Funny parody movies you shouldn’t miss – Part 1

Parody movies take films we’re familiar with and make fun of them through gags, jabs and imitations. They take you in a different world of imagination where heroes aren’t as heroic and goof-ups are so common. The best spoofs remain funny even decades after their release. The best part? You don’t really need to watch the original movies these funny parody movies were inspired by, to fully enjoy them.

Here are some of the best parody movies of all time which will make you shed tears of laughter.

Hot Shots! (Parody of Top Gun)

This Charlie Sheen starrer is a fan favorite. It is based on Topper Harley, an ex-pilot in the navy who vowed to never fly again. Topper discovers that his father left his co-pilot during a mission, resulting in his death and decides never to fly again. Topper spends his life inhaling helium and lives on his own with an Indian and a wolf.

However, Lt. Commander Block (played by Kevin Dunn) offers Topper a second chance. Block invites him to take part in a secret mission called Sleepy Weasel and he decides to fly again. However, he has to deal with a difficult love interest and confront his old fears. This film is considered one of the greatest parodies of all time.

Hot Shots! Part Deux (Parody of the Rambo series)

This sequel to the 1991 ‘Hot Shots!’ certainly doesn’t disappoint. And how could it, when it features some legendary actors like Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean fame) and Two and a Half Men duo Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer. It also featured the exceptionally humorous Ryan Stiles.

In this movie, Topper Harley, a retired pilot, gets roped into another mission by the CIA. He is sent to rescue a rescue team that had gone into Iraq to rescue another rescue team that was supposed to bring back some prisoners of war. It might all sound very confusing, but the movie was a hit and also won the Golden Screen Award in Germany.

Tropic Thunder (Spoof on war movies)

Tropic Thunder is a satirical movie with some great acting, humor, action and music. It is a movie set inside a movie. The central plot revolves around a group of actors shooting a war movie named Tropic Thunder, which is based on a Vietnam veteran’s memoir. However, due to a series of freak occurrences, the actors are forced to actually become the soldiers they were portraying.

The film has a dream cast consisting of Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Tom Cruise, Danny McBride, Robert Downey Jr, Matthew McConaughey, Nick Nolte, and Jay Baruchel. For a spoof movie, it has quite a high rating on IMDb. In the end, the lead actor actually wins a fictional Academy Award for his explosive performance.

The movie is also a satire on how the powerful forces behind the scenes only care about money and not the cast or crew of the movie. The movie also ends with Tom Cruise, who plays Les Grossman – a profane and ill-tempered studio executive, dancing away and celebrating the success of the movie.

Robin Hood: Men in Tights (Parody of the Robinhood movies)

This film is a spoof of the Robin Hood movies, particularly Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. It loosely follows the legend of Robin Hood, a Saxon criminal who stole money from the rich and distributed it among poor people in need.

Cary Elwes played Robin Hood and portrayed the medieval hero with his cheeky grin and witty comments. Although not a highly grossing film, it has since become a cult favorite.

Loaded Weapon 1 (Spoof on Lethal Weapon and action movies)

The movie follows two LA cops as they investigate the case of cocaine in girl scout’s cookies. The film, unfortunately, received a negative reception from critics, but it an underrated hidden gem. The cast is full of A-list celebrities, including Samuel L. Jackson before he became a really big hit.

There are some classic gags and a lot of verbal and visual jokes, which makes for a very enjoyable 80 minutes. Not many fans would know that Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen (Hot Shots and Two and a Half Men fame) are brothers.

Dracula: Dead and Loving It (Spoof on Dracula movies)

This movie is a spoof of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula and of some other films it has spawned. It will leave you in stitches over all the comedic gags which are executed perfectly by the cast. However, one key element to enjoying this movie is having knowledge about the original story of Dracula. Although you will be better off if you have watched both the Bela Lugosi and Gary Oldman Dracula movies, even one would suffice.

The scenery, soundtrack and costumes in this movie are gorgeous; every scene has been directed to be perfect. It is a true joy to watch and is sure to make you smile.

Not Another Teen Movie (Spoof on teen movies)

This light-hearted, silly movie has quite a few surprises — including having Captain America actor Chris Evans playing the typical high school jock. The movie is based on clichés in teen movies, such as when a nerdy girl turns to drop-dead gorgeous by undergoing a ‘makeover’. Or when a geeky girl becomes popular by simply removing her glasses and ponytail.

The movie has some corny scenes, however, it lives up to its ironic title. It is amazing to see all the absurdity from teen movies compiled into one big fun fest.

You can judge the quality and laughter quotient of these movies from their IMDB ratings. I am pretty sure that you’d love almost all of these movies. Please keep watching this space for the second part of this article where we’ll bring more parody movies for you.

Meanwhile, if you have watched any of these movies then we’d love to hear from you as to which one did you like the most. You can also leave a comment and let us know if you liked any other parody movie.

Note: All movie posters have been sourced from IMDb.

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