Top 10 Most Parodied Horror Movies

In all fairness, this once mighty series became a parody of its former self by the hugely panned final installment. Funnily enough, parodies of its universally acclaimed first entry keep Jaws relevant. Theres a good chance you might have seen a Jaws spoof before the film itself. Back when it first came out, sketch comedies like Saturday Night Live and The Carol Burnett Show couldnt resist putting their spin on things. With regular Jaws films releasing in quick succession, 80s franchises like Back to the Future also took some subtle jabs at it. Certain other monster movies like Piranha 3D go further, bringing Jaws cast member Richard Dreyfuss for a metafictional wink at the audience.

Remember when slasher films were all the rage? I Know What You Did Last Summer made one of the biggest splashes in the genre. The film stands out mainly for a few memorable scenes, which fans love to play on repeat. Naturally, parody movies wouldnt let them slide, providing us with some hilarious spoof renditions. I Know What You Did Last Summers unintentionally quirky outline makes it an easy story to replicate. Sitcoms like The Simpsons have poked fun at the films bizarre premise. We also have films entirely dedicated to satirizing this slasher movie. I Know What You Did Last Summer goes for a scary tone, but its parodies flip this into a mixture of deadpan and slapstick comedy.

Few films had a marketing campaign as intense as this one. The found-footage framing device convinced many that the films horrors were genuine. With moments set in isolated areas and the characters stalked by an evil entity, The Blair Witch Project really kicks in your paranoia. However, this also gave spoof enthusiasts a lot of material. After the films success, just about every comedic media wanted in on it. Whether it was live shows like the MTV Awards or sketch comedies like Mad TV, there was a parody version everywhere. It was a matter of time before parody movies got their crack at it. Scary Movie gave us one of the funniest renditions youll ever see.

Parodies of Scream are ironic considering the film is a deconstruction of its genre. Wes Cravens contemporary classic became popular because of how self-aware it is. Along with influencing similar slashers for years to come, Scream laid the foundation for several parodies. The most popular might be Scary Movie, which spoofs most of Screams events to hilarious levels. Although Ghostface is now a horror icon, the antagonist is a favorite among parody aficionados. Screams entry into the mainstream prompted several comedic interpretations, remaining just as funny now as they were then. The joke about creepy calls from strangers might not be original anymore, but its always reliable for a good laugh.

Even if youre too squeamish for a Saw movie, chances are youve still seen Billy the Puppet. The Jigsaw doll is one of the most recognizable faces in the horror genre. Films and shows like to poke fun at him every chance they get. Jigsaws arbitrary reasons for placing victims in elaborate traps is Saws most meme-able aspect and spoofs max this out to its wackiest potential. From shows like Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia to films like Scary Movie 4, youll find some comedic variation of a Jigsaw trap. You know youve got something funny when you get Shaq and Dr. Phil to play along. With the series going strong for two decades, we expect more parodies to keep coming our way.

The Alien series revolutionized the horror genre, masterfully blending sci-fi and action. This also helped the spoof genre to go bigger, turning the films scary elements on its head. Whether geared toward an adult audience or a family-friendly one, Alien parodies are abundant. Some prefer to mock the dreaded chestburster, while others rip on fully-grown Xenomorphs. Whatever it might be, these deliberately cheesy interpretations still manage to capture the Alien aesthetic. Certain parodies like Spaceballs have taken on a life of their own, carving out a separate fanbase of the scene. Kids shows like Animaniacs have also taken a stab at it, giving young viewers a look into the Alien experience without all the gory trauma, of course.

Be honest. How many times have you heard the words, Its Alive!, uttered in your life? Famously heard in 1931s Frankenstein, the quote has long since been used as meme fodder. Best used to highlight a villainous overreaction or to exaggerate a characters wacky personality, weve seen such derivative scenes time and again. And yet, the execution always works. Apart from its most famous scene, the film has spawned several well-received parodies. From Mel Brooks much-revered Young Frankenstein to Tim Burtons reimagining of the monster as a dog in Frankenweenie, the idea of a creature made from body parts is surprisingly funny. Its evergreen quality has enabled this form of humor to remain relevant on both big and small screens across centuries.

Parodies of The Exorcist are almost as old as the film itself. The horror classic took the world by storm, remaining one of the scariest movies ever made. Comedy writers accepted the challenge of giving it a humorous spin. Five decades later, were still laughing at the many parodies released since then. The exorcism scene has become a staple in both horror and comedy. Regans possession is horrifying in the original, but spoofs usually turn up its absurdity to epic proportions. You have to admire the creativity that goes into these, as no two skits are alike. Whether youre a fan of Scary Movie 2s slapstick take, SNLs wittier comedy style, or any other, laughter is guaranteed.

Another movie with its fair share of memorable quotes, The Shinings more iconic moments have been part of the spoof genre for decades. Jack Torrances eventual meltdown has a funny side if youve got a devious sense of humor. Shows like South Park and The Simpsons have exploited these for some truly bizarre jokes. Then we have Jacks famous catchphrase that immortalized him into the echelons of pop culture. Heres Johnny! That crazy visual proved too good to resist, quickly becoming the most parodied aspect of the film. Other horror franchises like Childs Play have paid homage to the scene, adding a bit of personal flavor along the way. It might be a horror movie, but the comedy genre also owes a lot to The Shining.

The shower scene in this Hitchcockian horror has the greatest shock value in cinema. Nobody saw it coming in the film, but everyone knows whats about to happen in spoofs. Its a perfect setup for some off-kilter humor, usually deviating from the brand of comedy the film or show is associated with. The joke comes from the complete tonal contrast between Psycho and the comedic material. Weve seen it in live-action, animation, and in between. Even Bugs Bunny got in on the action. Meanwhile, films like Mel Brooks High Anxiety offer a deflation of Psychos airtight intensity. Hitchcocks masterpiece has an enduring legacy, proving characters are just as likely to be killed in the shower no matter which genre they belong to.

Did we miss any horror parody that gives you all the funny chills? Let us know in the comments.