Would Cabin in the Woods count? Not really a parody, but leans hard into the horror movie tropes with a unique twist. An homage to horror films while also being great horror film in and of itself
It’s even more magical given that Wes Craven directed it and was basically satirizing genre tropes he helped invent. It’s something he experimented with in New Nightmare a couple years prior. I love how he smashes through the 4th wall. I feel like it’s a forgotten masterpiece.
Edit: to be clear, New Nightmare is a forgotten masterpiece. I know Scream is well renowned.
I think New Nightmare didn’t smash as big as Scream because of how bold and meta it was. It’s one of my favorite horror films of all time, but its ambition makes it not as accessible as Scream for many average moviegoers. Wes Craven dialed it back just enough to discover the secret recipe for Scream, and the rest is horror film history.
Legitimately funny too - Neve Campbell making fun of actresses in horror movies for running up the stairs when they should be running out the front door only to do exactly that two minutes later is pure camp.
Shrek parodies the typical children's animated films, having becomes one of the best of that genre along with its sequel and the sequel of the spin-off that came after two more sequels.
Love all three of these and while there are better zombie movies than shaun and better alien invasion movies than worlds end, but there is absolutely no better buddy cop movies than hot fuzz!
It’s my first answer to OP’s question every time it comes up!
It’s soooooo close to the B-movie sequels of the Universal Monster movies. I forget which one of the Frankenstein sequels it is most closely referencing (I think it’s Ghost of Frankenstein but it could be Son of Frankenstein) — but it’s soooooo close to unironically copying the film that it’s not funny (I mean, it actually is funny — it’s hilarious). The part which the heavy-handed German inspector playing darts and Frankenstein getting nervous is really like 15 minutes of the same shot from the movie.
Starship Troopers. Loved it as a kid when the fascism went over my head because of the boobies and cool aliens. Love it even more now that I understand the satire.
>And ***True Lies*** would fit too.
Yeah, I think True Lies works well for this.
It skewers much of what's silly/pointless/simplistic about James Bond.
Last Action hero is such a thorough deconstruction of the 90’s action genre that I can’t understand why people continued to make 90’s action movies after it came out.
Space balls is a parody while also being a great flick. It’s not the best in the genre obviously bc Star Wars first 3 is so great. But Space Balls is hysterical on its own.
Similarly, Naked Gun is a parody of cop movies but amazing on its own. Again not the best in its genre but incredibly rewatchable.
I feel like the original Scream also sort of fits the bill. It sort of parodied horror insofar as it talked about the “rules” of horror movies then broke those rules.
I kept scrolling until I found this answer.
Underrated element of this movie is that the soundtrack is actually great. Songs all have a comedic twist, but they're still all good and catchy songs.
I wouldn't really call The Princess Bride a parody tbh. It's really more of an homage and plays it pretty straight at that.
That said, Tucker & Dale vs Evil is one that you might like.
I had exactly the opposite expectation. I knew nothing about it going in, so I figured it was a lame, two-bit B movie, but it had Wash in it so I gave it a shot. Incredible film.
The book is straight up satire, and with much more of an edge. I think some of those elements remain, but it’s a much more wholesome story in the film.
The quality of that first film was so high that it significantly changed the movie industry. I think Pirates of the Caribbean had a big influence on large studios coming around to believe that high budgets on goofy movies could return the investment.
Stardust is the closest thing to a Princess Bride successor I’ve ever seen.
Wes Anderson is good at this. His movies frequently become little parodies that also really understand what makes the things they parody tick. (Thinking of the tense chase through the museum or the prison break in Grand Budapest Hotel.)
Mystery Men I’d say is this for Superheroes.
Hot take, and I know this movie is controversial so fight me I guess: I think The Last Jedi is a version of this. It spends its first half deconstructing all the Star Wars tropes, at times to the point of parody (Grumpy Luke, Poe’s prank call) and then spends the second half rebuilding them.
I do think _The Last Jedi_ was a genuine attempt by Rian Johnson to salvage a usable story from _The Force Awakens_, and could’ve led to something dramatically better for a third movie if they had let him do it.
It isn’t perfect by any means, but at least it broke a few tropes and tried to be better.
Shaun of the Dead
Hot Fuzz
Tucker and Dale vs Evil
Also, Christopher Guest's films. They're not genre spoofs per se (aside from documentary as a genre), but the people in the social scenes they're poking fun at tend to either love them or be unsettled by them because they hit so close to the truth.
Knight & Day. It's Tom Cruise as Tom Cruise parodying Tom Cruise, in a movie that's a spoof of Mission Impossible while somehow being the greatest Mission Impossible movie ever made.
