Family Guy is one of the longest-running shows on television. It rivals The Simpsons in popularity and has dozens of running jokes, gags and bits that have been consistent throughout the show. Not to mention their famous cutaways. However, some of the best episodes come from when Family Guy parodies real-life works of fiction.
Whether it’s the Griffin’s spoofing the iconic Star Wars original trilogy, modern juggernauts like Game of Thrones and Succession, or classic literature that everyone read in high school; there is always a joke to be made, even for things people and critics universally love. These are the best Family Guy parody episodes that are perfect for binge-watching.
20
“Mr. Griffin Goes to Washington”
Season 3, Episode 3 (2001)
When Peter’s toy company is bought by a tobacco company, he confronts his new bosses about their new toy designs that are clearly meant to market cigarettes to children. In an effort to keep Peter quiet, the new owners promote him and give him the job as the CEO of the company, which comes with an array of perks. The company soon realizes that Peter is the perfect puppet for them to do their bidding and eventually send him to Washington to speak to Congress about a new bill.
Family Guy has a habit of spoofing classic movies and Season 3, episode 3, “Mr. Griffin Goes to Washington,” is an obvious parody of Frank Capra‘s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington starring James Stewart. While the concept is far from Capra’s plot, it does follow the same premise of people in positions of power taking advantage of those who are naive about their end game and have a welcoming image that resonates with the public.
19
“Meet the Quagmires”
Season 5, Episode 18 (2007)
In Season 5, episode 18, Peter gets the chance to relive one day from his past and travels back in time with Brian to 1984, specifically the day he and Lois had an important date. When Peter cancels his date with Lois to enjoy being single, he returns to the present time and discovers his choice has altered his current life and learns that Lois married Quagmire.
“Meet the Quagmires” is a ridiculous parody of the 1985 hit movie, Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox and is full of humorous takes on the iconic ’80s movie, including a spoof on Fox’s performance of Chuck Berry‘s “Johnny B. Goode,” but instead, Brian plays “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. The main appeal of the episode is seeing how life would have been if Lois married Quagmire, revealing all the Griffin kids with their father’s, uh, charming good looks… giggity.
18
“The First No L”
Season 19, Episode 9 (2020)
As Christmas slowly approaches, Lois asks the family to help with Christmas this year, but Peter and the kids blow it and fail to follow through. Lois decides to leave the holiday up to them and lies about going to Mexico while secretly hiding out at a motel and waiting for her family to come crawling back to her. At first, they aren’t able to get things together, but when they manage to put on a rather impressive Christmas, Lois decides to take matters into her own hands and ruin their hard work.
“The First No L” is a bit of a reverse and clever Family Guy parody of the classic Christmas story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. The story is perfectly reflected in one particular scene when Lois sneaks into the house to steal all the presents. She even gives the Grinch’s sinister grinchy grin that is a bit frightened and over the top.
17
“The Woof of Wall Street”
Season 16, Episode 15 (2018)
When Brian discovers that Stewie has made a fortune investing in the stock market, he asks him to help him get in on the wealth. Initially, Stewie declines but then agrees to help Brian if he helps him learn “gymkata,” which is a mix of gymnastics and karate. As Brian and Stewie invest in the stock market, they are soon swimming in cash, but when they invest in a questionable protein shake company, they discover the key ingredient is dog, forcing Brian to choose between his morals and his wallet.
“The Woof of Wall Street” is a sly take on Martin Scorsese‘s The Wolf of Wall Street starring Leonardo DiCaprio and is easily one of Family Guy‘s most twisted parody episodes. The episode starts off seemingly simple, but it quickly escalates to a highly unexpected level that, in some strange sense, correlates with DiCaprio’s character in the film, making “The Woof of Wall Street” an intriguing parody episode.
16
“The Talented Mr. Stewie”
Season 19, Episode 2 (2020)
When Stewie discovers that his beloved teddy bear, Rupert, used to belong to Chris, he feels betrayed and gives the bear back to Chris as he tries to form a friendship with a stuffed giraffe. Despite his best efforts, Stewie struggles with his emotions and can’t forgive Rupert and Chris and becomes even more distraught when he learns that Rupert and Chris are getting along well. After taking a long European vacation, Stewie seems to be happier, but he still decides that he has to kill his brother and former stuffed friend.
“The Talented Mr. Stewie” is not only a classic Stewie episode, but also a hilarious parody of the 1999 psychological thriller, The Talented Mr. Ripley, starring Matt Damon and Jude Law. While Stewie doesn’t take on an alternative persona, the episode does feature the film’s European atmosphere as well as the key scene where Damon’s character kills Law’s character. Thankfully, the episode doesn’t end the same way as the movie, but Stewie does give Damon’s character a solid run for his money in this absurd parody episode.
