Top 10 Hilarious Horror Parody Movies

Appearances can be deceiving. “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” follows two friends who are mistaken as psychotic, backwoods killers by a group of college students. An unlikely string of accidental deaths only increase their suspicions (as well as decreasing their numbers), and leave Tucker and Dale baffled and trying to keep it together. The ever-popular cabin in the woods setting and deranged hillbilly stereotypes are beautifully skewered in this movie driven by increasingly violent misunderstandings and dark comedy that plays out like the goriest farce ever staged. For genre enthusiasts who have somehow missed it, consider this mandatory viewing.

Set in a world where slasher movie killers are real and even a pseudo profession, “Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon” follows a documentary crew interviewing the eponymous aspiring killer as he takes them through his purported origins and his meticulous process for murder. The deadpan, awkward humor is a nice departure from more traditional horror comedy, and there’s a wonderful contrast between traditionally filmed horror scenes and handheld camerawork and interview scenes. Plus there are some appearances by established horror icons, like Robert Englund. An entertaining and loving tribute to the slasher film genre, “Behind the Mask” is a criminally underrated horror parody.

The oldest film on our list, “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” sees a pair of unlucky baggage clerks, played by the titular duo, charged by the Wolf Man with delivering crates containing famous horror monsters, including Frankenstein’s monster and Dracula, to a museum. Naturally, when the creatures escape, plenty of hijinks and scares ensue, as the comedic characters bounce off of the serious horror ones to wonderful effect. The film combines giants of both the horror genre and classic silver screen comedy into one unique package; it’s rightfully often been called one of the funniest movies ever made.

While multiple movies on our list feature characters who are aware of horror movie clichés, “The Final Girls” takes this concept to another level entirely. Max Cartwright and her friends find themselves inside the slasher film “Camp Bloodbath,” a movie starring Max’s deceased mother. The various ways in which the characters demonstrate awareness that they’re in a movie, from their attempts to subvert the course of the plot, to even interacting with the titles, are all hilarious and make for an excellent parody of the trappings of horror cinema. There’s even some heart to be had; as the film has fun with common tropes, Max also has the opportunity to gradually accept her mother’s death.

This “zom-com” follows a group of four survivors of a zombie apocalypse as they travel the country in search of family, safety, and…Twinkies. The movie’s more comedic take on the zombie apocalypse is a riot, with a ton of visual comedy and over-the-top violence. There are also some great running gags, like the “rules of Zombieland,” as well as some surprising cameos that you’ll want to watch on repeat. Add to this an abundance of infinitely quotable dialogue and a cast of memorable and endearing characters, and you get a horror parody so good that people were willing to wait an entire decade for a sequel.

New Zealand has actually produced a surprising number of horror parodies and comedies, but “What We Do in the Shadows” is easily our favorite. Filmed in a mockumentary style format, the film follows a group of vampire roommates whose lives are being documented by a film crew. The vamps’ varied and quirky personalities, as well as their interactions with their friends and the outside world, of which they’re incredibly ignorant, are all hysterical. While it’s more of a slice of life story than anything heavy on plot, the numerous darkly funny scenes will bleed you dry of laughter.

Initially set up like a stock horror film, complete with a group of teenagers being menaced by supernatural foes in the locale from the title, “The Cabin in the Woods” swerves typical conventions in interesting and funny ways. Unbeknownst to the teens, they’re being manipulated by a mysterious organization who deal in horrors to protect humanity. The attitude of the technicians, in contrast to that of their intended victims, leads to a lot of comedy, as does the latter’s gradual realization of what’s going on. Darkly funny, legitimately terrifying, and bitingly insightful into the mentality of the horror movie audience, “The Cabin in the Woods” uses familiar trappings to say something new and deliver a vault full of laughs and scares.

A spoof from top to bottom, “Scary Movie” lampoons then-contemporary slasher movies like “Scream,” by featuring a killer in a ghost mask menacing teenagers who seem aware they’re in a horror movie, while also taking every situation to its silliest possible conclusion. Jam-packed with pop culture references, as well as plenty of juvenile humor, “Scary Movie” is a gut busting comedy that spawned many sequels. And even if its follow-ups didn’t manage to live up to the original, “Scary Movie” is still a riotously funny spoof of horror films… and many other movies besides.

This movie follows Shaun, whose dead end life is completely upended when the dead begin to rise. The dedicated slacker rises to the occasion, but his attempts to rescue his loved ones go wrong in the funniest of ways. A spoof and tribute to the classics of zombie cinema, with Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s signature snappy visual humor and dialogue, the film is an absolute blast, boasting quotable dialogue, fantastic action, gore, and one of the most creative uses of a “Queen” song ever put on film. “Shaun of the Dead” isn’t just a spectacular horror parody, it’s also one of the finest comedy films ever made. So what else could top this slice of fried gold?

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
“Little Evil” (2017)
“My Name Is Bruce” (2007)
“A Haunted House” (2013)
“Club Dread” (2004)
“The Comedy of Terrors” (1963)

This Mel Brooks movie follows the grandson of Victor Frankenstein, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein… (er, “Fronkensteen”) as he inherits his infamous relative’s castle and reluctantly decides to carry on his work. However, rather than chills, Fredericks’s story is an absolute masterpiece of comedy and a loving parody of the Universal Frankenstein films, to the point where it even includes some of the same props. With an all-star cast of comedians at the top of their game led by Gene Wilder, and full of more witty and quotable lines than you can shake a hand at, “Young Frankenstein” is a movie that’s even more fun than a roll in the hay (roll in the hay).