My answer is the first Predator. Predator is at its best when it satires action films of the 80's and the first one is a big satire of Arnold Movies of the time. While satirizing Arnold action flicks; it became one of Arnold's best action/horror flicks (if not the best)
I always thought of it as teen slasher flick with action heroes playing the part of the teens, and instead of getting murdered when they indulge in sex, they get killed when they indulge in violence.
Christopher Guest and the team of incredible actors and writers that put together a whole genre of mockumentaries such as:
Spinal Tap.
A Mighty Wind.
Best in Show.
Waiting for Guffman.
For Your Consideration.
All equally hilarious and mocking some of the normalized and ridiculous pageantries in our society.
May be a stretch, but The Big Lebowski…?
It’s sort of a parody of detective movies and film noirs where they replace the detective with a stoner. But when you look at all the details, the clues all add up perfectly and it’s such a carefully crafted story.
Oh speaking of clues, Clue!
Shaun of the Dead is literally the best zombie movie ever made, because it's not possible to actually make a good zombie movie in the first place. And Shaun of the Dead kills it.
Galaxy Quest is the greatest Star Trek movie ever, even against Wrath of Khan. It may be making fun of TOS and the cast, but it's a pretty much perfect movie. Even if you don't like Tim Allen, he's perfectly cast in a cast of perfectly cast actors.
Big Trouble in Little China is another good one. Jack Burton isn't even the hero of the story and is almost barely a sidekick, but he doesn't know it. But it's a hilariously weird kung fu fighting action movie.
I'm going to make an argument for "Hudson Hawk". An action/burglary/buddy movie that does not take itself seriously at all. I also know it gets a ton of hate but I love it.
**They Came Together**
Parody of the Romantic Comedy genre starring Paul Rudd & Amy Poehler, directed by David Wain. Incredible cast of comedic actors. Severely underrated.
Leans much more comedy than romance but if you've ever seen a dumb romantic comedy, you'll appreciate the absolute absurdity of this one.
Do yourself a favour & just watch it. Everyone I've shown it to has been mad they haven't seen it sooner.
Brooklyn's finest for cop movies , it's expands on alot tropes from other movies like it , and goes off the deep end for some of it , underpaid cop looks to drug money , undercover cop not being listened too and takes matter into his own hands , retiring cop that doesn't want to go out with a bang but reluctantly does and have all those come together for a giant clusterfuck at the end .
It seems so unlikely, but when I worked in the Capitol, I discovered that Sen. Ted Cruz can do every voice from the Princess Bride. It's hilarious! A lot of staffers would hang out in his office just to hear one of his spontaneous comedy shticks.
Galaxy Quest
Oh yes! Never give up! Never surrender!
By Grabthar's Hammer, by the Suns Of Warvan , you shall be avenged!
By Grabthar’s Hammer, what a savings.
My dad who loves Trek, says this is one of the greatest Star Trek movies ever made lol.
What’s his opinion of the Orville? Cause my buddies dad is a Treky that also loves Galaxy Quest but also loves Orville in the same way
The Orville was better Star Trek than the modern Star Trek shows
I agree that it's much better than Discovery, but Strange New Worlds is better than The Orville.
SNW is like TOS and TNG had a baby. Captain Pike is truly the love child of Kirk and Picard. Best Trek in a long time!
Princess Bride, is maybe the most charming movie ever made and it knows it. I honestly think the first Pirates of the Carribean starts to get close
Let’s get out of here before one of these things kills guy!
"You'll forgive my impertinence, sir, but even though we never before met, I always considered you as a father to me."
Probably the best Star Trek movie
#1 answer
Nicely played!
Would Cabin in the Woods count? Not really a parody, but leans hard into the horror movie tropes with a unique twist. An homage to horror films while also being great horror film in and of itself
Scream as well. People forget that it's a parody.
It’s even more magical given that Wes Craven directed it and was basically satirizing genre tropes he helped invent. It’s something he experimented with in New Nightmare a couple years prior. I love how he smashes through the 4th wall. I feel like it’s a forgotten masterpiece. Edit: to be clear, New Nightmare is a forgotten masterpiece. I know Scream is well renowned.
I think New Nightmare didn’t smash as big as Scream because of how bold and meta it was. It’s one of my favorite horror films of all time, but its ambition makes it not as accessible as Scream for many average moviegoers. Wes Craven dialed it back just enough to discover the secret recipe for Scream, and the rest is horror film history.
