Top 10 Harry Potter Parodies

Seth MacFarlane and co. have poked fun at the Potter series in various scenes, including Steve’s suspect Potions class in “American Dad!”, but we’ve gotta go with the Griffins to start. “Family Guy” references to witchcraft and wizardry include Quagmire’s questionable views on female anatomy and Peter’s doorstep chit-chat with a passing owl. But we’ve picked another Peter clip for today’s list, as his sorting hat ritual goes awry.

While this “Doctor Who” episode centres on Shakespeare, JK Rowling and “Harry Potter” provide a running gag throughout, blurring the boundaries between two of fantasy fiction’s best-loved universes. Martha Jones is still finding her feet in the TARDIS, and the Doctor’s powers are Harry-esque in her eyes, but Rowling’s work truly comes to the fore at the story’s supernatural climax. There’s nothing that a simple disarming charm can’t fix.

Being best mates with the Boy Who Lived isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. Simon Pegg plays Ron in this sketch for Jimmy Fallon, only Potter’s pal looks a little worse for wear. Staggering across the stage, slurring his words and firing through a series of Potter puns, Pegg’s Ron is drunk, disorderly and dejected. Harry’s kept his distance, Hermione’s left him and Hogwarts seems a long time ago, but at least he can down a pint in five seconds flat. Accio sick bucket.

The Screen Junkies “Honest Trailers” treatment has become a bizarre badge of honour for major movie franchises, and the Harry Potter edition doesn’t disappoint. With spot-on summaries of our favourite characters and merciless mickey-takes of pivotal scenes, it also pays hilarious homage to the UK’s topmost acting talents. Trivialising the saga into just a few short quips, while this clip does cosy up to the anti-Potter argument, Harry fans are sure to smile too.

Introducing Nigel Planter, a recurring character in this mid-2000s Cartoon Network show, and a pinpoint parody of Rowling’s world-famous wizard. Planter crosses paths with Billy and Mandy at Toadblatt’s School of Sorcery, where the squidhat sorts them into Weaslethorpe house, the consistent no-hopers in the race for the house cup. But when Mandy sets her mind to sabotage, their rivals Gunderstank don’t stand a chance. Leaving Planter to steal the credit for Mandy’s cunning plans.

When French and Saunders took on Hogwarts in 2003, “Harry Potter” mania was in full flow. The comic double act have delivered many a memorable parody for “Comic Relief”, but here they spoof the second Potter film with a perfect rehash. Dawn French turns the boy wizard into a rather womanly character, while Jennifer Saunders plays a petrified Ron Weasley, and a ditzy JK. And both are backed by a stellar supporting cast, including Jeremy Irons as a narcissistic Snape and Basil Brush as Dobby. Boom Boom.

To another animated show packed with Potter parodies, “The Simpsons” typically spoofs Harry through Lisa’s favourite book series, “Angelica Button”. However, the third story in “Treehouse of Horror XII” sees Springfield Elementary transform into an all-encompassing academy of magic – and it’s no surprise that Lisa is top of the class. A six-minute tale packed with pun-based spells and thinly veiled characters, Lord Montymort is a particular highlight. Even if his death is kinda gross.

We can thank SNL for a long series of spoofs, and special mention to Daniel Radcliffe’s 2012 hosting slot which saw him reprise his iconic role. But this sketch is easily the show’s most famous Potter skit, centring on Lindsay Lohan as a sexed-up Hermione. Set after the summer break, Lohan’s busty witch triggers a testosterone overload, proving a provocative distraction as Ron, Harry, Fred, George, Snape and Hagrid get hot under the collar. Although, she seems oblivious to the ogling.

Bruno Mars meets the Boy Who Lived for today’s runner-up, although it’s Voldemort who truly takes centre stage here. With a rhythm lifted from Mars and Mark Ronson’s 2014 megahit, “Uptown Funk”, the lyrics land us right at the heart of the Battle of Hogwarts. Only the Dark Lord’s on the dancefloor, and Harry hasn’t a hope of matching his moves. A monumental musical number, “Dark Lord Funk” even impressed JK herself, who said the clip was ‘genius’. And we’ll second that.

It may have been inspired by one of the most popular film franchises in history, but today’s winner boasts its own unique spot in modern pop culture. “Potter Puppet Pals” sparked a YouTube phenomenon in the mid-2000s[1], as a long series of live-action puppetry sketches designed to caricature the “Harry Potter” series. But “The Mysterious Ticking Noise” caught most attention[2], providing an unofficial soundtrack to Harry’s epic adventure. This, ladies and gents, is what real magic looks like.