20+ Of The Most Hilarious April Fools' Pranks From 2021

Updated April 1 2021, 11:12 a.m. ET

There are some differing opinions on the origin of April Fools. Some folks believe that it dates as far back as Geoffrey Chaucer's time, where someone joked in The Canterbury Tales about an event occurring on March 32nd, which doesn't exist, in case you were wondering.

I think it has to do with the fact that spring is basically pranking us all. You think that you're in for warmer weather when BAM, a snow storm hits out of nowhere. "Snow in April, really?" It seems to happen far too often for people to say "really" at this point, but I guess it's a Northeastern thing.

Regardless of how this absurd holiday came to be, it doesn't change the fact that some people bring their pranking A-game once a year to celebrate April Fools' Day. Here are some of the best pranksters 2021 has to offer, with some throwbacks tossed in for good measure.

First, we should pay homage to some of the OGs.

Thankfully, this TikTok user has given us a pretty great run down of them.

This teacher is cold-blooded.

Those poor, poor children.

This is creepy.

Sounds like the premise of a type of video you watch in Incognito mode.

All of the classics.

She looked at every page in the playbook and went through with it.

Got 'em.

Got them all. Classic.

How long as has been planning this?

This is Prestige levels of dedication.

A nice wholesome prank.

I would've called out to her from the room, but still pretty great.

That wasn't very ice of him.

He sounds a lot like Toddy Barry.

STOPFEET

What a wonderful cat facts throwback.

The music is what really sells it.

Here's hoping they don't do this to mom if she has a baby.

Disgusting.

Mint chocolate anything is nasty.

Yes because playing with people's emotions is great.

Don't think she's going to get much sympathy for this one.

The olde mayonnaise in the Twinkies gag.

Our friendship is over after this.

Pink hair.

It looks like they used high quality stuff at least.

Poppin' balloons.

Same face every single time.

Wait till the end.

This is easily the best one. You can pack it up after this one.

Oh I know that dad anger.

"Who did it? Who did it?!"

Seems kinda staged.

But even if it is, he did bite the egg.

Again, respect to the classics.

Such great reactions.

I hope she didn't really do that to him.

Poor guy.

You'll need a friend for this one.

Absolutely brilliant.

She is not amused.

Wish we saw her reaction when he turned the phone around.

I love this doctor.

That smile is fantastic.

The best reaction you can ever get from an April Fool's Prank.

Throwing the bag down is the best part.

Science baby.

How did I never see this one before?

Some effort definitely went into this.

That actually looks delicious.

Then you've got some of the best pre-COVID April Fool's pranks below. Gosh, times were so much simpler then.

Dad Joke puns.

Wow. This is so bad I would cringe if these were my parents.

Fake bankruptcies of beloved companies.

I love this person who put googly eyes on everything.

This guy's evil chocolate-spider-filled egg from hell (make sure to scroll through it).

Faces in unexpected places are always great.

If this is what getting my tires "slashed" entails, I'd be up for it whenever.

This mom is a savage.

What's with all the toilet gags?

Trolling young kids by calling them babies is pretty much the worst way to get to them.

A browned...avocado. NO!

Love the new paint job.

This throwback classic.

Worst. Easter egg haul. Ever.

Sneaky, sneaky.

How long do you think it took everyone to notice?

I would've vomited.

I'd need a new lamp, stat.

Bless this sister.

OK the dedication to the upside down motif is pretty inspiring.

This woman's mom didn't stop with her "Brown-E's".

Even publications got in on the fun.

"Hornhub" debuted yesterday.

This proposal prank.

People really love "The Office."

This clever text prank.

BBC Breakfast gets fooled by "Brexit Emojis."

Another Brexit joke.

Burger King's "Chocolate Whopper."

Or Heinz's "Chocolate Mayonnaise."

This police department also had people convinced that a live-action version of "Zootopia" is coming soon.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pbXSramam6Ses7p6wqikaKCloryze5FpaHFnYGl8cX6Oa3B%2FqJKvfKK80aKjZp6fpLm0eZFpaHE%3D