Great spoofs
Before 2000, when "Scary Movie" raped and killed the spoof genre, there were actually a lot of brilliant and clever spoofs. Here is a list of ten great spoof flicks that I would definitely recommend to any person with just shred of a sense of humor.
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- DirectorMel BrooksStarsMel BrooksJohn CandyRick MoranisA star-pilot for hire and his trusty sidekick must come to the rescue of a princess and save Planet Druidia from the clutches of the evil Spaceballs.A masterful parody on the sci-fi genre, this one takes its starting point in the Star Wars franchise, but is full of references to a load of other sci-fi classics.
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsGene WilderMadeline KahnMarty FeldmanAn American grandson of the infamous scientist, struggling to prove that his grandfather was not as insane as people believe, is invited to Transylvania, where he discovers the process that reanimates a dead body.Any fan of the old Universal horror films is bound to love this spoof which carefully observes the conventions of the genre and masterfully parodies it.
- DirectorDavid ZuckerStarsLeslie NielsenPriscilla PresleyO.J. SimpsonIncompetent police Detective Frank Drebin must foil an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.A classic spoof on the detective genre with one great gag after another.
- DirectorDavid ZuckerStarsLeslie NielsenPriscilla PresleyGeorge KennedyLieutenant Frank Drebin discovers that his ex-girlfriend's new beau is involved in a plot to kidnap a scientist who advocates solar energy.Continues the madness from the prequel (and, of course, the TV-series that came before).
- DirectorJim AbrahamsStarsCharlie SheenLloyd BridgesValeria Golino"Rambo" parody in which Topper Harley leads a rescue team into Iraq to save Iraqi war prisoners and all of their previous rescue teams.Better than the prequel, and allegedly one of the most violent films in cinematic history, this parody spoofs the one-man-death-machine action movie genre.
- DirectorJim AbrahamsDavid ZuckerJerry ZuckerStarsRobert HaysJulie HagertyLeslie NielsenAfter the crew becomes sick with food poisoning, a neurotic ex-fighter pilot must safely land a commercial airplane full of passengers.Great gags from beginning to end, this is so much mroe worth watching than the airplane disaster movies that it spoofs.
- DirectorEdgar WrightStarsSimon PeggNick FrostKate AshfieldThe uneventful, aimless lives of a London electronics salesman and his layabout roommate are disrupted by the zombie apocalypse.Not only one of the best British spoof films, "Shaun of the Dead" is also one of the best zombie films of all time, as it faithfully observes the conventions of the genre while still parodying it.
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsRob ReinerMichael McKeanChristopher GuestSpinal Tap, one of England's loudest bands, is chronicled by film director Marty DiBergi on what proves to be a fateful tour.A spoof? Yes, I would say so. In any case, this is a great parody of the rockumentary genre - "Some Kind of Monster" doesn't hold a candle to this.
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsCary ElwesRichard LewisRoger ReesA spoof of Robin Hood in general, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) in particular.Funny and full of gags from beginning to end, "Robin Hood: Men in tights" respectfully spoofs the Robin Hood movies.
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsLeslie NielsenMel BrooksPeter MacNicolMel Brooks' parody of the classic vampire story and its famous film adaptations.While Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula flick sucks and basically destroyed the vampire movie genre, this "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" is the last real vampire movie.
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsCleavon LittleGene WilderSlim PickensIn order to ruin a western town, a corrupt politician appoints a black Sheriff, who promptly becomes his most formidable adversary.The story of a black sheriff, "Blazing Saddles" is politically incorrect in a very sophisticated way.
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsMel BrooksMarty FeldmanDom DeLuiseA film director and his strange friends struggle to produce the first major silent feature film in forty years.A modern flick that embraces the aesthetics of the silent movie and infuses it with 70s humor.
- DirectorPeter SegalStarsLeslie NielsenPriscilla PresleyGeorge KennedyFrank Drebin comes out of retirement to help Police Squad infiltrate a gang of terrorists planning to detonate a bomb at the Academy Awards.Not up to scratch compared to the two first one, this installment of the Naked Gun trilogy is still very funny.
