Matt Stone and Trey Parker’sSouth Parkhas remained at the forefront of pop culture since first landing on the TV screen in 1997. More recently, its critique of the Trump administration and the massive billion-dollar deal to bring the show to Paramount+ has made the show a hot-button topic. While the show has not always focused on current cultural issues compared to its earlier seasons, it has always been marred by controversy due to its unapologetic approach tocomedy.
Capturing the same essence asSouth Park, in any of its iterations, can be difficult. Still, these 10 movies offer up similar absurdist or culturally relevant humor (sometimes both) of the iconic animated show.
‘Swiss Army Man’ (2016)
Everyman Hank (Paul Dano) finds himself stranded on a desert island, deciding to take his own life after succumbing to loneliness and despair. Yet, a moment before he follows through, he makes contact with another person, sort of. Stumbling upon the corpse of a man he names Manny (Daniel Radcliffe), Hank finds the courage to keep going thanks to his new companion. HManny’s ability to propel himself with the gas built up in his body also gives Hank a potential way off the island.
Making Merry With a Farting Corpse
A wonderfully bizarre premise that delivers strong comedy despite its many fart jokes,Swiss Army Manis a great companion piece for those who loveSouth Park. While the movie would go somewhat underappreciated on release, the same team behindEverything, Everywhere, All at Once(Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) should hint at the depth of value to be found here. Daniel Radcliffe may only be playing a corpse. Still, it isone of his best performances outside of Harry Potter, and his pairing with the beloved Paul Dano is comedy perfection.
‘The Crazy Family’ (1984)
The Kobayashi family has finally fulfilled the dream of obtaining middle-class status, with a new home after many years of hard work by its patriarch, Katsukuni. Yet, after they find termites underneath their home, Katsukini becomes obsessed with getting rid of them, going as far as to destroy his home. The chaos and new societal pressures on the family bring about a series of mental breakdowns, leading to a showdown between mother, father, son, daughter, and grandfather.
An Obsessed Father Brings the Downfall of a Household
Stan Marsh has become the quintessential misguided father figure, andThe Crazy Familydelivers a similar obsessed and misguided oddball in Katsukuni. Moreover, the movie has a nice build into the absurd, with its closing moments a delirious, unforgettable chaos equally crazy as South Park’s most outrageous. The Japanese cult hit touches on broader issues, including the expectations placed on the middle class.It is an incredible perversion of values that will still resonate with viewers ofSouth Parkdespite this being the oldest film on the list.
‘The Overnight’ (2015)
Alex (Adam Scott) and Emily (Taylor Schilling) are a married couple with a kid whose recent move from LA to Seattle has left them feeling bored by their new domestic life. At a playground, they meet another couple with a kid, Kurt (Jason Schwartzman) and Charlotte (Judith Godrèche), and the two invite the pair to an overnight party for them and their kids. Yet, when the kids go off to bed, the night becomes one long, awkward social interaction as Kurt and Charlotte reveal their many bizarre vices.
Well, That Was Awkward
The Overnightis filled with fantastic little absurd reveals, like Jason Schwartzman’s Kurt having an obsession with painting buttholes, and there is a treasure trove of silliness here that South Park fans will appreciate. Phenomenal casting and plenty of memorable moments,The Overnightis utterly uncomfortable in the best sense.
‘Cecil B. Demented’ (2000)
Hollywood star Honey Whitlock (Melanie Griffith), a beloved Hollywood actress with a foul temper behind the scenes, is abducted by a group of renegade filmmakers. Led by the passionate Cecil B. Demented (Stephen Dorff) and the crew of cinematic outcasts known as the Sprocket Holes, they begin to shoot his film using any means necessary to get the shot. Honey, initially dismissive of the crew, gradually comes to respect their methods and becomes a willing participant.
“Hey, Hey, MPAA, How Many Movies Did You Censor Today?”
The highly quotable, punk-rock love letter to cinema from John Waters fully embraces freedom within the arts, a core component of South Park’s ideology. The movie is a bit preachy, but it’s full of wonderfully ridiculous nods to other filmmakers. Each member of the Sprocket Holes has a director tattooed onto them, and it is so unapologetically crass that it should be a must-watch for fans ofSouth Park.
After running into an old crush, Chris (Eric André) decides he is finally going to make his move with a grand gesture of traveling to see her at her next art show. He ropes in his friend Bud (Lil Rel Howery), and the two take a car belonging to Bud’s sister Trina (Tiffany Haddish). When Trina escapes from prison, she heads out to get her car back.