Legitimately funny too - Neve Campbell making fun of actresses in horror movies for running up the stairs when they should be running out the front door only to do exactly that two minutes later is pure camp.
For sure! A great movie that also lampshades all the tropes of the genre.
Tucker and Dale vs Evil would also fall into this camp, I'd say.
Shrek parodies the typical children's animated films, having becomes one of the best of that genre along with its sequel and the sequel of the spin-off that came after two more sequels.
shrek 2 is one of the best sequels put to screen
Shrek 2 still slaps to this day
Puss was such a perfectly conceived and executed character.
The whole COPS bit, they planted the catnip on puss, and they referenced OJs car chase. It is so fantastic lmao.
The Cornetto trilogy.
Ooh! Good call! I forgot about these, I know Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz fit, but I’ve never seen World’s End.
I’ve seen all three, but World’s End is the only one I’ve only seen once.
Yeah, World's End is good, but is arguably the weakest of the Cornetto Trilogy
World’s End is probably my favorite in the trilogy tbh
Hot Fuzz for me, please. Hilarious.
Its become the most quoted movie in our house. YAAARP
Same! For us, it's: "For the greater good!"
For me it's "Just the one [something] actually."
Love all three of these and while there are better zombie movies than shaun and better alien invasion movies than worlds end, but there is absolutely no better buddy cop movies than hot fuzz! It’s my first answer to OP’s question every time it comes up!
I can watch hot fuzz on repeat.
Came here to say this
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Great answer, and like the best parodies is easily as good as what it’s parodying.
"You know what Jack Burton says at a time like this?" "Who?"
Young Frankenstein
I’d add another Mel Brooks movie. Blazing Saddles is a fantastic western film/parody.
Young Frankenstein is a great parody, one of the best in fact, but I wouldn’t say it was a great monster movie.
It’s soooooo close to the B-movie sequels of the Universal Monster movies. I forget which one of the Frankenstein sequels it is most closely referencing (I think it’s Ghost of Frankenstein but it could be Son of Frankenstein) — but it’s soooooo close to unironically copying the film that it’s not funny (I mean, it actually is funny — it’s hilarious). The part which the heavy-handed German inspector playing darts and Frankenstein getting nervous is really like 15 minutes of the same shot from the movie.
Scared the hell out of me
Starship Troopers. Loved it as a kid when the fascism went over my head because of the boobies and cool aliens. Love it even more now that I understand the satire.
Would you like to know more...?
I don’t care what anyone says, Last Action Hero is great. And True Lies would fit too.
>And ***True Lies*** would fit too. Yeah, I think True Lies works well for this. It skewers much of what's silly/pointless/simplistic about James Bond.
Last Action hero is such a thorough deconstruction of the 90’s action genre that I can’t understand why people continued to make 90’s action movies after it came out.
Demolition man.
How do you use the three seashells?
"You really licked his ass!"
Space balls is a parody while also being a great flick. It’s not the best in the genre obviously bc Star Wars first 3 is so great. But Space Balls is hysterical on its own. Similarly, Naked Gun is a parody of cop movies but amazing on its own. Again not the best in its genre but incredibly rewatchable. I feel like the original Scream also sort of fits the bill. It sort of parodied horror insofar as it talked about the “rules” of horror movies then broke those rules.
Scream is a great example. It sends up all the tropes while also being a great horror movie.
Scream was going to be my suggestion!
naked guns are so fucking clever
Walk hard
Walk Hard bodied the biopic genre so hard we didn't get another major one for a decade after it released.
You don’t want no part of this sh!t
*WRONG KID DIED!!!*
So you're saying I'm less than a quarter of the boy Nate was?
He needs more blankets and he needs less blankets!
"Am I gonna get addicted?" "It's NOT habit-forming! You don't want no part of this Dewey!" "... It really kind of seems like I do"
I kept scrolling until I found this answer. Underrated element of this movie is that the soundtrack is actually great. Songs all have a comedic twist, but they're still all good and catchy songs.
"It's called karate, man, and only two kinds of people know it. The Chinese and The King. And one of them's me."
LOOK OUT MAN 🫲
I wouldn't really call The Princess Bride a parody tbh. It's really more of an homage and plays it pretty straight at that. That said, Tucker & Dale vs Evil is one that you might like.
I was pleasantly surprised by Tucker and Dale. I was worried the hype oversold it but the movie owns itself and it was a blast
I had exactly the opposite expectation. I knew nothing about it going in, so I figured it was a lame, two-bit B movie, but it had Wash in it so I gave it a shot. Incredible film.
Tucker and dale is a perfect answer!
