Zany, childish, and a tad raunchy, there is truly no one else quite like Mel Brooks. Described as one of the funniest filmmakers in cinematic history, this talented director, writer, and comedian has created a comedic legacy most stars could only dream of. From amusing cult classics to creating some of the greatest parody films of all time, his work has shaped him to become a king of humor.
In honor of this truly brilliant comedic mind on his 99th birthday, let’s take a look back on his career, looking at the films that defined who Mel Brooks is as a filmmaker and actor. From some of his last directed pictures to his early projects, the ten below are essential films that made Brooks a legend in cinema and made him unforgettable. Sit back, relax, and be prepared to bust a gut. These incredible Mel Brooks pictures will have you dying of laughter.
10
‘Life Stinks’ (1991)
Starring: Lesley Ann Warren, Jeffrey Tambor, and Howard Morris
Starting off with one of Brooks’s more experimental films, Life Stinks is a 1991 satirical dark comedy that also marks Brooks’s last directed film, in which he starred in the lead role. Featuring a talented supporting cast including comedic icons like Jeffrey Tambor and Clue‘s Lesley Ann Warren, it follows Brooks as a rich businessman who gains a new perspective on life after being conned into living on the streets by a rival competitor.
While not often celebrated as one of his best works, Life Stinks is still a charming and hilarious film that’s slowly garnered much more appreciation over the years. It has wonderful bits of drama and even romance, all mixed in with Brooks’s usual comedic style. It’s a shame that not a lot of people remember it because there’s a lot of heart and humor in this one, and it keeps getting better with every rewatch.
9
‘High Anxiety’ (1977)
Starring: Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, and Harvey Korman
A hilarious mix of satire and murder mystery, 1977’s High Anxiety is often one of Brooks’ overshadowed but still highly enjoyable classics that never fail to entertain. Featuring many of his frequent collaborators, including Harvey Korman and Academy Award-winner Cloris Leachman, Brooks finds himself in a heap of trouble as a psychiatrist, suffering from extreme anxiety, as he’s roped into a web of conspiracy and murder.
It’s laugh-out-loud hilarious mixed in with a neatly told mystery that’ll have audiences on edge until the very end. Brooks shines in his first leading man role, playing the very nervous Dr. Thorndyke with so much intrigue and genuine charm, and the way he anxiously moves about is undoubtedly hilarious, but unfortunate that he never brought this character back for more installments. High Anxiety is a necessary film for any Mel Brooks fan. There’s a lot to enjoy and experience, and it’ll never leave viewers unsatisfied.
8
‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights’ (1993)
Starring: Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, and Amy Yasbeck
One of Brooks’ best outings of the ’90s was his wonderful parody, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, an enduring cult classic that is widely enjoyed. Being no stranger to satirizing classic tales, he truly goes all out with his charming flick, which sees Cary Elwes of The Princess Bride fame taking on the role of the titular outlaw as he wages a war against the corrupt Prince John (Richard Lewis) and his moronic sidekick, the Sheriff of Rottingham (Roger Rees).
Though it’s not often his most regarded comedy, nor does it feature the most timeless jokes, Robin Hood Men in Tights is still one of Brooks’ most celebrated pictures. It’s one that gets more hilarious with every rewatch, and the lovable characters and quotable lines still make it a laugh riot from start to finish. It may not be his most perfect, but it sure is entertaining and captures the feel of watching a Mel Brooks movie.
7
‘Silent Movie’ (1976)
Starring: Marty Feldman, Dom DeLuise, and Sid Caesar
A masterful slapstick comedy that satirizes the entertainment industry, Brooks’ Silent Movie is a unique, hilarious classic of his that fires on all cylinders and makes the audience laugh until the end. Featuring Marty Feldman and Dom DeLuise, it highlights the difficulties of filmmaking, following a director who, struggling to make a comeback, travels across the country along with some friends to find big-name stars to appear in his ambitious silent film project.
It’s a humorous tribute to an age of filmmaking that’s long since been done away with. It chooses to use intertitles instead of actual dialog as a way to pay homage to slapstick silent films of the old, and it feels much like a Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin film. Silent Film is one of Brooks’ most creative endeavors that gets more noticeable as the years go by. It’ll have you howling with laughter without the characters even needing to speak.
Silent Movie
- Release Date
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June 17, 1976
- Runtime
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87 Minutes
6
‘The Twelve Chairs’ (1970)
Starring: Ron Moody, Frank Langella, and Dom DeLuise
One of his underrated early efforts, The Twelve Chairs, is an amusing Mel Brooks adventure comedy that delights every second with its smart humor and unique premise. Starring Ron Moody and a very young Frank Langella, it follows an aristocrat, a corrupt Orthodox priest, and a con artist as they race to find a treasure of jewels sown in a missing dining room set lost somewhere in the Russian countryside.