Real Pranks in an Outrageous Buddy Comedy
Including real pranks reminiscent of theEric Andre Show,Bad Tripis outrageous from start to finish. The boundary-pushing and social disruption of Andre’s comedy is well-suited for fans of South Park, making this an easy choice to check out.
‘R100’ (2013)
Salaryman Takafumi Katayama decides to enter into a contract with a BDSM agency that is non-negotiable once initiated and involves random domination by super-agents. As each interaction puts him in an awkward situation and challenges his personal and professional life, he begins to regret the deal. Additionally,R100features a meta plot, as it is intended to be a film within a film, starring a fictional 100-year-old director who demands that the work can only be viewed by those 100 years or older.
Making a Deal To Be Hurt and Belittled
A wonderfully absurd scenario results in a series of eccentric characters dominating the life of a single man, in an idiotic decision he made of his own accord. The constant abuse is also delivered with a degree of style, turning a simple event like a dinner out with others into a fight against a latex-clad woman looking to embarrass and abuse him. It is the type of over-the-top silliness that aligns perfectly with South Park’s ability to tap into more absurd scenarios and characters.
‘Borat’ (2006)
The titular TV reporter from Kazakhstan, created by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, is sent to the US to make a documentary about American culture. Arriving in New York City alongside his producer, Borat’s quest is soon derailed after he sees an ad by Pamela Anderson and decides he has to marry her. This journey across the state exposes Borat to many Americans, and many Americans to Borat, who are politely (and sometimes angrily) perplexed by the outsider from another country.
A Critique of American Culture
South Parkhas always offered a critique of American culture, never siding solely with one social or political group/organization.Perhaps the closest to this type of clever exploration of many facets of Americana is Sacha Baron Cohen, through his various movies and TV series, led by a group of eccentric characters. All the movies and series are worth checking out, but the initialBoratcertainly had a sense of wonder around it that captivated audiances.
‘Crumb Catcher’ (2023)
Newlyweds Leah (Ella Rae Peck) and Shane (Rigo Garay) are on their honeymoon after a wedding highlighted by awkward family interactions and personal resentments. Yet, even worse, Shane, in a drunken state, becomes the victim of a duo, John (John Speredakos) and Rose (Lorraine Farris), who record him in a compromised position. Using this leverage, the two force themselves into the couple’s lives, trying to get an investment in a product known as the Crumb Catcher, an absurd piece of machinery meant to help clear the table after a meal.
An Awkward Huckster of Useless Wares
WhileCrumb Catcher’scomedic approach is more dry and reliant on cringe,John Speredakos’s greasy and eccentric salesman of a useless product feels like it would be right at home in an episode ofSouth Park. The presentation of the titular crumb catcher is also one of the darkest and most absurd sequences in cinema. Marked by memorable performances, a dark wit, and a build-up to a violent outcome,Crumb Catcheris an indie film that, despite not having an R rating, would likely fall under it.
‘The Taint’ (2010)
An apocalypse triggered by contamination in the water supply, leading to men turning violent against women, leading to the decline of humanity through turning the world into a sausage fest. One of the few uninfected men, Phil O’Ginny, played by writer and director Drew Buloc, becomes the partner of one of the few survivors, Miranda, as they attempt to find a sanctuary in a world overrun by violent men.
Unapologetic and Crass Horror Comedy
If you loveSouth Parkbecause of its willingness to be controversial and crass, thenThe Taintwill deliver. There is also ample gore and strange deaths inThe Taint, elements that are not core toSouth Park, but they do love the odd, ridiculous, and painful death. The movie has some great, absurd lines of dialogue, a stylish soundtrack, and explosive, practical effects that will appease those who love unapologetic and violenthorror with a dark wit to match. Technically unrated, the movie touches on every taboo, and ultra-violence would have easily landed it an R-rating.
‘Cannibal! The Musical’ (1993)
Based on the story of real-life criminal Alfred Packer, the first man hanged for cannibalism in the United States,Cannibal! the Musicalis Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s first feature film. Starting as an expedition to find riches during the gold rush, a series of unfortunate events sees the jaded Packer lead a crew into a series of perilous events, facing hunger and eventually turning violent. Of course, it is also a musical.
America’s Frontier, Blood, Snowmen, and Sing-Alongs
This choice may seem a bit obvious, given that it is the same creators behindSouth Park, but it is often overlooked whenlooking at Matt Stone and Trey Parker outside their iconic series.Cannibal! the Musicalhas the duo’s comedic wit and crude humor, alongside some infectious songs(“Shpadoinkle Day” is quite the unforgettable earworm).Moreover, it offers a fun look at where the two came from before achieving unparalleled success four years later with the debut of South Park.
Cannibal! The Musical
