Top 10 Spoofed Movie Moments
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Script written by Nick Spake
We feel like we’ve seen this somewhere before… Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Spoofed Movie Moments.
For this list, we’re taking a look at iconic scenes from movies that are constantly parodied in popular culture. Since we’ll be talking about major plot points here, a spoiler alert is probably called for.
#10: I’m Melting
Few final words in film are more famous than “I’m melting.” We’re not entirely sure why water causes the Wicked Witch of the West to melt. We’re also baffled as to why she keeps a bucket of the stuff lying around her castle. But that’s just why this deus ex machina is ripe for satire. These immortal lines have a way of sneaking into numerous movies, especially when a character gets splashed with a harmful liquid. Seeing how “The Wizard of Oz” was likely one of the first movies you ever saw growing up, this is a reference everybody in the audience can laugh at.
#9: The Odessa Steps
Even if you’ve never seen this silent Soviet film, there’s little doubt that you’ll recognize its iconic staircase scene. Tell us if you’ve seen this before: a baby carriage is sent rolling down a mounting flight of stairs as all hell breaks loose. In addition to being paid homage to in films like “The Untouchables,” this scene has been parodied in everything from Woody Allen comedies to “The Naked Gun” franchise. A scene like this will also typically involve a startled mother screaming, “My baby!” This is a line that voiceover actress Tress MacNeille is all too familiar with, as she’s said it countless times throughout her career.
#8: Blofeld and Cat
When people think of villains plotting to take over the world, the image of Ernst Stavro Blofeld sitting in a chair, petting his white Persian cat instantly comes to mind. Now it’s practically a necessity for every devious mastermind to have a sinister right-hand cat. This trope has notably been played with through Dr. Claw’s M.A.D. Cat in “Inspector Gadget” and Dr. Evil’s Mr. Bigglesworth in “Austin Powers.” Seeing a character stroke a cat behind a desk instantly lets us know that he or she is bad news, but it also humorously reveals that he or she at least has a soft spot for animals.
#7: You Talkin’ to Me?
Whenever a character is practicing his or her intimidation skills, it’s not uncommon for him or her to look in a mirror and take a page from Travis Bickle. Although “Taxi Driver” is by no means a children’s movie, “you talkin’ to me” often pops up in family friendly entertainment. If you’re a millennial, chances are you heard this line for the first time in “Back to the Future Part III” or on an episode of “Hey Arnold!” Even Robert De Niro poked fun at his career-defining scene in “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.” Kids may not get it, but the adults in the audience do.
#6: It’s Alive!
Everybody knows about this legendary scene in which the scientist known as Frankenstein brings his monster to life. Whenever anybody satirizes “Frankenstein,” you always know that they’re going to work the line, “it’s alive,” somewhere in there. Actually, pretty much any scene involving a mad scientist, a laboratory, or a reanimated dead guy requires a winking nod to “Frankenstein.” The potential for satire is simply too tempting to resist. No matter how many times we see it parodied, this is one movie moment that’ll truly never die.
#5: Say Hello to My Little Friend
It’s hard to think of a more badass movie character than Tony Montana, his definitive moment being his last stand. While taking out his enemies with a machine gun is pretty hardcore, it’s a particular line that cements this showdown in cinematic history. Since Brian De Palma’s “Scarface” made its debut, we’ve frequently seen this scene referenced whenever a lone man stands up to an army. Of course, the “little friend” in question doesn’t have to necessarily be a weapon. Maybe it’s an animal or maybe it’s actually a little friend.
#4: I Am Your Father
Virtually every scene in the “Star Wars” saga has been parodied over the years. Among them all, however, the reveal that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father is easily the most susceptible to satire. From “Family Guy,” to “Robot Chicken,” to “Spaceballs,” there are too many hilarious variations on this scene to count. Everybody has lampooned it, including Mark Hamill himself. It’s one of those cinematic momentsthat will stick with us forever, meaning that it’s bound to be eternally satirized. If you think that’s impossible, search your feelings. You know it to be true.
