lawman, since he’s a good man.
The Parody: Western movies often present a romantic view of the American West, where admirable gunslingers, ranchers, and lawmen take down enemies who threaten their towns and land. In the process, these movies tend to ignore the racism of the time period. Mel Brooks’s film highlights this aspect of the genre by lampooning it for its historical ignorance, while still being a lighthearted romp. The film also acknowledges every Western cliche in the book, sometimes breaking the fourth wall in the process.
Memorable Bit: Speaking of breaking the fourth wall, Blazing Saddles culminates with a fight between the politician’s hired guns and the Black Ridge townsfolk, but this is no traditional shootout. Instead, they brawl through a Warner Bros. soundstage and have a pie fight. It’s the yummiest battle in the history of cinema.
- Actors: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Slim Pickens, David Huddleston
- Released: 1974
- Directed by: Mel Brooks
- Dig Deeper ‘Blazing Saddles’ Has Some Dark Behind The Scenes Stories That Might Shock You
- Also ranks #1 on The 600+ Funniest Movies Of All Time
- Also ranks #2 on The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
Spaceballs
The Plot: Lone Starr, a pilot-for-hire, and Barf, a half-dog, half-human alien, set out to save a princess from the clutches of President Skroob and Dark Helmet. To complicate matters even more, the noble heroes must also evade the galactic lone shark Pizza the Hutt.
The Parody: By the late ‘80s, the Star Wars franchise had long taken over the world, making it perfect fodder for Mel Brooks’ brand of ribbing. Spaceballs is the ultimate spoof of George Lucas’s galaxy far, far away, poking fun at everything from the space opera storytelling to the franchise’s rampant commercialism. Most characters are fairly direct takeoffs on Star Wars characters, and every aspect of the original film trilogy is ripe for targeting.
Memorable Bit: The heroes cross paths with a Yoda-like character named Yogurt, who tells them about the power of the Schwartz. When Lone Starr asks him about his place and what he does there, Yogurt breaks the fourth wall and preaches the gospel of merchandising while advertising Spaceballs-themed dolls, t-shirts, and flamethrowers.
- Actors: Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga
- Released: 1987
- Directed by: Mel Brooks
- Dig Deeper John Candy’s ‘Spaceballs’ Costume Was Shockingly Elaborate: Behind The Scenes Of A Comedy Classic
- Also ranks #2 on The 36 Funniest Alien Movies, From “Mars Attacks!” to “Thor: Ragnarok”
- Also ranks #7 on Super-Specific Topical Jokes In Movies That You Might Completely Miss Now
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
The Plot: Robin of Locksley (played with camp charm by Cary Elwes) returns to England after fighting in the Holy Crusades to discover that his family home has been taken, and the villainous Prince John and the Sheriff of Rottingham now control the lands. So, with the help of his trustworthy merry men, the hero grabs his bow and gets to work sticking it to the man.
The Parody: Robin Hood is one of the most iconic characters in literature, film, and television, so it was only a matter of time until he was rinsed for comedic effect. It’s a send-up to the swashbuckling action Robin Hood flicks are renowned for, albeit with more spontaneous rapping in Sherwood Forest. Some gratuitous arrow-point-of-view sequences also poke fun at the tradition of establishing the hero’s famed skill with a bow by showing him making ridiculously difficult (or outright impossible) shots.
Memorable Bit: Robin Hood: Men In Tights followed the 1991 release Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, which starred Kevin Costner in the title role. The spoof pokes fun at its more serious predecessor when the protagonist says, “Unlike other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent.” Now, that’s how to throw shade at Hollywood’s questionable casting habits.
- Actors: Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, Roger Rees, Amy Yasbeck, Dave Chappelle
- Released: 1993
- Directed by: Mel Brooks
- Dig Deeper What The ‘Robin Hood: Men In Tights’ Cast Members Are Doing Now
- Also ranks #1 on Underrated Movies Starring ’80s Heartthrobs Made After They Stopped Being Heartthrobs
- Also ranks #1 on 15 Surprisingly Good Movie Adaptations About Public Domain Characters
