4. Young Frankenstein (1974)
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Another Mel Brooks spoof, and according to the critics, his best. Young Frankenstein naturally parodies Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, particularly the 1931 film adaptation. It stars Gene Wilder, Pete Boyle, Cloris Leachman, and Gene Hackman, and continues to stand out as one of the best spoof movies ever made.
Despite being made in the ’70s, Brooks chose to shoot the film entirely in the style of the 1930s. It was supposedly seen as a curious decision by the studio, but it proved an excellent one: Young Frankenstein perfectly evokes the old-school horror it sought to parody. It also impressed critics, earning universal acclaim with its obvious reverence for the genre noted in particular.
There’s very little not to love about Young Frankenstein. Much like Blazing Saddles, it feels very much a part of the genre it spoofs, making its parody feel all the more organic. With excellent comedic performances from Wilder, Boyle, and Leachman, Young Frankenstein continues to stand as a shining example of a near-perfect spoof.