#3: Training Montage
We’re not saying that “Rocky” invented the sports movie montage, but it is the first movie that comes to mind whenever we think of this trope. Rocky’s training sequence is full of familiar beats that have been repeatedly spoofed, including punching meat and running up a long flight of stairs. The “Gonna Fly Now” theme has also become a staple of any “Rocky” parody. Of course, since the franchise has a whole playlist of adrenaline-pumping songs, “Eye of the Tiger” and “Hearts on Fire” are also suitable substitutes. As long as it captures the “Rocky” spirit, the satire is sure to provide a knockout.
#2: Bullet Dodge
After the original “Matrix” broke out into mainstream popularity, there were bullet time spoofs everywhere and we mean everywhere. Don’t believe us? Halfway into 2002, bullet time had already been parodied in over 20 different films. That’s not even including all the TV shows and video games that made fun of this visual effect. Since “The Matrix” was satirized relentlessly coming out of the gate, we haven’t seen quite as many bullet dodge spoofs in recent years. However, we continue to see the technique regularly ripped off in action flicks.
Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
Cable Drop
“Mission: Impossible” (1996)
You Can’t Handle the Truth
“A Few Good Men” (1992)
Underpants Dance
“Risky Business” (1983)
The Ending
“The Usual Suspects” (1995)
You Maniacs
“Planet of the Apes” (1968)
#1: Shower Scene
While Marion Crane’s demise may have been a jaw dropping twist back in 1960, now everybody knows about her infamous shower scene. Part of that’s because we’ve seen this sequence spoofed time after time for over fifty years. Whenever a shadowy figure creeps up behind a shower curtain and that hair-raising violin screech kicks in, you know what’s coming. Even Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh’s daughter, has gotten in on the gag. As many times as we’ve seen it parodied in the past, a good “Psycho” spoof will always leave us screaming for more.
Do you agree with our list? What other movie moments keep getting spoofed? For more entertaining Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
Top 10 Spoofed Movie Moments
We feel like we’ve seen this somewhere before… Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Spoofed Movie Moments.
For this list, we’re taking a look at iconic scenes from movies that are constantly parodied in popular culture. Since we’ll be talking about major plot points here, a spoiler alert is probably called for.
#10: I’m Melting
“The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
Few final words in film are more famous than “I’m melting.” We’re not entirely sure why water causes the Wicked Witch of the West to melt. We’re also baffled as to why she keeps a bucket of the stuff lying around her castle. But that’s just why this deus ex machina is ripe for satire. These immortal lines have a way of sneaking into numerous movies, especially when a character gets splashed with a harmful liquid. Seeing how “The Wizard of Oz” was likely one of the first movies you ever saw growing up, this is a reference everybody in the audience can laugh at. #9: The Odessa Steps
“Battleship Potemkin” (1925)
Even if you’ve never seen this silent Soviet film, there’s little doubt that you’ll recognize its iconic staircase scene. Tell us if you’ve seen this before: a baby carriage is sent rolling down a mounting flight of stairs as all hell breaks loose. In addition to being paid homage to in films like “The Untouchables,” this scene has been parodied in everything from Woody Allen comedies to “The Naked Gun” franchise. A scene like this will also typically involve a startled mother screaming, “My baby!” This is a line that voiceover actress Tress MacNeille is all too familiar with, as she’s said it countless times throughout her career. #8: Blofeld and Cat
“You Only Live Twice” (1967)
When people think of villains plotting to take over the world, the image of Ernst Stavro Blofeld sitting in a chair, petting his white Persian cat instantly comes to mind. Now it’s practically a necessity for every devious mastermind to have a sinister right-hand cat. This trope has notably been played with through Dr. Claw’s M.A.D. Cat in “Inspector Gadget” and Dr. Evil’s Mr. Bigglesworth in “Austin Powers.” Seeing a character stroke a cat behind a desk instantly lets us know that he or she is bad news, but it also humorously reveals that he or she at least has a soft spot for animals. #7: You Talkin’ to Me?
