In this list, I'm just including period dramas that are parodies of period dramas.
The following are excluded from this narrow definition:
Films that are made-up of short vignettes, like The Meaning of Life or History of the World: Part I, as they lack an overarching plot.
Films or stories that were not period dramas when initially created, like The Importance of Being Earnest, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!, The Naked Gun, Airplane!, High Anxiety, Hot Shots!, The Freshman, Bye-Bye-Birdie, This Is Spinal Tap, and The Windsors.
Musicals where modern people fall into a parody like Shmigadoon! and Teen Beach Movie.
Straight comedies that don't parody the genre, like Black Adder.
Listicle of Period Dramas Parodies:
(#1) LIFE OF BRIAN (1979)
Born on the original Christmas in the stable next door to Jesus Christ, Brian of Nazareth spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.
Life of Brian is a parody of the life of Jesus, and thus can be viewed a parody of movies like The Passion of Christ.
My rating: 9/10 stars
At time of publication, Life of Brian is streaming on Netflix.
(#2) MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975)
King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table embark on a surreal, low-budget search for the Holy Grail, encountering many, very silly obstacles.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail parodies any medieval period film.
My rating: 9/10 stars
At time of publication, MPATHG is streaming on Netflix.
(#3) ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS (1993)
Robin Hood: Men in Tights is a spoof of Robin Hood in general, and particularly, Prince of Thieves.
My rating: 9/10 stars
At time of publication, Robing Hood: Men in Tights is streaming on Max.
(#4) HUNDERBY (2012-2015)
Set in the 1830s, this 10-episode black comedy centers on a woman who is washed ashore after her ship is wrecked off the English coast.
Hunderby is a parody of many Victorian and Georgian stories, especially Poldark and Lark Rise to Candleford.
My rating: 7/10
As of publication, Hunderby is available to stream on Hulu.
(#5) STIFF UPPER LIPS (1997)
Aunt Agnes tries to force Emily to marry boring Cedric Trilling by taking her to Italy and India in hopes will forget about handsome George.
Stiff Upper Lips is a parody of Merchant-Ivory Films, especially Passage to India and a Room to View.
My rating: 7/10
As of publication, Stiff Upper Lips is available for rent on Amazon Prime.
(#6) THE ADVENTURE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES' SMARTER BROTHER (1975)
King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table embark on a surreal, low-budget search for the Holy Grail, encountering many, very silly obstacles.
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother is a hilarious parody Victorian detective novels,
My rating: 8/10 stars
As of publication, Sherlock Holmes' Brother is not streaming online.
(#7) BLAZING SADDLES (1974)
In order to ruin a western town, a corrupt politician appoints a black Sheriff, who promptly becomes his most formidable adversary.
Blazing Saddles is a skewering parody of Western movies. The movie is set in the 1870s.
My rating: 7/10 stars
At time of publication, Blazing Saddles is streaming on Max and Amazon Prime.
(#8) YOUNG FRAKENSTEIN (1974)
An American grandson of the infamous scientist, struggling to prove that his grandfather was not as insane as people believe, is invited to Transylvania, where he discovers the process that reanimates a dead body.
Young Frankenstein is a parody of Frankenstein and the hey-day of monster movies set in the 1930s.
My rating: 10/10
At time of publication, Young Frankenstein is streaming on Max.
(#9) CLUE (1985)
Six guests are anonymously invited to a strange mansion for dinner, but after their host is killed, they must cooperate with the staff to identify the murderer as the bodies pile up
Clue is based on the board-game but also can function as a parody of 1950s cold war and who-dun-it movies. Starring Tim Curry, this is a masterpiece.
My rating: 10/10
At time of publication, Clue is streaming on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime.
(#10) DOWN WITH LOVE (2003)
In 1962 New York City, love blossoms between a playboy journalist and a feminist advice author. The movie stars Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Sarah Paulson, and Rachel Dratch with an impressive set aesthetic and soundtrack.
Down with Love parodies 1950s and 1960s sex-comedies.
My rating: 6/10
At time of publication, the movie is available for rent on Amazon.
(#11) CRY-BABY (1990)
In 1950s Baltimore, a bad boy with a heart of gold wins the love of a good girl, whose boyfriend sets out for revenge.
Cry-Baby parodies Elvis movies and other 1950s themed movies like Grease.
My rating: 8/10
At time of publication, Cry-Baby is streaming on Tubi TV.
(#12) TROPIC THUNDER (2008)
Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.
Tropic Thunder is a parody of Vietnam War movies and the film industry. Even though it's set modern day, it is a skewering of movies like Platoon and The Thin Red Line. It takes shock comedy to the extreme, so viewer beware.
My rating: 6/10 stars
At time of publication, Tropic Thunder is streaming on Pluto TV.
(#13) THE SPOILS OF BABYLON (2014)
Two siblings whose intense love drives everything around them to ruin, from the Great Depression, Texas Oil Boom, World War II, and the 80s.
The Spoils of Babylon parodies overwrought soaps and miniseries of the 1980s, and the authors who write the melodramatic novels like The Thorn Birds, Rich Man, Poor Man, and The Winds of War. The 6 episodes, all 30 minutes, feel like Saturday Night Live sketches. Sometimes they might feel too long.
My rating: 6/10 stars
At time of publication, Spoils of Babylon is streaming on Pluto TV.
Any other period piece paradise? Which is your favorite?
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