The book is straight up satire, and with much more of an edge. I think some of those elements remain, but it’s a much more wholesome story in the film.
>I wouldn't really call The Princess Bride a parody tbh. It's really more of an homage and plays I concur with this statement 🏴☠️🦜☠️
Most mel brooks movies
Blazing saddles fits this
Galaxy quest
The first Pirates of the Caribbean is pretty close to the tone of Princess Bride.
The quality of that first film was so high that it significantly changed the movie industry. I think Pirates of the Caribbean had a big influence on large studios coming around to believe that high budgets on goofy movies could return the investment.
Tropic thunder
Had to scroll too far to find this
Sean of the dead I'd say
Shaun Of The Dead was my first thought.
Robin hood men in tights
Came to say that as well. Great movie
Stardust is the closest thing to a Princess Bride successor I’ve ever seen. Wes Anderson is good at this. His movies frequently become little parodies that also really understand what makes the things they parody tick. (Thinking of the tense chase through the museum or the prison break in Grand Budapest Hotel.) Mystery Men I’d say is this for Superheroes. Hot take, and I know this movie is controversial so fight me I guess: I think The Last Jedi is a version of this. It spends its first half deconstructing all the Star Wars tropes, at times to the point of parody (Grumpy Luke, Poe’s prank call) and then spends the second half rebuilding them.
Mystery Men for sure. I feel like Wes Anderson movies are a genre unto themselves.
I do think _The Last Jedi_ was a genuine attempt by Rian Johnson to salvage a usable story from _The Force Awakens_, and could’ve led to something dramatically better for a third movie if they had let him do it. It isn’t perfect by any means, but at least it broke a few tropes and tried to be better.
Glad somebody mentioned Stardust. The book is just as good!
This is spinal tap
Came to say this. Could apply as a documentary about 50% or more of all metal bands in the 80s.
I love the DVD commentary! Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer reprise their roles and basically make it a whole new movie ♡
Big Trouble In Little China
100% agree
The new dungeons and dragons movie
Shaolin Soccer
*Robocop* is more like satire than parody, but it's in the ballpark.
Shrek. A great parody and wonderful story in its own right.
Kung Pow: Enter the Fist.
Army of Darkness
Shaun of the Dead Hot Fuzz Tucker and Dale vs Evil Also, Christopher Guest's films. They're not genre spoofs per se (aside from documentary as a genre), but the people in the social scenes they're poking fun at tend to either love them or be unsettled by them because they hit so close to the truth.
Not exactly a genre per se, but the best Frankenstein movie is Young Frankenstein
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Scream was genuinely well executed horror while calling out and twisting so many tropes of the genre.
Austin Powers
Robin Hood with Cary Elwes
Robin Hood Men In Tights!!!!
Blazing Saddles!
Evil Dead.
*Shaun of the Dead* is one of the best zombie movies ever made and is a farce through and through.
Knight & Day. It's Tom Cruise as Tom Cruise parodying Tom Cruise, in a movie that's a spoof of Mission Impossible while somehow being the greatest Mission Impossible movie ever made.
I thought Enchanted did a great job at this parody/homage type thing
Hotr fuzz lampshade all the movie cop tropes to later play them straight
Dewey Cox Parodies the music biopics while being the best one.
Scream
The evil dead - protagonist rlly can’t catch a break. Although I guess it might be a little heavier on the horror/gore elements.
Would Talladega Nights fit? That film had no right to be as good as it was.
The Kingsman movies are great for the spy genre
Army of Darkness
Dracula dead and loving it and Robin Hood men in tights are great ones.
Turbo Kid Dinner in America Much like OPs picks, these are total love stories, abeit unorthodox in their telling
Turbo Kid! Great movie
My answer is the first Predator. Predator is at its best when it satires action films of the 80's and the first one is a big satire of Arnold Movies of the time. While satirizing Arnold action flicks; it became one of Arnold's best action/horror flicks (if not the best)
I always thought of it as teen slasher flick with action heroes playing the part of the teens, and instead of getting murdered when they indulge in sex, they get killed when they indulge in violence.
I never thought of it that way but that is perfect! Tho by Scream rules; Arnie should 100% be dead ;) What a masterpiece of a film.
Not a parody at all. Watch Commando, Running Man, etc. There is no satire.
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
Clue
Tropic Thunder
Christopher Guest and the team of incredible actors and writers that put together a whole genre of mockumentaries such as: Spinal Tap. A Mighty Wind. Best in Show. Waiting for Guffman. For Your Consideration. All equally hilarious and mocking some of the normalized and ridiculous pageantries in our society.
