'Scary Movie' And The 6 Best Parody Movies Of All Time
There's parody, and then there's Scary Movie parody, which basically tears the horror genre apart, stitches it back together, and then throws in jokes that range from weirdly clever to completely brainless. Released in 2000, the first movie set the tone for a kind of extreme parody where subtlety doesn't exist. If a joke could go further, it usually did.
Since Scary Movie 6 is set to hit cinemas on June 5, 2026, now is the perfect time to revisit some of the most epic parody movies of all time. This list features the best ones that actually understand the genres they're mocking, which makes all the difference. You can find them all on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+.
Scary Movie basically set the stage for early-2000s spoof comedy. The story follows Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) and her friends, who accidentally become involved in a masked killer situation after a hit-and-run accident they'd very much prefer to forget. The plot drifts in and out of recognizable horror setups, mainly pulling from films like Scream (1996) and I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997).
This movie is not for the faint-hearted. Some of it is genuinely clever in how it mirrors horror tropes, especially the "why are you going upstairs" logic that horror characters always seem to ignore. And at other times, it seems to exist purely to see how far a gag can be pushed. It's a must for anyone who enjoyed later spoof comedies like Not Another Teen Movie (2001).
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! follows Lt. Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen), a completely out-of-his-depth detective who somehow finds himself investigating a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II. The closer he gets to the truth, the less it feels like he actually understands what's going on. The movie's brilliance lies in Nielsen's portrayal of Frank.
He plays the character with a ridiculous seriousness while the craziness happens around him. And that contrast never really gets old, which is kind of the whole trick. It parodies police procedurals and crime thrillers, especially the overly serious tone of classic cop shows. It's ideal for viewers who like their comedy dry but relentless, and is perfect for anyone who loved 1980's Airplane!
Spaceballs follows Lone Starr (Bill Pullman), a laid-back space mercenary who gets dragged into a rescue mission involving Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga). Alongside Barf (John Candy), his half-man, half-dog companion, Lone Starr must face off against the evil Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis), while President Skroob (Mel Brooks) tries to steal air from another planet.
The entire plot screams Star Wars parody and is a lot messier than people remember. Watching it now, the jokes are a little long-drawn out, and some of them feel a little stale. But then it'll hit you with something genuinely funny out of nowhere, usually with Moranis at the center. The movie is a must for viewers who love a good space opera like 1999's Galaxy Quest.
Robin Hood: Men in Tights follows the titular hero (Cary Elwes), who returns home to find England under the control of Prince John (Richard Lewis), prompting him to gather a group of allies to help him reclaim justice and win over Maid Marian (Amy Yasbeck). The story constantly derails into outright nonsense as it throws every kind of joke and gag at you.
It parodies classic Robin Hood stories, especially 1991's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, while also poking at the broader idea of heroic storytelling. The humor comes from constantly interrupting those heroic beats. Overall, the movie feels very much like a product of its time, but that's part of the appeal. It's perfect for anyone who loves comedies like Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975).
Zoolander is a different kind of parody because it isn't based on any specific movie genre. Instead, it makes a mockery of the fashion industry in the early 2000s and celebrity culture in general. The story follows Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller), a clueless male model whose career starts to collapse when Hansel (Owen Wilson) becomes the new face of fashion.
In the middle of his existential spiral, he's recruited by Jacobim Mugatu (Will Ferrell), who brainwashes him into becoming an assassin. Most of the jokes come from how self-serious and insulated the fashion world can be, which is still relevant today. Zoolander is perfect for viewers who enjoy slightly offbeat comedies like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004).
Johnny English follows the titular MI7 agent (Rowan Atkinson), who only becomes relevant because every other agent is accidentally killed. As the last remaining agent, English is tasked with stopping a plot to steal the crown jewels, and he moves through the world of espionage with complete confidence and almost no competence. This is a slower, more character-based parody, but Atkinson pulls it off.
Johnny English essentially parodies James Bond-style spy films by flipping the idea of the hyper-capable agent into someone who clearly shouldn't be there. The humor comes from that mismatch more than rapid-fire jokes. The movie is a must for anyone who enjoys light comedy with a lot of silliness baked into its soul, like Get Smart (2008).
Fackham Hall is set in 1930s England and follows Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe), a thief who accidentally ends up working at a crumbling aristocratic estate owned by the Davenport family. As the wedding of Poppy Davenport (Emma Laird) and her cousin Archibald (Tom Felton) approaches, affairs, bad decisions, and a sudden murder turns the whole household into a suspect list.
When Eric is wrongly accused and jailed for the crime, the story gets even messier. Fackham Hall parodies British period dramas and murder mysteries, especially the kind where inheritance, status, and scandal drive everything. The silliness comes from taking those already dramatic setups and pushing them into insane territory. If you enjoyed Knives Out (2019), this one is a must.
