Parody films that focus on specific series or genres are nothing new, but few execute it as well as Scary Movie. Most fans would agree that Scary Movie 1 through 3 all had funny parts, although later installments did not land as well.

The original film came out in 2000, and Scary Movie is getting a well-deserved reboot this year. However, if you can’t wait until June for your parody fix, there are more options than just a single franchise to tide you over.

Parody movies are a famously mixed bag, particularly those from the early 2000s. Still, here’s a selection of films that have survived the test of time that any Scary Movie fan will appreciate.

8

A Haunted House (2013)

A Haunted House may be a low-hanging fruit for Scary Movie fans, but there’s a lot of overlap in the best way possible.

The formula of A Haunted House is comfortably familiar because Marlon Wayans co-wrote it alongside Rick Alvarez. It’s a predictable but hilarious movie that heavily parodies the Paranormal Activity series.

A Haunted House also takes aim at other found-footage horror films. It parodies elements from Sinister and Insidious and even a more direct scene from The Devil Inside.

If you love Scary Movie, you’ll enjoy A Haunted House as the style of humor is so similar. Its sequel, A Haunted House 2, follows a similar format, though some of the jokes don’t land as well as they do in the original.

7

Shaun Of The Dead (2004)

Shawn of the Dead is critically acclaimed and arguably one of the best horror comedies ever made.

The movie stars Simon Pegg as Shaun and Nick Frost as Ed. The pair live unremarkable lives until they face a zombie apocalypse and a fight for survival. While Shaun of the Dead doesn’t parody any particular movie, it makes fun of the zombie movie genre in its entirety.

References are more subtle, but it affectionately takes shots at Romero’s movies, like the classic Dawn of the Dead. It also parodies real life, like in a scene where regular people shuffle around like zombies on their way to work in the morning.

The humor in Shaun of the Dead is less crass and direct than in Scary Movie, but it’s overflowing with jokes, and some are even referenced in other Simon Pegg films.

6

The Cabin In The Woods (2011)

The Cabin in the Woods is a cult classic that dismantles popular horror tropes in a meta way that few other movies have tried. It’s also critically acclaimed, with a strong enough plot that even non-horror fans can enjoy it.

The movie has an unbelievable twist that I won’t spoil here. It also pokes fun at traditional horror tropes, such as the typical cast dynamics in slasher movies. It’s obvious to the audience and some of the characters that something is not right about the cabin, and it sets up a dramatic reveal you couldn’t guess if you tried.

Cabin in the Woods has a strong cast, including Chris Hemsworth and Kristen Connolly. While it’s a funny movie, it also has serious moments and a well-crafted story, meaning if you enjoy Scary Movie for its jokes about the genre, you will love what Cabin in the Woods does with the medium.

5

Not Another Teen Movie (2001)

Many films in the early 2000s fell flat in the parody genre, failing to impress audiences or critics. Not Another Teen Movie is an exception, and while it’s not a horror parody, it does snipe at a few beloved classics in the genre.

Joel Gallen’s comedy mostly parodies 90s teen movies, with a story heavily inspired by She’s All That. There are plenty of crude jokes, and Not Another Teen Movie isn’t afraid to laugh at scenes from hard-hitters in the genre.

The film is similar to Scary Movie in many ways, just picking on a different genre. If you enjoy crass humor and have some knowledge of movies from the era, Not Another Teen Movie is worth your time.

Joel Gallen’s film succeeds where similar movies of the time failed because it’s genuinely funny at times. The loud jokes are fine, but the sharp one-liners that point out how ridiculous teen movie tropes are still land and are relevant today.

4

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Hot Fuzz has a lot in common with Shaun of the Dead, as they are two movies in the ‘Three Flavors Cornetto Trilogy.’

Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is an exemplary cop in Hot Fuzz, so skilled that he makes his colleagues look bad by comparison. They transfer him to an idyllic countryside village, but it quickly becomes clear that there’s something sinister at play.

Like Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz pokes fun at elements of other movies, such as the unassuming village vibe in The Wicker Man. The movie is full of laughs, though it mostly avoids parodying specific movie scenes, unlike Scary Movie.

If you enjoy Scary Movie and Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz is an easy recommendation. It’s another critically acclaimed comedy, even if the humor isn’t as loud and direct.

3

The Final Girls

The Final Girls parodies several horror films, including classics like Halloween, and rips into the slasher genre as a whole. Even the name is appropriate, as an on-the-nose reference to movies like Scream.

If you’re a fan of Scream and enjoy its meta approach where characters know horror movie rules, there’s plenty to love in The Final Girls. The cast is unwittingly pulled into a slasher film against their will. They know horror movie tropes and how they play out, and have to use their knowledge of the genre to try to survive.

The inspiration from classics like Friday the 13th is obvious, but the film also draws from other 80s and 90s slashers. As The Final Girls is PG-13, fans expecting risqué or gross-out comedy may be disappointed. However, many of the jokes land, as they are clever, and the movie’s plot is wrapped around a surprisingly emotional tale about a mother-daughter relationship.

The Final Girls makes light of so many 80s slasher tropes that it’s a must-watch for horror fans despite the rating.

2

Tucker & Dale Vs Evil (2010)

Tucker & Dale vs Evil is a funny, surprisingly heartfelt movie full of nods to Hollywood horror tropes with a decent story to tell.

In the movie, Tucker (Alan Tudyk) and Dale (Tyler Labine) purchase a creepy cabin in the woods, planning to renovate it. They stumble into a stereotypical group of unlikable teens, who mistakenly believe the duo is up to no good.

Without delving into spoilers, Tucker & Dale vs Evil flips the script on well-known horror tropes. It presents them in a unique way, and even directly parodies classics, like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

The movie is refreshingly clever and not afraid to lay on the gross-out humor. While the format is certainly different from Scary Movie, it remains a superb horror comedy and pays a memorable homage to horror as a genre.

1

What We Do In The Shadows (2014)

What We Do In The Shadows is a hilarious dark comedy filmed in a mockumentary style. It was written by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, with the latter also having directed Thor: Ragnarok.

The movie follows a group of vampires and documents their adventures and struggles as they live together. The premise comes to life through a strong cast who knock their performances out of the park.

Vampires take many forms in movies, and What We Do In The Shadows showcases the most popular stereotypes. Characters are clearly borrowed from classics like The Lost Boys and Nosferatu. It’s not a traditional parody film, but some references are so blatant that genre fans will recognize them immediately.

The premise is already a treasure trove of funny moments, and the story fully explores how classic vampire legends would make them struggle in the modern world. For example, how would a vampire enter a club without being invited?

Scary Movie fans will find plenty to enjoy in What We Do In The Shadows, but it’s something particularly special if you enjoy vampire movies.