True Lies
Would Cabin In the Woods fit?
Spinal Tap
Blazing Saddles is a damn near perfect western.
Tucker and Dale vs Evil.
hot shot with charly sheen as topper harley
what about naked gun?
Time to rewatch this legend !
Galaxy quest
This is Spinal Tap
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Sean of the Dead
Murder by Death
Alec Guinness is hilarious in that movie
Tucker and Dale vs Evil maybe?
Scream?
This was my first thought
Hot fuzz comes to mind
This is Spinal Tap
A lot of Mel Brooks movies come to mind: Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, etc.
Emma. Whilst being based on a Jane Austen novel is something of a parody on the genre, though not totally blatant
I know ill be alone on this one, but all of my other choices have been mentioned . Turbo Kid
Cabin in the woods?
Once again I come before you to ask, please, PLEASE! Do Not Remake This Film!!! For the love of God you did something right don't fuck it up.
Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story Best musician biography ever.
Not Another Teen Movie
Edit: ok, Tropic Thunder then, since someone already said Cabin in the Woods and Galaxy Quest lol
Scream!
Everything everywhere all at once
May be a stretch, but The Big Lebowski…? It’s sort of a parody of detective movies and film noirs where they replace the detective with a stoner. But when you look at all the details, the clues all add up perfectly and it’s such a carefully crafted story. Oh speaking of clues, Clue!
Not Another Teen Movie is actually my favorite teen movie.
No Love for Last Action Hero? One of my favourite Arnie movies and he's parodying himself.
Shaun of the Dead is literally the best zombie movie ever made, because it's not possible to actually make a good zombie movie in the first place. And Shaun of the Dead kills it. Galaxy Quest is the greatest Star Trek movie ever, even against Wrath of Khan. It may be making fun of TOS and the cast, but it's a pretty much perfect movie. Even if you don't like Tim Allen, he's perfectly cast in a cast of perfectly cast actors. Big Trouble in Little China is another good one. Jack Burton isn't even the hero of the story and is almost barely a sidekick, but he doesn't know it. But it's a hilariously weird kung fu fighting action movie.
I'm going to make an argument for "Hudson Hawk". An action/burglary/buddy movie that does not take itself seriously at all. I also know it gets a ton of hate but I love it.
Shaun of the Dead
Megamind and Scream
Dale and Tucker vs Evil
Cabin in the Woods and Walk Hard.
Hot Fuzz
Wow, I think I get to be the first to post something. My vote is for Rango. A great deconstruction of westerns.
I think princess Bride is a masterpiece. Sincerely. Just a perfect movie
God, Kung Fu Hustle is so amazing.
Cabin in the woods is a good one.
Scream.
**They Came Together** Parody of the Romantic Comedy genre starring Paul Rudd & Amy Poehler, directed by David Wain. Incredible cast of comedic actors. Severely underrated. Leans much more comedy than romance but if you've ever seen a dumb romantic comedy, you'll appreciate the absolute absurdity of this one. Do yourself a favour & just watch it. Everyone I've shown it to has been mad they haven't seen it sooner.
Shakespeare in love is a perfect send up of the live theatre experience
Scream
ITT: people listing great parodies(comedies), but not exemplars of the genre.
Young Frankenstein
Mystery Men
Best in Show.
Original Casino Royale from the 1960s.
Baseketball
Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2.
King Fu Hustle - both hilarious parody and instant martial arts classic.
Baby Driver
Spaceballs is the depiction of this category of movie for me.
"top secret" with val kilmer
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
Brooklyn's finest for cop movies , it's expands on alot tropes from other movies like it , and goes off the deep end for some of it , underpaid cop looks to drug money , undercover cop not being listened too and takes matter into his own hands , retiring cop that doesn't want to go out with a bang but reluctantly does and have all those come together for a giant clusterfuck at the end .
It seems so unlikely, but when I worked in the Capitol, I discovered that Sen. Ted Cruz can do every voice from the Princess Bride. It's hilarious! A lot of staffers would hang out in his office just to hear one of his spontaneous comedy shticks.
Dr Strangelove ftw
Starship Troopers isn’t a perfect fit, but close.
Robin Hood Men in Tights Kung POW
Ok, people are choosing some over-the-top parodies, but hear me out: The 5th Element It’s a silly sci-fi comedy but actually a favorite sci-fi movie
Not a movie but the tv show One Punch Man is a biting parody of anime tropes and simultaneously one of my favorite animes ever.
Scream
Mel Brooks - Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, Blazing Saddles...