Parody Films to Rent for Sci Fi Fans

Spaceballs, Galaxy Quest and Young Frankenstein Poke Fun at Monster Movies and Space Operas

Jul 18, 2009

Want to spend a night laughing at your favorite sci fi videos? Then check out these great movies to rent that lampoon Star Wars, Star Trek, and the Frankenstein movie.

Many fans agree that Star Trek offers great morality plays, Star Wars is a superb example of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, and Frankenstein provides a powerful cautionary tale about the consequences of playing God.

But in the hands of filmmakers like Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder, these stories become something much more powerful – spoof movies that can keep audiences laughing all night by reminding us how silly (and funny!) sci fi videos and horror films can be.

Here then is a list of popular DVD rentals of spoof movies that remind you of some of the other reasons you love science fiction and monster movies so much.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… evil President Skroob (Mel Brooks) sends dangerously short Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) to hold Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) hostage for her planet’s air supply. Fortunately Vespa is saved by space cowboy Lone Star (Bill Pullman), his dog-man sidekick Barf (John Candy), and their surprisingly fast Winnebago/spaceship.

Little does Lone Star know that keeping Vespa safe will be a bigger challenge as he must deal with angry Spaceballs, a crash landing on a desert planet, and Vespa’s matched luggage. Can Lone Star save Vespa from the Spaceballs? That depends on whether you believe in wise sage Yogurt (Mel Brooks again!) and his awesome power – the Schwartz!

A hilarious parody film to rent, Spaceballs lampoons not only the first Star Wars trilogy, but also Planet of the Apes, Alien, and even Kentucky Fried Chicken (courtesy of Spaceball officer Colonel Sandurz). The movie’s best moments, however, come when characters break the fourth wall to hawk Spaceballs lunchboxes, dolls, and other merchandise (which, according to Yogurt, is how movies make their real money).

Ironically, according to the Internet Movie Database, Mel Brooks promised George Lucas not to sell Spaceballs merchandise– keeping kids from buying Spaceballs toilet paper and flamethrowers. But even if fans can’t buy official Spaceballs merchandise, they can still get this popular parody film, which retains its comedic bite even after over twenty years.

Seventeen years after his sci fi TV show Galaxy Quest is cancelled, washed-up actor Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen) spends his time signing autographs at sci fi conventions with the rest of his co-stars. But that all changes when Jason meets the peaceful alien Thermians, who based their entire culture on Galaxy Quest episodes – going so far as to create a real spaceship based on one in the TV show for Jason to captain. Thrilled, Jason convinces all of his co-stars to go on a space adventure with him.

Unfortunately, Jason soon learns the Thermians are involved in a very real life-or-death war with reptilian aliens intent on destroying the ship. To survive, the actors must fool the aliens into believing they really are their TV counterparts – and get some obscure trivia about their ship from obsessed Galaxy Quest fans – or be blown into space dust.

As much a parody film of Star Trek “Trekkie” fans as it is about Star Trek itself, Galaxy Quest is one of those rare spoof movies that also works as a straightforward action-comedy film. A lot of this is thanks to the cast – which includes science fiction and fantasy veterans Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman – who lend both authenticity and humor to the parody film. While most of the jokes work best for Star Trek fans, this is one DVD in a list of funny parodies that will even appeal to people who don’t normally like spoof movies.

Gene Wilder stars as the grandson of Frankenstein in this parody of the Frankenstein movie, which also features Terri Garr, Marty Feldman, and Peter Boyle.

All Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (who pronounces his last name “Fronk-en-STEEN”) wants people to do is forget about his grandfather’s crazy experiments. But when he inherits his grandfather’s old castle, he discovers grandpa’s notebook (helpfully titled “How I Did It”) and can’t resist recreating the old experiment.

With the help of the hunchback Igor (who pronounces his name "Eye-Gor") (Feldman), and sexy lab assistant Inga (Garr), Frankenstein soon constructs a seven-foot-tall monster with a severely receding hairline (Boyle). Unfortunately, history soon repeats itself (albeit in incredibly silly ways) and Frankenstein must find a way to get the angry villagers to accept his monster.

One of the most popular cult classic movies to rent – especially during Halloween – Young Frankenstein was later turned into a Broadway musical that opened in 2007 and initially starred Roger Bart as Frankenstein, Sutton Foster as Inga, and Shuler Hensley as the Monster. Curiously, Hensley actually had prior experience playing the Frankenstein creature – in the 2004 monster movie Van Helsing.

The copyright of the article Parody Films to Rent for Sci Fi Fans in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Films is owned by Michael Jung. Permission to republish Parody Films to Rent for Sci Fi Fans in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.