“Taxi Driver” (1976)
Whenever a character is practicing his or her intimidation skills, it’s not uncommon for him or her to look in a mirror and take a page from Travis Bickle. Although “Taxi Driver” is by no means a children’s movie, “you talkin’ to me” often pops up in family friendly entertainment. If you’re a millennial, chances are you heard this line for the first time in “Back to the Future Part III” or on an episode of “Hey Arnold!” Even Robert De Niro poked fun at his career-defining scene in “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.” Kids may not get it, but the adults in the audience do. #6: It’s Alive!
“Frankenstein” (1931)
Everybody knows about this legendary scene in which the scientist known as Frankenstein brings his monster to life. Whenever anybody satirizes “Frankenstein,” you always know that they’re going to work the line, “it’s alive,” somewhere in there. Actually, pretty much any scene involving a mad scientist, a laboratory, or a reanimated dead guy requires a winking nod to “Frankenstein.” The potential for satire is simply too tempting to resist. No matter how many times we see it parodied, this is one movie moment that’ll truly never die. #5: Say Hello to My Little Friend
“Scarface” (1983)
It’s hard to think of a more badass movie character than Tony Montana, his definitive moment being his last stand. While taking out his enemies with a machine gun is pretty hardcore, it’s a particular line that cements this showdown in cinematic history. Since Brian De Palma’s “Scarface” made its debut, we’ve frequently seen this scene referenced whenever a lone man stands up to an army. Of course, the “little friend” in question doesn’t have to necessarily be a weapon. Maybe it’s an animal or maybe it’s actually a little friend. #4: I Am Your Father
“Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)
Virtually every scene in the “Star Wars” saga has been parodied over the years. Among them all, however, the reveal that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father is easily the most susceptible to satire. From “Family Guy,” to “Robot Chicken,” to “Spaceballs,” there are too many hilarious variations on this scene to count. Everybody has lampooned it, including Mark Hamill himself. It’s one of those cinematic momentsthat will stick with us forever, meaning that it’s bound to be eternally satirized. If you think that’s impossible, search your feelings. You know it to be true. #3: Training Montage
“Rocky” (1976)
We’re not saying that “Rocky” invented the sports movie montage, but it is the first movie that comes to mind whenever we think of this trope. Rocky’s training sequence is full of familiar beats that have been repeatedly spoofed, including punching meat and running up a long flight of stairs. The “Gonna Fly Now” theme has also become a staple of any “Rocky” parody. Of course, since the franchise has a whole playlist of adrenaline-pumping songs, “Eye of the Tiger” and “Hearts on Fire” are also suitable substitutes. As long as it captures the “Rocky” spirit, the satire is sure to provide a knockout. #2: Bullet Dodge
“The Matrix” (1999)
After the original “Matrix” broke out into mainstream popularity, there were bullet time spoofs everywhere and we mean everywhere. Don’t believe us? Halfway into 2002, bullet time had already been parodied in over 20 different films. That’s not even including all the TV shows and video games that made fun of this visual effect. Since “The Matrix” was satirized relentlessly coming out of the gate, we haven’t seen quite as many bullet dodge spoofs in recent years. However, we continue to see the technique regularly ripped off in action flicks.Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
Cable Drop
“Mission: Impossible” (1996)
You Can’t Handle the Truth
“A Few Good Men” (1992)
Underpants Dance
“Risky Business” (1983)
The Ending
“The Usual Suspects” (1995)
You Maniacs
“Planet of the Apes” (1968)
#1: Shower Scene
“Psycho” (1960)
While Marion Crane’s demise may have been a jaw dropping twist back in 1960, now everybody knows about her infamous shower scene. Part of that’s because we’ve seen this sequence spoofed time after time for over fifty years. Whenever a shadowy figure creeps up behind a shower curtain and that hair-raising violin screech kicks in, you know what’s coming. Even Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh’s daughter, has gotten in on the gag. As many times as we’ve seen it parodied in the past, a good “Psycho” spoof will always leave us screaming for more.Do you agree with our list? What other movie moments keep getting spoofed? For more entertaining Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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