10 Ridiculous Riffs on Robin Hood

Robin Hood is practically synonymous with heroism. In the face of oppression in medieval England, this folk figure stands up to the malicious Sheriff of Nottingham and the malevolent Prince John. His example helps rally the commoners into a formidable fighting force. Together with his band of outlaws, Robin takes from the rich and gives to the poor. That noble goal enshrines him as an enduring symbol of freedom. Of course, such legendary status comes with a caveat.

If pop culture has taught us anything, it’s that Robin Hood is ripe for parody. The industry has provided countless comedic spins on the upbeat archer and his Merry Men. Some of these projects poke fun at the inherently corny premise. Many others lampoon the archetypes associated with him. After all, Robin Hood’s friends and enemies are almost as famous as the man himself. At least that notoriety means that everyone gets the jokes.

Related: 10 Sinister Non-American Urban Legends

10 Robin Hood: Men in Tights

The most famous spoof on the list, Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), exists solely to lampoon the legend. The name and plot riffs on the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991). As the hero returns from the Crusades, he teams up with a Moorish exile to rally the oppressed populace against the corrupt ruling class. There are obviously silly twists, like his family home being repossessed by the taxman, but that’s nothing compared to the movie’s other inspiration.

Rather than realism, Men in Tights uses an aesthetic akin to 1938’s The Adventures of Robin Hood. The theatrical performances, upbeat music, and titular tights are all reminiscent of that high-flying flick. Cary Elwes even has the swashbuckler presence of Errol Flynn. Such a bizarre combination hammers home the contrast between the two takes, but that’s what makes it so funny.^[1]

9 Shrek

This 2001 animated classic takes shots at every fairy tale under the sun. It presents a cynical world where no one gives these iconic characters their due reverence. As a result, they either fall to someone’s oppression or resort to underhanded means to make a living. The English outlaw falls into the latter camp.

A curiously French Robin Hood ambushes Shrek and company in the forest. He thinks he’s a gallant hero saving Princess Fiona from an evil monster. To illustrate that point, he calls his Merry Men for a musical number. They then sing an upbeat song about their thieving exploits, complete with flamboyant choreography.

Granted, it’s cut short by Fiona, who gets annoyed and dispatches the whole gang in a kung fu fight. The whole sequence paints the Merry Men as a bunch of loudmouthed wimps. It’s a predictable schtick for guys in tights, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a riot.^[2]

8 Batman

The villains in the 1960s Batman show are a wacky bunch. Although some come from the comics, most of them are original baddies who take their cues from totally random sources. They then play up their gimmicks with utter abandon, embracing the medium’s inherent camp value as they tangle with the Caped Crusader. Considering that formula, an antagonist based on Robin Hood shouldn’t be a surprise.

“The Archer” styles himself after the eponymous outlaw. Not only does he sport the stereotypical getup of a feather cap and tights, but he also has a band of Merry Men at his beck and call. All these guys have nicknames inspired by Robin Hood’s allies, such as Maid Marilyn, Big John, and Crier Tuck. As you’d expect, they steal from the rich and give to the poor. The irony (aside from their American accents) is that they start by robbing Bruce Wayne—Batman’s alter ego who already devotes his riches to charitable causes. Then again, part of this show’s charm is that the bad guys aren’t very bright.^[3]

7 Tiny Toon Adventures

Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-1995) largely differentiates itself from its parent Looney Tunes by poking fun at pop culture. A perfect example comes with an episode set in the Looniversity Library. The kids must be quiet, but the wealth of stories surrounding them sends their imaginations aflutter. This setup results in a series of satirical shorts.

The first segment is “Robin Hare.” As the name suggests, it presents a typical Robin Hood scenario, albeit with the Tiny Toon characters filling the roles. This twist is amusing in itself, but it also feeds a number of other gags. For instance, when the sheriff kidnaps Maid Babs, he dangles her over a shark pit. Ludicrous lampoons like this make the Tiny Toons worthy of their predecessors. More to the point, they make a raucous mockery of the Merry Men.^[4]

6 Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time

Sly Cooper puts a lighthearted spin on countless iconic locales. The fourth entry—Thieves in Time—is a time-traveling adventure where the sneaky heroes visit various historical periods. On top of the usual exaggerated gags and cartoonish slapstick, each level gives Sly a fresh disguise. These outfits grant him a slew of new abilities, yet the one in medieval England is the most fitting.