15
“Ocean’s Three and a Half”
Season 8, Episode 7 (2009)
In season 8, episode 7, “Ocean’s Three and a Half,” Bonnie (Jennifer Tilly) finally gives birth to a baby girl but when Joe (Patrick Warburton) receives the hospital and medical bills, he can’t afford to pay them. After failing to get a loan from Lois’ dad, Carter Pewterschmidt (Seth MacFarlane), the guys hatch a plan to rob an annual event hosted by the Pewterschmidts where all their wealthy friends arrive and bring loads of money.
The episode is a soft take on the classic film, Ocean’s 11, but instead of robbing a casino in Las Vegas, they choose the wealthy elites who, for some reason, all bring their money to the Pewterschmidt’s home and lock it away in a giant safe. The episode follows the same pattern of each guy having some special talent that comically comes in handy for this heist, making it a clever Family Guy parody episode.
14
“The Fat Man Always Rings Twice”
Season 20, Episode 13 (2021)
Peter takes on the role of the private eye, Mac Bookpro, who is hired to find a missing nun, Sister Megan, who mysteriously disappeared. As the detective digs further into the disappearance, he uncovers dark family secrets and a cover-up that shocks even the experienced gumshoe.
“The Fat Man Always Rings Twice” is a noir-style segment that pulls from various classic noir films such as The Postman Always Rings Twice and Chinatown. The episode accurately captures the atmosphere of a gritty noir mystery while still conveying a high level of comedy that correlates with the setting of the episode.
13
“Go, Stewie, Go!”
Season 8, Episode 13 (2010)
When Stewie learns that his favorite television show, Jolly Farm, is making an American debut and holding auditions, he begs Brian to take him to try out, but unfortunately, all the boy roles have been filled, and the casting team is only auditioning girls. Unable to take no for an answer, Stewie disguises himself as a little girl, Karina, who manages to be cast, becoming the most popular character in the popular children’s series.
“Go, Stewie, Go!” is a hilarious parody of the 1982 romantic comedy, Tootsie, starring Dustin Hoffman and Jessica Lange. The episode features incredible details from the film, including becoming the show’s breakout star, Stewie’s dilemma of falling for his female co-star, and his final reveal, which is almost Hoffman’s monologue word for word. Between Stewie’s convincing alter-ego and the humorous twists made to fit with the characters and specific scenario, it is without a doubt one of the show’s best parody episodes.
12
“North by North Quahog”
Season 4, Episode 1 (2005)
When Lois and Peter decide to take a second honeymoon, their trip gets off to a rocky start after Peter manages to crash their car. Their luck begins to turn around when the couple gets to stay in a luxury hotel suite after Peter convinces the hotel management that he’s Mel Gibson. While Peter’s plan is successful, the couple are soon on the run from a group of unknown men after they find a secret tape in Gibson’s suite.
“North by North Quahog” is another twisted parody episode based on Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic classic film, North by Northwest, starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint. While the episode starts off on an original route, it eventually morphs into Hitchcock’s film and even includes the famous scene of Grant running from a plane and the couple being chased onto Mount Rushmore. Even though it’s not a scene-by-scene comparison, “North by North Quahog” does develop its own plot and meticulously weaves it into Hitchcock’s, making it a solid Family Guy parody episode.
11
“Petergeist”
Season 4, Episode 26 (2006)
After Joe impresses the neighbors with his new in-home theater, Peter decides to try and one-up him by building his own multiplex. While digging into the yard, he and Chris uncover an ancient Indian burial ground, and instead of leaving the remains, Peter takes a chief’s skull, resulting in the house becoming haunted by the angered spirits.
“Petergeist” is a hysterical parody of the 1982 horror thriller Poltergeist and features humorous takes on several iconic scenes and moments from the hit movie. The episode goes an extra mile by including similar music and special effects that capture the unique eerie tone of the film, showcasing the show’s dedication and extensive efforts to make this a tribute of an episode to the 80s classic as well as a memorable parody episode.
10
“Grimm Job”
Season 12, Episode 10 (2014)
Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and Cinderella make up this episode as Peter puts his own twist on these classic stories while trying to get Stewie to go to sleep. Peter plays the role of Jack, Stewie plays Little Red Riding Hood, and Lois plays Cinderella.
The episode has just enough time to nail the plots of the stories, although with limited cutaways, which is their bread and butter. The funniest part is when Stewie wonders if the Woodsman (played by Peter) is a hero for saving them or just a lunatic killing people from house to house.
9
“High School English”
Season 15, Episode 7 (2016)
True to its name, this episode is an anthology of stories revolving around classic high school literature that almost everyone in America has read: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
In classic fashion, Lois, Peter, Chris, Meg, Stewie, and Brian take the forms of the characters from the story. There is always a good laugh at the seemingly small plot holes that turn into focal points of the episode. Plus, the period jokes are very specific for each novel, making it especially satisfying for any readers watching.
