Parody filmsare some of the most difficultcomedy moviesto get right, and only a handful have managed to be as smart as they are funny. The parody movie is as old as film itself, and the best examples of the genre skewer certain trends in film history that are instantly recognizable to the audience. Whether it’s a specific movie, or an entire category, the parody lovingly pokes fun by exaggerating tropes and lampooning characters. Parody films have risen and fallen in popularity throughout history, and certain filmmakers have put their definitive stamp on the comedy genre.
Though parody films often require a clever understanding of the subject being made fun of, the spoof movie trend of the 2000s was a prime example of a time when the parody film wasn’t working. By contrast, classic parody movies have stood the test of time, and sometimes evenovershadow the thing they are lampooning. Some parodies have completely supplanted whatever fad they picked apart, and they have transcended the parody genre to become classics of comedy in general. However, parody films are often best enjoyed when the subject being spoofed is well-known.
Instead of parodying a specific example of the sci-fi genre,1999’sGalaxy Questis actually a spoof of fan culture in general. Picking apart old sci-fi TV shows likeStar TrekorBattlestar Galactica, the movie follows the aging cast of a ’70s TV series who are sent on a real space adventure. What makes the movie so brilliant is thatGalaxy Questis not only a spoof but also a biting satire as well.
Stars like Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver are perfectly cast, and there’s love in the jokes at the expense of cheesy sci-fi. WhileGalaxy Questmight not be as singularly focused as other classic parody films, it is one of the smartest becauseit also manages to deliver a compelling story in between all the humorous jabs at its subject.
The great films of the Blaxploitation genrehave an important place in cinema history, but Keenan Ivory Wayans took aim at their sillier elements inI’m Gonna Git You Sucka. The director stars as Jack Spade, an ex-soldier who vows to clean up the streets of his neighborhood after his brother dies. Despite featuring a stock-standard plot that could have come from any number of ’70s Blaxploitation films,I’m Gonna Git You Suckafinds humor in the details.
Pushing the jokes to their absolute limit, the characters are exaggerated, and the action is cartoonish. Most importantly, the film is intricately tied to elements of Black culture, andthe movie spoofs the parts of Blaxploitation that haven’t aged particularly well.
Parodies often borrow elements from the movies they’re ripping apart, butDead Men Don’t Wear Plaidactually uses footage from the noir films on the chopping block. One ofSteve Martin’s most underrated movies, the noir parody casts him as a gumshoe investigating the death of a cheese magnate. In the course of his investigation, he comes face to face with classic noir heroes and villains through the use of stock footage.
The noir genre has so many recognizable tropes that the spoof can barely fit them all in
The movie’s goofy concept is strange enough as it is, but the performance of Martin is just icing on the cake. The noir genre has so many recognizable tropes that the spoof can barely fit them all in, and it’s a love-letter to noir from filmmakers who clearly care about the legendary films of Hollywood’s past.
Mel Brooks is one of the handful of directors who put his stamp on the parody film genre, and highlights likeYoung Frankensteinhave yet to be topped. Compiling all the best elements of the UniversalFrankensteinfilms from the ’30s and ’40s,Young Frankensteinnot only picks those movies apart, but has its own unique sense of humor too.Good spoof movies must stand on their own outside the subject they’re parodying, and Brooks' 1974 classic does just that.
Gene Wilder’s performance is one of the greatest turns in comedy history, andBrooks' intelligent approach to low brow is what makes each scene crackle with energy.Young Frankensteinimagines a hilarious what-if scenario, and that comes from an appreciation for theFrankensteinfranchise. Even if the audience had never seen a singleFrankensteinmovie, Brooks' parody would still elicit plenty of laughs.
Airplane!is such a famous comedy film thatit has outlived the cinematic trend that it was lampooning in the first place. Making fun of the air disaster craze that started withAirportin 1970,Airplane!largely borrows the plot of the aforementioned film to stage the zany antics of directors Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker. Unlike previous parodies which exaggerated the details of their subjects,Airplane!presents a straightforward plot with ridiculous jokes peppered throughout.