After swiping materials from Ye Old Castle, Sly gains an archer costume. The green shirt and feather cap fashion him into the spitting image of Robin Hood, complete with a bow in place of his cane. He doesn’t just look the part, though, as the outfit miraculously makes him a master of archery. His arrows can even curve in midair. It makes no logical sense, but you buy it thanks to the cartoonish logic. They say that clothes make the man, after all.^[5]

5 Robin Hood

As with most fables, Disney takes a crack at the English legend with 1973’s Robin Hood. This animated film has all the hallmarks of the tale, but it reimagines the characters as animals. Robin is a fox; Little John is a bear; the list goes on. This transformation works seamlessly with the cartoon format to accentuate their characteristics. Not only does this approach enhance the high-flying fight scenes, but it lets the physical comedy go broader.

The creators take that as a carte blanche to spoof the characters. Their silliest aspects are now amplified for all to see. Nowhere is that more apparent than the petty villain, Prince John, who’s now a thumb-sucking crybaby. Few of these portrayals are flattering, but they lend an infectious irreverence to the film. More than most versions, this Robin Hood strives for the earnest, escapist fun of the folk tale.^[6]

4 Robin and the 7 Hoods

Given his altruistic image, it’s easy to forget that Robin Hood is technically a criminal. One take capitalizing on that fact is Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964). This unorthodox rendition reinterprets the Merry Men as gangsters in 1920s Chicago. Specifically, Robin (or “Robbo”) is a bootlegger taking a stand against Prohibition. His aspirations put him in the crosshairs of both law enforcement and rival mobsters. Such a weird premise is bound to turn a few heads, but the filmmakers still aren’t content.

On top of being a spin on the English legend, Robin and the 7 Hoods is a spoof of gangster flicks. The screwball situations, silly exchanges, and dim-witted characters are testaments to that approach. As if they weren’t clear enough, the movie mixes in musical numbers straight out of a Broadway show. The whole piece has a theatrical flair reeking of old Hollywood. Flair is integral to Robin Hood’s charm, which makes this off-kilter depiction an oddly fitting tribute.^[7]

3 Maid Marian and Her Merry Men

It’s always frustrating when someone does all the work and gets no credit. That’s the case in Maid Marian and Her Merry Men (1989-1994). This subversive sitcom fashions Robin’s love interest into the outlaws’ leader. She has the brains, charisma, and guile to carry them forward. Robin, on the other hand, is a starry-eyed idiot with no idea what’s happening. The series runs with that approach for all its characters.

The famous figures of the Robin Hood legend are mostly present and accounted for, but they come off as annoying roommates rather than battle-hardened allies. That impression stems from the casual tone, which is deliberately akin to Blackadder. It’s a chance to show the Merry Men in their daily struggles with mundane annoyances—a turn that is farcical in how relatable it is.^[8]

2 Star Trek: The Next Generation

You might wonder what a 23rd-century space show has to do with Robin Hood. Well, it all comes down to the power of Q. Throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994), this mysterious being bothers the crew with his reality-bending pranks. One of these escapades sees him indebted to Captain Picard, but his method of paying that debt is predictably random.

In a particularly weird episode, Q transports the crew back to medieval England. Here, they must reenact the legend of Robin Hood, with each member occupying one of the familiar figures. As you’d expect, the characters are bemused and awestruck at how quaint this period is, and they overcome its obstacles through methodical thinking. The formula is typical of Star Trek’s sillier episodes. That’s no bad thing, as it thus retains the franchise’s classic cheese factor.^[9]

1 When Things Were Rotten

How fitting to end with another Mel Brooks effort. Long before Men in Tights, his initial stab at Robin Hood was a TV show called When Things Were Rotten (1975). It once again looks like an extension of the Errol Flynn film, but it also spoofs that same film through screwball scenarios, subversive punchlines, and sexually charged slapstick. It’s not just reminiscent of Brooks, however.

The show additionally echoes Maid Marian and Her Merry Men. The characters are all lovable morons going about their daily lives in sitcom style. One moment might have Little John casually move a tree out of the way while another could take the heroes inside to play Monopoly. Clearly, the legends exaggerate their heroics.

These factors paint the show as a polished prototype of later takes. If anything, they demonstrate how ahead of the game Brooks and buddies were. When Things Were Rotten made fun of Robin Hood before it was cool, and it did so with surprising grace, cleverness, and timing.^[10]