10 Most Recognized Parody Comedy Films, Ranked (According To IMDb)

There are a number of parody comedy films you remember from your childhood. Some of them your parents forbid you to watch. Parody films hold their own in the comedy genre for its outlandish storylines and comical innuendos to other films.

Some parody films are ranked so low on the IMDb scale that it makes you wonder why it was even made in the first place. But despite its rating, audiences can’t help but have a soft spot for the ridiculous dialogue and characters. Let’s take a look at 10 well-known parody films ranked according to their IMDb score.

10 Disaster Movie (2008): 1.9

It’s a miracle this film didn’t get a lower rating. Disaster Movie combined every possible film plot into one parody that had you cringing in your seat. Audiences and critics recalled the film as being possibly one of the worst films ever made. It had forced comedy and sloppy directing.

It took the storylines of 10,000 BC (2008), American Gladiators (2008), The Dark Knight (2008), and countless more and turned them into a mishap of a film. Regardless of its poor ratings, audiences can’t help but remember the film. How can you forget Matt Lanter dressed up as Troy Bolton?

9 Meet The Spartans (2008): 2.8

The 2007 film 300 became the main premise for the parody film Meet The Spartans. A parody isn’t a parody film if you don’t make fun of other movies. The film included almost every character possible from Shrek, Paris Hilton,  Ugly Betty, and a parody of Spider-Man 3.

The film follows the story of Leonidas (Sean Maguire) from childhood up to his training as a Spartan and future king. You would recall the film for its play on the iconic 300 scenes of the seemingly endless pit when Leonidas screams, “This is Sparta!”

8 Dance Flick (2009): 3.5

If you loved watching the Step Up franchise films, Dance Flick took the popular storyline and twisted it into a musical parody. The film has an endless list of films it uses for its comedy from Footloose to Stomp the Yard. The film even made fun of Twilight and White Chicks.

The film starred the Wayans brothers in the main roles. A suburban white girl, Megan White (Shoshana Bush) pursues dancing when she moves to the inner-city. She soon falls in love with a nerdy street boy named Thomas Uncles (Damon Wayans Jr.) who has a passion for street dancing. It sounds normal, but things are never normal in a parody film.

7 Superhero Movie (2008): 4.5

It’s almost impossible to not have a parody film about Marvel’s and DC Comics’ favorite superheroes. Craig Mazin made it happen in the film Superhero Movie. The spoof film used Spider-Man as it’s the main backstory intertwined with superhero characters such as the X-Men and the Fantastic Four.

Drake Bell played the main role of Rick Riker who gets bit by a radioactive dragonfly. He takes on the superhero name, Dragonfly and tries to stop Lou Landers (Christopher McDonald), known as Hourglass, from killing people to regain his health.

6 Spy Hard (1996): 5.4

Spy Hard is inarguably one of the most well-recognized parody films that have held its own since its debut in 1996. Many could confuse Spy Hard with the action comedy film Naked Gun. Both starred actor Leslie Nielsen in the main role.

The parody film combines the spy charisma of James Bond and the action-packed adventure of Die Hard. Secret Agent WD-40 Dick Steele (Nielson) comes out of retirement after the Bishop is killed. He must again try to stop General Rancor (Andy Griffith) from controlling the world.

5 Not Another Teen Movie (2001): 5.7

Not Another Teen Movie has gotten more praise as Chris Evans has become an even more formidable actor outside of Marvel. The film created a comical combination of popular teen romance films like She’s All That, Mean Girls, Sixteen Candles, and countless more. If you can name more, it’s probably in the film.

Audiences can’t erase the vivid image of Chris Evan’s backside involving a strategically placed banana. In an interview with Esquire, Chris had some thoughts on the film, “You do what you gotta do to earn your stripes. At the time, I was so thrilled to be a part of the movie it didn’t even cross my mind that it was some sort of like an artistic compromise or something. I thought it was hilarious at the time.”

4 Scary Movie (2000): 6.2

Scream became one of the most popular scary films of its generations that still gets put on a high pedestal. The film even has amassed an enormous cult following. Every great film has its parody version. As Scream gained immense success, so did its parody version, Scary Movie.

The parody slasher film used the same backstory of Scream but tied in another popular horror film, I Know What You Did Last Summer. The film made a name for Anna Faris as she played Cindy Campbell. Cindy and her group of friends are being targeted by a serial killer who goes by the name Ghostface. Tie in cliche jokes about murder, a double-cross, sexual and drug innuendos and riffs about popular film and television and you have a parody film.

3 Robin Hood: Men In Tights (1993): 6.7

Beside playing Westley in A Princess Bride, Cary Elwes played Robin of Loxley in the parody film Robin Hood: Men in Tights. The film is a musical adventure comedy that parodied the classic tale of Robin Hood.

Robin of Loxley comes back home after being captured during the Crusades to find his home seized by Prince John (Richard Lewis). He recruits the most unlikely men to help him regain his families land. If your a fan of the film you would recall the “chastity belt” worn by Maid Marian (Amy Yasbeck) and the song of the Merry Men.

2 Spaceballs (1987): 7.1

The satirical parody film Spaceballs is beloved by all for its quirky and comical approach to Star Wars, Star Trek, Alien, and many more films. This film is a must-watch if you’re looking for a good laugh. The film has become a cult classic as President Skroob (Mel Brooks) of Planet Spaceball as taken up all the fresh air.

He plans to steal the air from King Roland and his planet Druidia and sends Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) to kidnap his daughter. Roland contacts Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) to retrieve the princess before it’s too late.

1 The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad! (1988): 7.6

The Naked Gun takes the number one spot as the highest-ranked parody and one of the most well-recognized. While the film is credited as a crime comedy, it parodies the television series Police Squad! The show was a spoof on police procedure but was canceled after six epsidoes.

No worries, it spawned The Naked Gun franchise. Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) is briefed on a new case. He must prove Officer Norberg’s (O. J. Simpson) innocence in a drug case while trying to capture Vincent Ludwig (Ricardo Montalbán), a dock owner and drug smuggler.

About The Author

Gabriela Silva
(477 Articles Published)

Gabriela Silva is a List writer for Screen Rant with experience in all things television, film and pop culture. A graduate of Fordham University with previous years experience interning for Cliché Magazine.

With her passion for movies, television and entertainment, she’s interviewed some great actors from Cress Williams of ‘Black Lightning’ to Tati Gabrielle from ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.’

Her love for entertainment reaches a broad range of interests from 90s thriller movies, guilty pleasure teen dramas, action-packed MCU movies to popular K-dramas. You’ll most likely find her binge-watching a new television show or movies on Netflix into the early morning.

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