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.