Top Ten Spoof Movies

In continuing my movie lists, I have decided to do a list for my favorite spoof movies. Most people don't care for spoof movies, but I've always liked them. You can't take any of it seriously, and you can't expect any great production value. To me, there hasn't been a good spoof movie in a long time. The Scary Movie series is decent, but it just doesn't compare to some of the classics. In the end, the movie that makes me laugh the most and the hardest deserves this award. This is only my opinion.

#10 Hot Shots! movies (1991 and 1993) - For me, the two Hot Shots movies are equally funny. It's classic Jim Abrahams material. I've always felt that Charlie Sheen was out of place in the comedy world, but with spoofs, he seems to just fit right in.
Favorite scene: I love all the scenes when the little chihuahua dog keeps getting sat on.

#9 Kung Pow: Enter the Fist (2002) - I remember screening this movie with fellow AMC employees Jason and Tyree back when I worked at AMC Center Plaza 6 in Federal Way. We were all really tired from working that night and were probably already in a goofy mood. Kung Pow seemed like the funniest thing in the world at the time. While I don't think it is the funniest movie ever made, I do still think it is hilarious. We've all jokingly dubbed over cheesy kung-fu films ourselves, but only Steve Oedekerk was brave enough to pitch the idea to a studio.
Favorite scene: I love the scene near the beginning when he fights the big group of people and the camera zooms in and out of everyone for a long time.

#8 Wrongfully Accused (1998) - Bless Leslie Nielsen. That man has probably made me laugh more than any other actor in my entire life. His facial expressions are genius and his comedic timing is spot on. Wrongfully Accused stands out for me because it came out right when I started getting into all of the other more classic spoof films. That, and making fun of just about every thing from North by Northwest to Baywatch.
Favorite scene: At the beginning when he's playing the violin and he sees a woman on the balcony playing with a cigar. Not that, but his reaction to that.

#7 Austin Powers series (1997-2002) - Mike Myers really hit it on the button with Austin Powers. Spoofing just about every famous scene from the James Bond movies, Austin Powers showed us how silly action spy movies can be. What makes Austin Powers fresh is that it makes fun of current pop culture while also taking jabs at the '60s and '70s. This makes it enjoyable for a wide audience. Unlike most people, I happened to enjoy all three of the AP movies and I'm still hoping for a fourth.
Favorite scene: "Aye, they're always after me lucky charms."

#6 Spaceballs (1987) - Spaceballs is one of the first Star Wars parodies to do it right, in my opinion. It was different enough to be original with a lot of jokes not just making fun of Star Wars, but the entire sci-fi space genre in general. Mel Brooks is responsible for many great spoof movies: Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, Robin Hood - Men in Tights. And I know some people will be upset not to see those movies on this list. It's not that I don't like them, but I just ran out of room on this list and I just happen to like these other movies more.
Favorite scene: When Dark Helmet, Colonel Sandurz, and the video operator are watching Spaceballs.

#5 Clue (1985) - Although it is based off of a board game, Clue the movie is much more than that. It spoofs murder mystery films, as well as all those scary Vincent Price movies like House on Haunted Hill and House of Wax. There really is a simple genius behind the film. It doesn't take itself seriously and it lines up the laughs just as well as any other comedy. And the fact that the writers wrote three alternate endings that played in different movie theatres across the country makes the film that much more unique.
Favorite scene: The singing telegram.

#4 The Princess Bride (1987) - A movie that could easily be overlooked when it comes to spoofs. The Princess Bride tells your typical "save the princess" story, but uses a lot of comedy and action to support it. It is based off of the 1973 novel of the same name and the use of telling the story like a grandfather reading to his ill grandchild gives credit to William Goldman. No doubt that The Princess Bride has turned into a cult classic since its release and is recognized by the American Film Institute as the 88th 100 greatest film love stories of all-time.
Favorite scene: I love all three duels between the Dread Pirate Roberts and Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizzini.

#3 Naked Gun series (1988-1994) - Naked Gun parodies police movies and TV shows and is based upon the Police Squad! TV series. It makes use of every type of comedy there is. Travesty, parody, slap-stick... it's all there. Once again, Leslie Nielsen is absolutely great as Lieutenant Frank Drebin. And while I think the sequels got a tad bit sillier than the original, I still like them all. To me, the Zucker brothers plus Jim Abrahams is the perfect combination.
Favorite scene: I love all of the opening sequences where you get the P.O.V. from the roof of the police car.

#2 Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) - I've seen Life of Brian, I've seen The Meaning of Life, and I don't really like them as much as these movies. What sets Holy Grail apart from all the other Monty Python films is the quality of comedy and story-telling. The camerawork is brilliant, the directing is flawless, and the editing is superb. It truly is a classic.
Favorite scene: The guards being confused by the King about guarding the Prince.

Here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for...





#1 - High School High - Sike!


#1 Airplane! (1980) - Airplane is one of the funniest spoof movies ever made. The jokes were completely fresh for its time. The absolute absurdness of it all makes this film so funny. Abraham and the Zuckers really know how to make a spoof movie right, which is why I like the third and fourth Scary Movies more than the first two. All of the writers of the latest "spoof" films like Meet the Spartans, Epic Movie, Superhero Movie, Date Movie, and the upcoming Disaster Movie (yes, I'm mostly talking to you Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer) need to take a good hard look at Airplane again and learn a thing or two.
Favorite scene: Leslie Nielsen repeatedly coming into the cockpit and saying "I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you."

Runner's up: This Is Spinal Tap, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, Robin Hood - Men in Tights, Jane Austen's Mafia!, Scary Movie 3, Scary Movie 4, Kung Fu Hustle.