Mel Brooks is perhaps one of the most recognizable names in Hollywood. His films range in a variety of genres, but all seem to maintain a self-awareness to them. This self-conscious awareness towards genre resulted in some of the best parody movies of all time. From the very beginning, Brooks has shown audiences that a parody can still maintain originality, as a Mel Brooks film is just that.
These cinematic masterpieces provide a great amount of zest and have featured prominent names. Brooks even makes one of his truest directorial trademarks by starring in his own movies, either briefly or prominently, sometimes featuring in multiple roles. With appearances like Yogurt in Spaceballs or as Moses in History of the World: Part I, the audience can see Brooks having a grand old time, in addition to cracking jokes that certainly turned some heads when they first were shown on the big screen. Nevertheless, Brooks’ films seem to act as an ode to genre storytelling, and are some of the earliest and greatest spoof pieces. Mel Brooks seemed to check off nearly every list when it comes to genre parody, and here are his most prominent.
7 Adventure - Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Mel Brooks’ interpretation of fantasy and adventure Robin Hood: Men in Tights, is one of his later works, but it has widely grown in cult status over the decades. This film loosely seems to parody the tones one would see in a Monty Python film, except with some legitimately good odes to action-adventure swashbuckling. However, there are laughs in duel sequences and character interactions like with a rabbi played by Mel Brooks himself. The rest of the cast is great, andthe film’s star Cary Elwes is no stranger to the fantastical and adventurous side of cinema, as he most famously starred in the cult classic The Princess Bride.
6 Horror - Dracula: Dead and Loving it and Young Frankenstein
Dracula: Dead and Loving it is Brooks’ latest parody, as it was released in 1995; Brooks has not directed since, and we miss his work. However, the film offers some laughs as it spoofs the gothic tale from Bram Stoker, only with a silly twist. While there is blood, and a lot of it, the parody seems to heavily rely on the quirkiness of the characters. The King of parody himself, Leslie Nielsen, portrays Count Dracula but basically plays… himself. Which is always a treat to behold.
Young Frankenstein is perhaps Mel Brooks’ parody masterpiece, as there is a true narrative written around the framework of Frankenstein as a tale we are all familiar with. Gene Wilder’s hilarious portrayal of the young Frederick Frankenstein gives the film a nuance and originality which allows it to deviate a far stretch from the original source material. While there are still elements of the original masterpiece, like showing the film on black and white, Brooks and Wilder made it their own. Young Frankenstein has laughs, heart, romance, music, and a lot of screaming. What’s not to love?
5 Science Fiction - SpaceBalls
Brooks’ take on established science fiction titles such as Star Wars and Alien are unique to the director’s vision. SpaceBalls is a fun and entertaining adventure with Brooks’ own sense of humor meshed with the elements of those classic films we’ve all come to know and love. There is so much to unpack within this film as it correlates to just The Skywalker Saga alone. From its hilarious interpretation of lightsabers and the force, to the late talk show legend Joan Rivers as C3-PO, makes it a joy to see every scene. The film also contains one of the greatest fourth wall breaks in cinema history. This film was Brooks at his most free, and his admiration for the science fiction genre is clear and pays off immensely.
4 Western - Blazing Saddles
Mel Brooks directs Gene Wilder in another of the frequent actor-director duo's collaborations, and one of Brooks’ most vulgar films, Blazing Saddles is quite the jaw-dropper with its shock value… in the best way possible. The most notable cinematic factor when discussing this film is its grand scenic presentation. The setting itself is perhaps the most true to the story itself. There was great time dedicated to building a realistic western set that one would see in an old-fashioned serial from the 1940s.
However, what is most ironic about the set is that it's just that, a set. The epic conclusion reveals the whole film to be a film within a film. It is a bombastic and explosive clash of old and new cinema in which they both literally ride off together. This film is the most adult, and the most provocative and progressive, but also the most notable throughout Brooks’ career.
3 History - History of the World: Part I
History of the World: Part I is Mel Brooks’ historical epic, where Brooks seems to bring all elements of history into one 90-minute film. Ironically, most of the films and events parodied, like the Old Testament, the Roman Empirical Reign, and the French Revolution, could and have been represented in three and sometimes four hour long films. But Brooks is known for making a powerful statement in a short and sweet presentation. Brooks’ interpretation of Moses is downright hilarious and is the highlight of the film, which may finally be getting a sequel as a variety show on Hulu.
2 Silent - Silent Movie
20th Century Studios
Silent filmmaking as a genre seemed to be a thing of the past, but none other than Mel Brooks himself revitalized it with his own creative twist. Silent Movie hit theaters in 1976 and offered a new look to the genre, because this film of course is in Technicolor, which is quite the contrasting nature of the genre itself. Considering most silent films were shown on black and white film, seeing a silent movie in color is an interesting directorial choice.
However, the music is what drives this film forward, as it is the only thing we hear. The music choices are purposeful, as the wealthy often have a dark overture sound to their presence, and the slapstick has a whimsical accompaniment, parodying the on-the-nose music of silent cinema. The film pays homage to the days of Buster Keaton, combining stunts and slapstick in a colorful, cute way. Brooks and his co-stars Marty Feldman and Dom DeLuise have a sort of Three Stooges-style chemistry that will hit the audience's funny bones.
1 Thriller - High Anxiety
Brooks parodies the best Alfred Hitchcock films, such as Vertigo and Psycho, in his mystery thriller High Anxiety, though it surely integrates a bit of slapstick to the thriller genre. However, it does mirror Hitchcock in a way that's surprisingly effective, albeit humorous. Through its shot structure and musical composition, there are plenty of nods to the master of suspense.
Most notably, the infamous shower scene in Psycho is parodied here, only this time… with an overworked man and a newspaper. Only Mel Brooks could have twisted that horrifying and infamous sequence and made it as comical as shown in this film. Long takes, drawn out psychological explorations, and the inner workings of madness all fully realize Brooks’ admiration for the great filmmakers of the past.