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While some films and series follow the spirit of James Bond, others have used this iconic series in a different way. Multiple parodies made fun of the 007 agent and his adventures over the years but only some of them have a lot to offer to the viewers.
8 The Austin Powers Series
As far as James Bond parodies are concerned, the Austin Powers series has the power to divide the audience. Some people will love its boldness and the fact that it considers nothing sacred. Others will think the series takes it too far. Whatever the case, there’s no denying that it draws heavy inspiration from James Bond.
After all, Mike Myers’ Austin Powers is a British secret agent who faces extravagant villains and meets a lot of beautiful women. And if anybody still doubts that it has anything to do with James Bond, they might change their opinion when they find out that one of the Austin Powers movies is called Goldmember which is very similar to James Bond’s Goldfinger. The series currently has three films but a fourth one is in the works.
7 Spy Hard (1996)
Leslie Nielsen is one of the kings of parody movies, so any fans of his shouldn’t miss out on watching this film. Despite not being as well-known as Nielsen’s other work, it’s still worth trying out.
Nielsen stars as the agent Dick Steele who has to come back from retirement after 15 years because an old enemy of his is threatening to destroy the Earth. Depending on whether the viewer enjoys this type of humor, they will either love or hate this film. Thanks to the performances of Nielsen and the rest of the cast, this is a James Bond parody that doesn’t deserve to be forgotten.
6 OK Connery (1967)
While not rated as high as some other James Bond parodies, OK Connery has one significant advantage. It stars Neil Connery, Sean Connery’s younger brother as a secret agent’s younger brother who looks just like him.
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Neil Connery hasn’t appeared in many films so this one is by far the best chance how to get to know his work better. It’s also a fast-paced film that isn’t afraid to make fun of everything that makes James Bond so iconic - including Sean Connery himself. It’s also possible to find the film under the name of Operation Kid Brother.
5 Hot Enough For June (1964)
This lesser-known film functions both as a James Bond parody and as a sequel of sorts. Its main hero is a writer who gets hired by Her Majesty’s Secret Service once a certain 007 secret agent dies. The writer, played by Dirk Bogarde, goes on a work trip.
The only problem has he has no idea what he’s doing and he’s also not aware of the true nature of his trip. The film was inspired by the novel Night of Wenceslas written by Lionel Davidson. Dirk Bogarde gives an excellent performance as the confused writer, and the film’s sense of humor can attract audiences’ attention years later.
4 The End Of Agent W4C (1967)
The 1960s was when some of the best Czechoslovakian films were created. This action-comedy has all the important features of James Bond movies. It works with elaborate gadgets, beautiful girls, and, of course, the ever-present spies all around.
In the movie, Agent W4C travels to Prague to give a secret plan to the beautiful agent Alice. Unfortunately, his task becomes much more complicated thanks to an accountant and his dog. If someone hasn’t watched any Czechoslovakian movies before and they’re willing to give it a try, The End of Agent W4C is a good place to start.
3 The Johnny English Series
Rowan Atkinson is best-known for playing Mr. Bean in the Mr. Bean series as well as two films. However, his second most famous role is the ambitious but ultimately very clumsy agent Johnny English. The series has three films, from 2003, 2011, and 2018.
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It contains a lot of hilarious moments, imaginative action scenes, and other than Atkinson, it also stars a lot of talented actors. The cast list of all three films includes names such as John Malkovich, Gillian Anderson, Rosamund Pike, Olga Kurylenko, Emma Thompson, or Ben Miller as English’s long-suffering sidekick Bough.
2 That Man From Rio (1964)
The early 1960s saw the rise of multiple films inspired by James Bond. What not everyone might know is that they were created not only in the United Kingdom but also in other countries.
In France, the honor to portray a version of Bond went to the legendary Jean-Paul Belmondo, one of the most celebrated French actors of all time. Belmondo’s hero searches for his kidnapped fiancée as well as a key to a rare treasure. An interesting fact about this adventure-filled, fast-paced movie is that it presumably inspired Steven Spielberg when he directed Indiana Jones.
1 Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
While not an entirely Bond parody, Kingsman: The Secret Service makes fun of multiple spy films, not just James Bond. It has a star-studded cast (Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine, Mark Hamill) and it made Taron Egerton famous.
The film is very well aware of what it parodies so it manages to surprise the audience with unexpected plot twists (such as when one character dies). Thanks to the film’s success, it was followed by a sequel in 2017.
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