8
“HBO-No”
Season 20, Episode 14 (2022)
A recent anthology episode highlights the triple HBO smash hit TV shows: Game of Thrones, Succession, and Big Little Lies. The GoT bit most notably highlights the controversial White Walkers fight from Season 8, where a majority of the fan base complained it was too dark to see anything.
The Succession parody might steel the episode though, because it is so over the top with the show’s plot: who is going to be the successor of Logan Roy (Brian Cox [here, it’s Peter, the founder of Peestream Industries]). Lois is annoyed she was barely in this one, so they transition to Big Little Lies.
7
“Wasted Talent”
Season 2, Episode 20 (2000)
The earliest episode of Family Guy on the list brings fans back to much simpler times and to a different era of the show. This is also the first episode that revolved around a singular parody or spoof, which happens to be Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. But instead of candy, it’s beer, and it takes place at the Pawtucket Patriot Ale Brewery.
Although the other part of the episode revolves around Peter’s ability to play the piano drunk, the first bit with the Brewery is the most memorable. It’s hilarious when Brian and Peter venture off to find the “beer that never goes flat” and are subsequently kicked out.
6
“Emmy-Winning Episode”
Season 16, Episode 1 (2017)
Despite having won multiple Emmys to this date, and having been nominated for dozens more, Family Guy likes to take a shot at their contemporaries, specifically ones that seem to win all the big-time Emmy Awards. The Griffins start with comedy, then move to drama, then reality and documentaries. It’s a masterclass of self-aware humor and bits and gags.
They spoof Modern Family, Big Bang Theory, Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, House of Cards, Game of Thrones, and many others. There is also an extensive list of guest voice actors that appear throughout. However, the Emmys reject all the Griffins’ submissions for Family Guy.
5
“Three Directors”
Season 16, Episode 5 (2017)
For this anthology episode, Peter gets fired from his job at the brewery in the stylization of three extremely popular and successful Directors: Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson, and Michael Bay. The Tarantino bit is based on Kill Bill and the Bay is based on pretty much all his movies full of over-the-top action.
The episode is jam-packed with not-so-subtle nods to each director’s art style, as well as some funny anecdotes about their movies. It’s a thrill ride from start to finish and a very entertaining episode all around. The Wes Anderson bit didn’t get as much screen time as Bay and Tarantino.
4
“Three Kings”
Season 7, Episode 15 (2009)
The famed horror author Stephen King is the focus of this story, as Peter sits in a study to tell the stories of Stand By Me, Misery, and The Shawshank Redemption. Interestingly enough, Peter calls King, “the greatest author of the last thousand years.”
Brian as the Writer and Stewie as the troubled Nurse Annie in the Misery parody are downright hilarious but kind of fitting for both their characters, especially when Joe shows up and Stewie blows his legs off. Stand By Me and Shawshank parodies also carry a distinct charm and Family Guy level of humor that make both bits very enjoyable.
3
“12 And a Half Angry Men”
Season 11, Episode 16 (2013)
Based on the courtroom drama 12 Angry Men (1957), this episode follows many residents of Quahog as they try to come to a decision about a murder trial that revolves around Mayor Adam West (Adam West) as the defendant. Brian acts as the voice of reason, starting out as the only “not-guilty” verdict.
As the rest of the jurors try to convince Brian that Mayor West is guilty, he slowly proves to them all that there is a reasonable doubt, and therefore should be innocent. He is eventually aided by Quagmire, of all people, to help further his point, eventually leading to Mayor West’s innocence. It’s a hilarious parody of a beloved classic from the 1950s.
2
“And Then There Were Fewer”
Season 9, Episode 1 (2010)
An hour-long season premiere episode kicked off with a bang, as the residents of Quahog are invited to James Woods’ remote mansion, where murders begin to mysteriously take place. The episode is a parody of the 1945 movie And Then There Were None written by Agatha Christie, and also Clue (1985).
While the initial suspect is James Woods himself, Tom Tucker is the one framed for the crime, even though Louis finds out it was actually his co-anchor Diane Simmons who wanted revenge for trying to have her replaced. It’s such a fantastic episode and also considered one of the best episodes of Family Guy ever.
1
“Blue Harvest,” “Something, Something, Something Dark Side,” and “It’s a Trap!”
Season 6, Episode 1 (2007); Season 8, Episode 20 (2010); Season 9, Episode 18 (2011)
The trilogy of parody episodes follows the events of the original Star Wars trilogy, with Chris acting as Luke Skywalker, Peter as Han Solo, Lois as Princess Leia, Brian as Chewbacca, and Stewie as Darth Vader, with others popping up in various roles.
With special consideration to the first two episodes, they do a fantastic job of blending Family Guy‘s humor while also maintaining the plot of the movie and poking fun at subtle things that may be overlooked in the actual film. The couch from the trash compactor is a particularly memorable moment for fans.