It’s full of the laugh-out-loud humor and brilliant writing Brooks would later become recognized for in his later career. The Twelve Chairs may have flown over many people’s radars, but it’s worth seeing just to experience its hilarious moments and truly engaging performances. It’s funny from start to finish and really deserves more appreciation.
The Twelve Chairs
- Release Date
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October 28, 1970
- Runtime
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94 minutes
Cast
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Ron Moody
Ippolit Vorobyaninov
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Dom DeLuise
Father Fyodor
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Andréas Voutsinas
Nikolai Sestrin
5
‘History of the World: Part I’ (1981)
Starring: Gregory Hines, Dom DeLuise, and Cloris Leachman
Featuring his unique style and taste in humor, History of the World: Part I is as Mel Brooks as Mel Brooks movies get. It’s a nonstop laugh riot that pokes fun at some of the most iconic moments in human history, all told with hilarious spin. Broken off into six brilliant segments, it sees Brooks and other performers appearing at several points in history, from the Stone Age to the distant future.
History of the World: Part I is a film that helped cement Brooks’s legacy as a king of parody movies. It’s full of legendary comedic moments and quotable lines and offers a unique, unforgettable retelling of iconic events, all brought together by this amusing storyteller.
4
‘The Producers’ (1967)
Starring: Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, and Kenneth Mars
Kicking off his filmmaking career on a hilarious high note, Brooks’ directorial debut film, The Producers, is often celebrated as one of his best works. Highlighting the true brilliance and comedic charm of this director, it sees Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, in his first collaboration with Brooks, as a shifty theater producer and his accountant as they conjure up a get-rich scheme by producing one of the worst thought-of plays imaginable.
This laugh-out-loud farce introduced the world to Brooks’s talent and unique humor. The Producers is every bit outrageous as it is iconic, featuring so many laughs and excitement that it truly deserves its status as a classic comedy. It got the ball rolling for Brooks’ career, and today continues to be seen as one of his most inspiring and beloved projects and will never be forgotten.
3
‘Spaceballs’ (1987)
Starring: John Candy, Rick Moranis, and Bill Pullman
Often hailed as one of the greatest parodies ever made, Brooks’s amusing jab at the Star Wars original saga, Spaceballs, is an absurd, laugh-out-loud masterpiece that only gets better with age. Featuring a legendary comedic ensemble, including Brooks, Rick Moranis, and the lovable late John Candy, it follows a daring pilot (Bill Pullman) and his half-human, half-dog sidekick (Candy) as they rescue a beautiful princess (Daphne Zuniga) from the bumbling tyrannical government, the Spaceballs.
With memorable lines and moments so absurd that they’re impossible to forget, Spaceballs is truly one of Brooks’ most recognizable works and certainly one of his most outrageous. It was so hilarious that even Star Wars‘ creator, George Lucas, personally approved of this parody, finding it amusing, and gave it his full support, save for there being absolutely no merchandise sales. Overall, Spaceballs is a film often associated with Mel Brooks and will always be one of his greatest accomplishments. Hears to hoping its long-awaited sequel, Spaceballs 2, brings just as many laughs and charm as its predecessor when it eventually comes out in 2027.
2
‘Young Frankenstein’ (1974)
Starring: Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, and Cloris Leachman
One of the quintessential Mel Brooks movies, Young Frankenstein, is the ultimate parody film that, despite its age, continues to make audiences burst at the seams with laughter. It stars Brooks’s greatest collaborators, Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, and Cloris Leachman, in a tale that follows the talented grandson of Dr. Frankenstein as he follows in his grandfather’s footsteps by bringing a dead being back to life.
A nonstop comedic masterpiece featuring some of the most quotable lines in comedy history, Young Frankenstein is a film above so many others because of how incredible it is. It’s often described as the peak of Brooks’s career, and it’s not hard to see why, considering it’s nearly perfect from beginning to end. It’s unforgettable and certainly represents Brooks as a visionary comedian.
1
‘Blazing Saddles’ (1974)
Starring: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, and Slim Pickens
Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles takes the top spot on this list for being one of the most revered comedies of all time. It stars Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder in a story that sees a newly-assigned African American sheriff and a drunken gunslinger who must save a dim-witted community from a corrupt politician and his army of cowboys.
A film that fires on every cylinder to deliver comedic gold, Blazing Saddles is truly one-of-a-kind and a most celebrated parody classic that often gets brought up the most when thinking of Mel Brooks. It’s highly considered Brooks’ undisputed masterpiece for its brutal satirizing of the Western genre and for tackling touchy subjects that poke fun at the stupidity of racism. Overall, this is Mel Brooks’ most essential film and one that will likely be the most remembered for.