Airplane II: The Sequelarrived in 1982, but was not as well-received.
Sight gags are played with absolute seriousness, andLeslie Nielsen showed he had a talent for saying the silliest lines possible with a straight face. While it may be best remembered as a crown jewel in the screwball comedy genre,Airplane!is also an excellent parody film that found humor in what was a pretty dry trend in ’70s cinema.
At the height of his popularity in the late ’90s, Mike Myers createdAustin Powers: International Man of Mystery, and it quickly blossomed into a franchise. Parodying ’60s spy films,Austin Powersis filled with over-the-top characters and Myers' signature blend of sophomoric toilet humor. While not necessarily aimed directly at James Bond,Austin Poweris more of an amalgamation of the copious Bond ripoffs that followed his debut inDr. No.
1997
73%
1999
53%
2002
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Creating catchphrases that entered the popular lexicon in the early 2000s,Austin Powersitself was the subject of parody. However, the movie’s real power is its charming lead, and Austin Powers' zany adventures have become the ultimate comfort watch, even outside the movie’s being spoofed. Even with juvenile humor, the spy parody cleverly juxtaposes the sensibility of ’60s films with what was current in the late ’90s.
AfterAirplane!,the Zucker brothers delivered one of the greatest spoof films of all time, thoughTop Secret!is often looked over. Smashing together parodies of Elvis Presley movies with WWII espionage films, the screwball comedy literally has everything. Unlike other parodies which are quite pointed in their spoofing,Top Secret!is so unfocused that it isn’t always clear what’s being lampooned.
Val Kilmer is amazing as the musical action hero, Nick Rivers, and he understood the assignment of being a cunning and charming star that plays everything straight.The sight gags inTop Secret!are sometimes esoteric to the point of absurdity, and the film isn’t nearly as accessible asAirplane!orThe Naked Gun. However,Top Secret!isthe cleverest of the Zucker movies, and it has brilliant moments that can be gleaned in additional viewings.
Perhaps one of the greatest comedy films of all time,Blazing Saddlesis a parody of the western genre, but it’s also so much more. Using the tropes and clichés of the western as the backdrop for the story,Blazing Saddlestakes aim at concepts like racism, and ends by poking fun at Hollywood itself. While it remains somewhat controversial for the boundaries it broke,Blazing Saddleshas aged like fine wine.
Released the same year asYoung Frankenstein, Mel Brooks was at the top of his game when crafting the western spoof. Nearly every recognizable element from the genre is present, but it also features original humor that comes out of left field. It’s also a heartfelt film, with some genuinely touching moments between co-stars Gene Wilder and Cleavon Little.
After stealing the show inAirplane!Leslie Nielsen once again teamed with the Zucker brothers for 1988’sThe Naked Gun. Continuing from the short-lived TV series,Police Squad!, Nielsen plays Frank Drebin, a hapless detective. Spoofing police procedurals likeDragnetandColumbo,The Naked Gunis the purest essence of the screwball approach to comedy.
The absurd characters find themselves in ridiculous scenarios, and there are often jokes upon jokes. Nielsen is the thing that holds the entire film together, and no other actor could give such a convincingly goofy performance without ever winking at the audience.The brilliance ofThe Naked Gunis that it knows the humor is asinine, and that’s what makes it so funny.
ThoughSpaceballsis a parody of science fiction in general, it takes several pointed jabs specifically at theStar Warsfranchise. While the humor in the film might be a bit more surface-level than in Mel Brooks' earlier movies, the filmmaker’s choices are a reflection of the properties being parodied. Unlike earlier spoofs that picked apart clichés,Spaceballsis an indictment of what franchises likeStar Warsstand for.
While making fun of the cheesy aliens and space opera story structure,Spaceballsalso dissects the rampant consumerism behindStar Warsand other successful sci-fi franchises. Mel Brooks’parody moviesoften joke about genres or even specific movies, butSpaceballstears down Hollywood itself and hides quite a few searing critiques behind over-the-top humor.
