Are you a fan of the classic horror parody movie Scary Movie and looking for more gut-busting films that brilliantly skewer the horror genre? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the 18 funniest and most clever horror spoofs that are sure to tickle your funny bone while still delivering some genuine scares. From zombies to slashers to found footage, no horror trope is safe from being hilariously lampooned in these must-see comedies. Get ready to scream with laughter as we count down the best movies like Scary Movie!
1. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Topping our list is the brilliant British zom-com Shaun of the Dead. Directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, this witty and gory spoof follows a slacker who must step up to save his loved ones during a zombie apocalypse. With razor-sharp writing, clever visual gags, and plenty of loving references to classic zombie films, Shaun of the Dead is an absolute blast from start to finish. It’s not just one of the best horror parodies ever made, but also one of the finest comedies of the 21st century, period.
2. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)
In this ingenious twist on the “killer hillbilly” subgenre, two sweet and well-meaning friends are mistaken for psychotic murderers by a group of preppy college kids. What follows is an escalating series of gory misunderstandings and splatstick humor as Tucker and Dale try to set the record straight while the body count rises. With standout performances by Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil is a fresh and funny take on horror tropes that will leave you in stitches.
3. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
From the twisted minds of Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard comes The Cabin in the Woods, a mind-bending meta-horror comedy that gleefully deconstructs and skewers the entire genre. When five friends visit a remote cabin for a weekend getaway, they find themselves at the mercy of sinister forces with a very familiar agenda. To say more would spoil the wildly inventive twists and turns, but suffice to say this is a love letter to horror that takes the genre in hilarious and unexpected new directions.
4. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Before directing Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi co-wrote, co-directed and starred in this uproarious mockumentary about a group of vampire roommates navigating life in modern day New Zealand. Shot in a deadpan “reality show” style, What We Do in the Shadows mines the mundane details of immortal life for big laughs, like arguing over household chores and going clubbing to find victims. It’s a pitch-perfect parody of both vampire movies and slice-of-life documentaries that has since spawned a hit TV series.
5. Young Frankenstein (1974)
Mel Brooks’ loving homage to 1930s Universal monster movies is an all-time comedy classic. Gene Wilder stars as the grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, who inherits his family’s estate and takes up the mantle of playing God. With an all-star cast including Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, and Peter Boyle as the lovable monster, Young Frankenstein is a masterclass in silly sight gags, groan-worthy puns, and old-school Hollywood horror aesthetics. It’s a timeless spoof that set the standard for horror comedies to come.
6. The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
This punk rock zombie flick is both a gory horror landmark and a cheeky send-up of George Romero’s Dead films. When a warehouse owner and his bumbling employees accidentally release a toxic gas, the dead begin to rise from a nearby cemetery, hungry for human brains. Return of the Living Dead gleefully mixes over-the-top splatter with tongue-in-cheek humor, creating a unique horror-comedy tone. It also introduced now-iconic zombie tropes like undead sprinters and brain-eating.
7. Zombieland (2009)
A decade after Shaun of the Dead, the zombie parody got a snarky American twist in Zombieland. Jesse Eisenberg stars as a neurotic loner navigating the apocalypse using his own strict set of survival rules. He reluctantly teams up with a wild-card Woody Harrelson and con artist sisters Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin on a road trip to a supposedly zombie-free amusement park. With an all-star cast and an irreverent, quip-heavy tone, Zombieland is a bloody fun time that takes shots at everything from Facebook to Twinkies.
8. The Scary Movie Franchise (2000-2013)
Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without the Scary Movie series itself. The Wayans brothers kicked off this long-running parody franchise in 2000 by lampooning the self-aware teen slashers of the late ’90s like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Filled with crude gags, pop culture references, and absurdist humor, the Scary Movies threw everything at the wall to see what stuck. While the sequels declined in quality, they’re still good for a guilty laugh and some dated early 2000s nostalgia.
9. Slither (2006)
Before he was a big-shot Marvel director, James Gunn wrote and directed this icky, sticky tribute to classic B-movie creature features. When a small town is invaded by an alien parasite that turns the residents into grotesque monsters, it’s up to the local sheriff to save the day. Slither is a slimy, often disgusting horror-comedy in the vein of early Peter Jackson films like Dead Alive, with plenty of gross-out gags and creepy practical effects. But it’s also a surprisingly heartfelt riff on ’50s sci-fi tropes with a stellar cast.
10. The Final Girls (2015)
The Final Girls puts a supernatural spin on the meta-horror concept, following a group of modern day teens who find themselves transported inside a cheesy ’80s slasher movie. The clever premise allows for plenty of jabs at the clichés of the genre, from the “rules” of slasher films to the stock character archetypes. But beyond the laughs and scares, The Final Girls also has a surprisingly emotional core, as the main character processes her grief over her late scream queen mother. It’s a funny, twisty, and even touching love letter to horror.
11. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)
Shot as a mockumentary, Behind the Mask takes place in a world where supernatural slashers like Jason and Freddy are real, and being a masked killer is a legitimate career path. The film follows a documentary crew as they profile Leslie Vernon, an up-and-coming slasher preparing for his first big murder spree while explaining the tricks of his trade. It’s a clever and often hilarious deconstruction of slasher movie tropes and formulas, but with some genuine menace lurking beneath the satirical surface.
12. Drag Me to Hell (2009)
After spending the 2000s directing Spider-Man movies, Sam Raimi returned to his splatsick horror-comedy roots with the outrageously entertaining Drag Me to Hell. Alison Lohman stars as a loan officer who, after denying an extension to an elderly woman, finds herself the recipient of a deadly curse. Raimi gleefully throws every gross-out gag and gonzo horror set-piece he can at the screen, creating a demented funhouse ride of a movie. It’s as much a celebration of his early Evil Dead films as it is a parody of more self-serious modern horror.
13. The Babysitter (2017)
This Netflix original horror comedy puts a bloody spin on the classic “boy has a crush on his hot babysitter” storyline. When 12-year-old Cole discovers that his babysitter Bee is actually the leader of a Satanic cult, he must survive a night of over-the-top murder attempts and supernatural mayhem. Directed by McG, The Babysitter is a stylish, highly referential riff on ’80s horror tropes with a game cast of up-and-coming young actors. It’s gory, goofy, and the kind of disposable but fun horror parody that’s perfect for a Netflix night in.
14. Scary Movie 2 (2001)
While it’s hard to top the first Scary Movie, this sequel still delivers some solid laughs by shifting its focus to spoofing supernatural and haunted house movies. Marlon Wayans returns as Shorty, now a college student investigating a creepy mansion alongside other horror movie stereotypes. Scary Movie 2 ups the raunch factor considerably, so be prepared for lots of gross-out sex gags and scatological humor. But it also has some inspired parodies, including a scene-stealing turn by Chris Elliott as a deformed butler clearly modeled on scary movie legends.
15. Club Dread (2004)
From the comedy troupe behind Super Troopers and Beerfest, Club Dread is a goofball slasher spoof set at a hedonistic island resort. When the staff of the Coconut Pete’s Pleasure Island start getting picked off by a machete-wielding maniac, it’s up to the hard-partying, sex-crazed employees to unmask the killer. Club Dread gleefully mocks slasher clichés and ups the raunch factor considerably, so it’s not for the easily offended. But fans of the Broken Lizard crew’s brand of intentionally dumb humor should find plenty to giggle at.
16. Idle Hands (1999)
This late ’90s horror comedy stars Devon Sawa as a slacker stoner whose right hand becomes possessed by a murderous demon. The only problem is, he’s too lazy to do anything about it. Idle Hands is a silly, splattery riff on “body part with a mind of its own” movies, with plenty of gory kills and a climax set at a high school dance. It’s very much a product of its time, with some dated jokes and references, but the committed performances and practical effects make it a fun nostalgic watch for ’90s kids.
17. Gravy (2015)
It’s not set at a summer camp or a spooky mansion, but rather a Mexican cantina. On All Hallows’ Eve, a group of costumed cannibals take over the restaurant and start killing the staff to use as ingredients in their dinner. Gravy is an oddball horror comedy that’s one part slasher spoof, one part “dinner theater from hell.” With quirky characters, quotable dialogue, and some nasty gore gags, it’s a Halloween-themed treat for fans of offbeat indie horror.
18. Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
Rounding out our list is this raunchy send-up of the teen movie boom of the late ’90s and early 2000s. While not strictly a horror parody, Not Another Teen Movie takes aim at genre-adjacent fare like Cruel Intentions and She’s All That. An all-star cast of up-and-comers including Chris Evans and Chyler Leigh play exaggerated versions of teen movie tropes, from the popular jock to the ugly duckling. With rapid-fire pop culture references and gross-out gags, it’s a perfect snapshot of the era’s comedy sensibilities.
From the zombie apocalypse to deadly demons to meta-slasher mayhem, these hilarious horror spoofs prove the only thing more fun than being scared is laughing at your fears. Whether you’re a die-hard horror fan or just enjoy smart, silly comedy, you’re sure to find something to love in these pitch-perfect parodies. So grab some friends, some popcorn, and get ready for a frighteningly funny movie marathon. Just be careful not to laugh yourself to death!