- DirectorPeter HowittStarsRowan AtkinsonJohn MalkovichNatalie ImbrugliaAfter a sudden attack on MI5, Johnny English, Britain's most confident, yet unintelligent spy, becomes Britain's only spy.While perhaps not as well known as the Austin Powers trilogy, "Johnny English" is a better spoof on the secret agent genre - perhaps because of Rowan Atkinson's dry performance.
- DirectorDean ParisotStarsTim AllenSigourney WeaverAlan RickmanThe alumni cast of a space opera television series have to play their roles as the real thing when an alien race needs their help. However, they also have to defend both Earth and the alien race from a reptilian warlord.Not quite "Spaceballs", "Galaxy Quest" is still a true sci-fi film, embracing the conventions of the space opera genre and poking fun at them at the same time.
- DirectorSteve OedekerkStarsSteve OedekerkFei LungLeo LeeA rough-around-the-edges martial arts master seeks revenge for his parents' death.Maybe not a spoof in the traditional sense, "Kung Pow: Enter the Fist" still respectfully pokes fun at the kung fu genre flick.
- DirectorJohn LandisStarsEvan C. KimBong Soo HanBill BixbyThe daily programming of a fictional local TV channel presented as a series of highly irreverent skits.More like a sketch show, "Kentucky Fried Movie" is a tour de force of the elements that characterized the great spoofs of the 70s, 80s and 90s before "Scary Movie" destroyed it all.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsJack NicholsonPierce BrosnanSarah Jessica ParkerEarth is invaded by Martians with unbeatable weapons and a cruel sense of humor.Another atypical spoof, "Mars Attacks" is a modern and humoristic take on the alien invasion genre.
- DirectorCarl ReinerStarsArmand AssanteSherilyn FennKate NelliganA cop who moonlights as a lawyer cheats on his wife, not knowing that she's cheating on him and plans to kill him for the insurance.An average 90s spoof full of laugh-worthy gags.
- DirectorGene QuintanoStarsEmilio EstevezSamuel L. JacksonJon LovitzIn this Lethal Weapon (1987) spoof, two mismatched LA cops investigate a case involving cocaine-laced girl scout cookies.As if the Lethal Weapon series weren't silly enough, this spoof efficiently pokes fun at it.
- DirectorJay RoachStarsMike MyersHeather GrahamMichael YorkDr. Evil is back and has invented a new time machine that allows him to go back to the 1960s and steal Austin Powers' mojo, inadvertently leaving him "shagless".Far out, groovy take on the secret agent genre, the Austin Powers series deserves the credit it gets.
- DirectorJay RoachStarsMike MyersBeyoncéSeth GreenUpon learning that his father has been kidnapped, Austin Powers must travel to 1975 and defeat the aptly named villain Goldmember, who is working with Dr. Evil.Far out, groovy take on the secret agent genre, the Austin Powers series deserves the credit it gets. This one is perhaps a bit too bizarre and absurd.
- DirectorJay RoachStarsMike MyersElizabeth HurleyMichael YorkA world-class playboy and part-time secret agent from the 1960s emerges after thirty years in a cryogenic state to battle with his nemesis Dr. Evil.Far out, groovy take on the secret agent genre, the Austin Powers series deserves the credit it gets. This one is not quite as funny or far out as the sequels.
- DirectorDavid ZuckerStarsAnna FarisRegina HallCraig BierkoCindy finds out the house she lives in is haunted by a little boy and goes on a quest to find out who killed him and why. Also, Alien "Tr-iPods" are invading the world and she has to uncover the secret in order to stop them.While the first "Scary Movie" sucked, this one is not too bad.
- DirectorCraig MazinStarsDrake BellLeslie NielsenSara PaxtonOrphaned high school student Rick Riker is bitten by a radioactive dragonfly, develops super powers (except for the ability to fly), and becomes a hero.For a post-2000 spoof flick, this one has a lot of redeeming moments. Still, there is a long way from this one to the great classics of the 70s-90s.
- DirectorDavid ZuckerStarsAnna FarisCharlie SheenRegina HallCindy must investigate mysterious crop circles and video tapes, and help the President in preventing an alien invasion.While the first "Scary Movie" sucked, this one is not too bad - but it is far from a spoof masterpiece