From late-night cartoons to big-screen productions,
the muggles have run amok.
Welcome to WatchMojo UK and today we’ll
be counting down our picks for the top 10
Harry Potter parodies!
For this list, we’ve gathered the funniest,
cleverest and most popular parodies centred
on the “Harry Potter” film series.
As we’re considering anything inspired by
recognisable “Potter” scenes, tropes or
characters, today’s entries include film
and TV spoofs and references, as well as viral
clips and YouTube favourites.
Seth MacFarlane and co. have poked fun at
the Potter series in various scenes, including
Steve’s suspect Potions class in “American
Dad!”, but we’ve gotta go with the Griffins
to start.
“Family Guy” references to witchcraft
and wizardry include Quagmire’s questionable
views on female anatomy and Peter’s doorstep
chit-chat with a passing owl.
But we’ve picked another Peter clip for
today’s list, as his sorting hat ritual
goes awry.
While this “Doctor Who” episode centres
on Shakespeare, JK Rowling and “Harry Potter”
provide a running gag throughout, blurring
the boundaries between two of fantasy fiction’s
best-loved universes.
Martha Jones is still finding her feet in
the TARDIS, and the Doctor’s powers are
Harry-esque in her eyes, but Rowling’s work
truly comes to the fore at the story’s supernatural
climax.
There’s nothing that a simple disarming
charm can’t fix.
While the rest of today’s countdown focusses
on comedy shorts or isolated scenes, “Benjamin
Sniddlegrass” is a full-blown, feature-length
Potter parody.
And it largely came about by accident.
When BBC Radio’s Kermode and Mayo gave a
damning review to “Percy Jackson and the
Lightning Thief”, suggesting a cheeky alternative
title in the process, they inspired Australian
filmmaker Jeremy Dylan to turn their joke
into reality.
One year, 6,000 Australian dollars and a Stephen
Fry voiceover later, and “Cauldron of Penguins”
was available for download.
The magic of cinema, eh!
The Screen Junkies “Honest Trailers” treatment
has become a bizarre badge of honour for major
movie franchises, and the Harry Potter edition
doesn’t disappoint.
With spot-on summaries of our favourite characters
and merciless mickey-takes of pivotal scenes,
it also pays hilarious homage to the UK’s
topmost acting talents.
Trivialising the saga into just a few short
quips, while this clip does cosy up to the
anti-Potter argument, Harry fans are sure
to smile too.
Introducing Nigel Planter, a recurring character
in this mid-2000s Cartoon Network show, and
a pinpoint parody of Rowling’s world-famous
wizard.
Planter crosses paths with Billy and Mandy
at Toadblatt’s School of Sorcery, where
the squidhat sorts them into Weaslethorpe
house, the consistent no-hopers in the race
for the house cup.
But when Mandy sets her mind to sabotage,
their rivals Gunderstank don’t stand a chance.
Leaving Planter to steal the credit for Mandy’s
cunning plans.
When French and Saunders took on Hogwarts
in 2003, “Harry Potter” mania was in full
flow.
The comic double act have delivered many a
memorable parody for “Comic Relief”, but
here they spoof the second Potter film with
a perfect rehash.
Dawn French turns the boy wizard into a rather
womanly character, while Jennifer Saunders
plays a petrified Ron Weasley, and a ditzy
JK.
And both are backed by a stellar supporting
cast, including Jeremy Irons as a narcissistic
Snape and Basil Brush as Dobby.
Boom Boom.
To another animated show packed with Potter
parodies, “The Simpsons” typically spoofs
Harry through Lisa’s favourite book series,
“Angelica Button”.
However, the third story in “Treehouse of
Horror XII” sees Springfield Elementary
transform into an all-encompassing academy
of magic – and it’s no surprise that Lisa
is top of the class.
A six-minute tale packed with pun-based spells
and thinly veiled characters, Lord Montymort
is a particular highlight.
Even if his death is kinda gross.
We can thank SNL for a long series of spoofs,
and special mention to Daniel Radcliffe’s
2012 hosting slot which saw him reprise his
iconic role.
But this sketch is easily the show’s most
famous Potter skit, centring on Lindsay Lohan
as a sexed-up Hermione.
Set after the summer break, Lohan’s busty
witch triggers a testosterone overload, proving
a provocative distraction as Ron, Harry, Fred,
George, Snape and Hagrid get hot under the
collar.
Although, she seems oblivious to the ogling.
Bruno Mars meets the Boy Who Lived for today’s
runner-up, although it’s Voldemort who truly
takes centre stage here.
With a rhythm lifted from Mars and Mark Ronson’s
2014 megahit, “Uptown Funk”, the lyrics
land us right at the heart of the Battle of
Hogwarts.
Only the Dark Lord’s on the dancefloor,
and Harry hasn’t a hope of matching his
moves.
A monumental musical number, “Dark Lord
Funk” even impressed JK herself, who said
the clip was ‘genius’.
And we’ll second that.
It may have been inspired by one of the most
popular film franchises in history, but today’s
winner boasts its own unique spot in modern
pop culture.
“Potter Puppet Pals” sparked a YouTube
phenomenon in the mid-2000s, as a long series
of live-action puppetry sketches designed
to caricature the “Harry Potter” series.
But “The Mysterious Ticking Noise” caught
most attention, providing an unofficial soundtrack
to Harry’s epic adventure.
This, ladies and gents, is what real magic
looks like.
