A spoof comedy by definition is a film that parodies other films or genres, they are works that are created by imitation of the style of many different films reassembled together.
Below are some of the most memorable and brilliant ones that also gave comedy a visual and hilarious style.
1. Airplane! (1980)
Hailed as one of the greatest comedies ever made, this entertaining filled movie features an outrageous plot and memorable catchphrases, it is certainly one of the more smarter and outlandish films, full of laughs & great comic performances, in my opinion the benchmark standard for comedy spoofs.
2. The Naked Gun (1988)
This was originally a TV series that later became a feature film trilogy , Leslie Nielsen gives a landmark performance as Lieutenant Frank Drebin, One of the first comedies I watched growing up and I laughed as hard back then as I do today, a classic.
3. The Naked Gun II (1991)
Frank Drebin does it again with the help of the iconic spoof team of David Zucker & Jim Abrahams, a worthy sequel that features great laughs yet again, sadly the third did not make it, but still a worthy mention.
4. Top Secret! (1984)
One of Val Kilmer’s first films, he plays an American rock and roll singer who becomes involved in a Resistance plot to rescue a scientist imprisoned in East Germany, the same team consisting of Zucker and Abrahams provide us a with a parody of WWII movies with memorable scenes and laugh out loud scenarios, highly recommended if you haven’t seen it, comic brilliance.
5. Blazing Saddles (1977)
An outstanding Western parody, Blazing Saddles is a film that takes us back to a more innocent era, An era where PC was just a couple of letters stuck together. The film provides an endless stream of laughter, and if you watched you would understand the hilarity and parody of it, and you could forget about a remake, not in this day and age.
6. Spaceballs (1987)
After the first Star Wars Trilogy Episode IV-VI, and before the Family guy remakes, Spaceballs was the first film of its kind to rip into Star Wars, featuring a great cast of John Candy, Rick Moranis, Mel Brooks and others, it manages to be quite an entertaining parody of the sci-fi films. As with Mel Brooks the jokes come quick and in the case of all spoof films always keep an eye on the background, highly recommended if you fancy a sci-fi parody.
7. Scary Movie (2000)
The modern slasher horror movies were coming thick and fast, imitation after imitation some audiences still kept going, that was until in 2000 when The Wayans family stepped up and released an outrageous and brilliant parody of horror films and similar blockbusters around that time, a brilliant satire that spawned a mixed spoof horror series, with number six over the horizon, what was once a fun satire comic series has become an abysmal array of pointless gags and failed jokes.
An honourable mention to Scary Movie 3, what I believe to be the best in the series, but the first one really paved the way of this horror spoof franchise.
8. Hot Shots (1991)
Jim Abrahams was on hand once again to bring a Top Gun filled spoof, Charlie Sheen does very well as the “serious” actor in this hilarity filled film, as with any spoof film, the jokes are smart and hysterical, the sequel itself doesn’t come close to the first but a great effort, for those who haven’t seen Hot Shots, I recommend watching Top Gun first with Hot Shots straight after, Overall comically decent.
9. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
At the time of Scary Movie, and zombie flicks came an absolute brilliant parody of the horror genre, it really feels like a romantic comedy set amongst the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse, brilliant chemistry from the cast makes this an entertaining film with great comedy and drama aswell, the balance of those too is shown greatly. Edgar Wright’s best film, one of the best horror zombie spoofs made.
10. Young Frankenstein (1974)
Before the time of Abrahams and Zucker, there was Mel Brooks who I believe started the modern movement of the Spoof comedy, his tribute of the Frankenstein films of the 40’s is done with such detail and comic accuracy this has become one of the first spoof classics and back then had audiences in pieces, a highly recommended comedy, the first comedy spoof of its kind, outstanding.
Feel free to add your own feedback or suggestions, if you enjoyed the article please share it. Also you can follow me on Twitter: @georgestavrinou
Thank You
thdirectorschair 