Top 20 Hilarious Horror Parody Movies

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 Hilarious Horror Parody Movies!

For this list, we’ll be ranking the most outlandish, spot-on or otherwise memorable films that spoof the spooky genre in a comedic way. We won’t be including any“Scream,” movies because those are viewed more as deconstructions and commentaries instead of parodies.

What’s your favorite horror spoof? Let us know in the comments!

#20: “John Dies at the End” (2012)

Director Don Coscarelli has made a career out of creating quirky and idiosyncratic cult films. “John Dies at the End” was no exception, a 2012 adaptation of the comic novel of the same name. In this bizarre narrative, a character named David Wong has life turn into a weird horror horror show after encountering a substance known as “soy sauce”. He has to find his way back to normalcy while avoiding demonic creatures, escaping alternate earths and tangling with living computers. The story’s wide scope allows it to parody tons of horror subgenres at the same time. Although “John Dies at the End” is built on the foundation of other stories, it still has its own freaky and memorable identity.

#19: “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” (1995)

Mel Brooks proved that he still had some creative gas left in the tank back in 1995 when he directed “Dracula: Dead and Loving It.” The presence of the film’s star, Leslie Nielsen, makes it feel like it’s another entry in the “Naked Gun” franchise. This isn’t a bad thing, however, as Nielsen utilizes his ability to tap into the ridiculous to make his Count Dracula into a comedy icon. Brooks’ film riffs hard on specific details from Bram Stoker’s source novel and horror tropes that we’re familiar with in broad strokes. Over 20 years later, this biting parody of vampires still feels as sharp as ever.

#18: “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” (1978)

The drive-in creature feature was ripe (pun intended) for parody back when this 1978 feature was released. “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” sends up the genre by making an army of sentient produce feel like earth’s biggest threat. While the truly ridiculous premise is funny on its own, the movie is made better by the performances. The actors give earnest performances that really make us believe that tomatoes are just as terrifying as traditional creatures like werewolves. They’re supported by a great script that tows the fine line between being silly and exceedingly clever. Thanks to that delicate balance, the film never comes across as mean spirited. It always feels like a fun and quirky homage to B horror movies.

#17: “Student Bodies” (1981)

There are few parodies of slasher films that feel quite as “on the nose” as 1981’s “Student Bodies.” From the red herrings and fake out scares to the convoluted plot and perpetually amorous teenagers: “Student Bodies” gets EVERYTHING right. Meanwhile, the film achieves its level of parody without all of the genre trappings you might expect. This isn’t an overly bloody or exploitative film. In fact, it only earns its R rating thanks to what’s perhaps the most perfectly placed F bomb in the history of cinema. [1] “Student Bodies” pokes fun at slasher conventions with sight gags and one-liners a plenty. It’s the sort of parodic film journey that takes EVERYONE along for the ride.

#16: “Night of the Creeps” (1986)

“The good news is your dates are here. The bad news is…they’re dead.” This was the tagline that adorned the original VHS sleeve for 1986’s “Night of the Creeps.” Honestly, it serves as a pretty great summary of the film’s cheeky sense of humor. The movie revolves around an alien slug that escapes into a small town during the 1950s. After it gets inside of an unsuspecting man’s body, it tries to spread its influence across town. “Night of the Creeps” had the tricky job of making fun of shocker cinema, zombie flicks and slasher films at once. And it succeeds at ALL of it. “Night of the Creeps” is insanely watchable, quotable and works as a legitimately great horror film on its own merit.

#15: “Eight Legged Freaks” (2002)

“Eight Legged Freaks” was a parody of the “atomic scare” films of the fifties that often presented giant and irradiated monsters out on the prowl. This time around, giant spiders powered by toxic chemicals are the crawling antagonists. Characters played by David Arquette, Kari Wuhrer and an early career Scarlett Johansson struggle to fend off the spiders that threaten their existence. Fortunately, those actors and more fully embrace the premise. Although the effects are ridiculous, arachnophobes might still want to close their eyes during some scenes. While some may find the environmental messages as subtle as the giant spiders, there’s lots to love about these” Eight Legged Freaks”.

#14 “The Comedy of Terrors” (1963)

Is 1963’s “The Comedy of Terrors” parodying the William Shakespeare play of a similar title? Maybe, or perhaps it was just an excuse to gather a treasure trove of certified horror legends for a single film. The likes of Vincent Price, Boris Karloff and more show up to gently parody their own status as genre legends. They all star in a plot where a man named John Black has a medical condition that makes it appear like he’s dead. While everyone around him believes something supernatural is happening every time he wakes, the poor guy struggles to get his life back. By letting bonafide horror icons play with this material, the movie gained an added layer of comedy.

#13: “There’s Nothing Out There!” (1991)

1991’s “There’s Nothing Out There!” is often cited by horror fans as a precursor to “Scream”. Like many scary movies, the plot is kicked into motion after a bunch of teenagers go out to a cabin for typical hijinks. When an alien comes knocking at the door, they must rely on their knowledge of horror cliches to escape. It’s fun to watch characters who know they’re in a scary story fail or succeed to avoid the common pitfalls. And there are plenty of winks to other movies in the genre along the way. Even though it didn’t blow up into a franchise like “Scream” did, “There’s Nothing Out There” is still worth revisiting for its meta commentary alone.

#12: “Bubba Ho-Tep” (2002)

Have you ever wondered what would happen if an elderly Elvis was forced to face off against a mummy? Then good news! 2002’s “Bubba Ho-Tep” has exactly what you need. The campy story is elevated by a lead performance from Bruce Campbell as the legendary performer. Although his Elvis isn’t in his youthful prime, the actor still brings a heap of energy to the role. Campbell perfectly pulls off tongue-in-cheek sight gags and nails the over-the-top dialogue. The creature effects and screenplay also far exceed expectations. During the story, we get commentary on ageism, conspiracy theories and the horror genre. The combination of all the movie’s strange elements result in a parody that truly rocks.

#11: “Piranha 3D” (2010)

Joe Dante’s original “Piranha” riffed on the summer blockbuster that was [xref] “Jaws”. Its remake took things a step further by going all out to parody exploitation flicks. Throughout the narrative, audiences will see plenty of skin and lots of gruesome violence. It also has “Jaws” actor Richard Dreyfuss make a cameo in the film. His appearance was a great way to nod at the shark classic that took the world by storm. Outside of his presence, the film’s over-the-top deaths and characters are sure to keep any horror aficionado entertained. While the water may not be fine, the average scary movie fan will still want to jump into this story.

#10: “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” (2010)

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.

#9: “Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon” (2006)

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.

#8: “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” (1948)

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.

#7: “The Final Girls” (2015)

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.

#6: “Zombieland” (2009)

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.

#5: “What We Do in the Shadows” (2014)

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.

#4: “The Cabin in the Woods” (2011)

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.

#3: “Scary Movie” (2000)

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.

#2: “Shaun of the Dead” (2004)

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?

#1: “Young Frankenstein” (1974)

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).