The Ultimate Ranking of Mel Brooks Films from Comedy Genius to Classic

A while ago, at a garage sale, I found a box set of Mel Brooks movies and finally had the time to watch them. Mel Brooks is a comedy icon of the 70s and 80s, creating movies that are commonly listed among the greatest comedies of all time. I also love how he takes on a different film genre with each movie he does. From sci-fi to horror to westerns to even silent movies, he has done it all. He also makes movies that are incredibly quotable and stick in the culture. With all that said, here are my thoughts and ranking of the eleven Mel Brooks-directed films.

11. Life Stinks

Life Stinks is the worst of Mel Brooks' films for me. Unlike most of the other films on this list, this movie isn't a parody of another film or genre, nor does it provide any commentary on a significant event. Mel Brooks just wanted to try a standard original comedy. I can appreciate that he tried to make something totally his own instead of referencing other films, but I think that is where he shines. Without any elements of other genres, there really aren't very many funny moments in the film. Not many of the jokes land for me. I also thought the movie was pretty mean-spirited, Goddard Bolt is a pretty awful person, and even after his 30 days as a homeless person, he still only cares about his money until the final 5 minutes of the movie. This is also one of the 4 movies where he is the main star, and I don't find him all that great of a lead actor. He is fine as a supporting actor, but when the whole movie is centered around him, I don't find it as enjoyable. In the end, this is a pretty bland comedy that doesn't have the charm of many of his other films.

Score: 5/10 Grade: C

10. Dracula: Dead and Loving It

Dracula: Dead and Loving It is a bit of a return to form for Mel Brooks, but doesn't capture the magic of many of his other movies. This movie gives the Young Frankenstein treatment to Dracula as a beat-for-beat retelling of the classic story, but with comedic tones to it. Leslie Neilson was funny enough as Dracula. There were several elements of his performance that made me laugh out loud. However, where Young Frankenstein shines as a love letter to classic horror, Dracula: Dead and Loving It fell a bit flat in trying to get into parody territory. The movie is kind of halfway between a comedic love letter and a full-on parody, and does not do justice to either aspect. Most of the movie was very forgettable for me, with only a few of the jokes landing. Overall, this is another mediocre Mel Brooks film that implies that the peak of his career may be at an end.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

9. The Twelve Chairs

The Twelve Chairs is one of the Mel Brooks movies that has aged the worst. The film has a few funny moments as it follows a con man and an aristocrat as they try to find a chair with a large amount of jewels in it. I can appreciate that the film is a bit of a parody of the fallen Soviet Union, with a lot of the jokes being made at their expense. However, the story and humor are largely based on references from the time. Meaning, someone like me, who wasn't born until after the Cold War was over, isn't going to really get the jokes or satire. On top of that, I found this movie to be the most forgettable of Mel Brooks' films. I remember the basic premise but not much about what went on in the movie aside from a few standout moments. In the end, this is a film that probably worked better when it came out, but 55 years later, it just doesn't land for me.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

8. History of the World Part 1

History of the World is another film that didn't age the greatest, but unlike The Twelve Chairs, it has a topic I actually understand. I like how the movie takes us through various points in history with lots of little skits. The whole musical number with the Spanish Inquisition was very funny. I also thought the large scale that some of the sets go to was really cool. There were quite a few jokes that made me laugh, but there were a lot of jokes that did not age well at all. There are a lot of Jokes in the French Revolution segment that would not sit well in today's society. Aside from the jokes, the movie also lacks the coherency that most of the other films do, mostly due to its episodic and segmented nature. Overall, this is a movie that had a lot of jokes, but due to the segmented structure, it just doesn't fit with those higher on the list.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

7. High Anxiety

High Anxiety is at the part of the list where Mel Brooks focused on a specific genre and made a parody/love letter to it. High Anxiety is Mel Brooks' take on the Alfred Hitchcock thriller. When the movie is trying to pay homage to Alfred Hitchcock films, it works very well. I like how the movie fits in all of these different references to various films from Psycho to Vertigo to The Birds to North by Northwest. The movie matches the vibe of all of the Hitchcock films perfectly and even got Alfred Hitchcock's approval after he watched it. However, when the movie tries to be a comedy, that is where it falls a bit flat. I didn't find the movie particularly funny and was more amused by the comedic take on the Hitchcock references than I was by the actual jokes. I also found the plot to be a bit convoluted. In the end, High Anxiety is great when it is a homage to Alfred Hitchcock, but falls a little flat when it tries to bring in the comedy.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

6. Silent Movie

Silent Movie is probably the cleverest film on the list. As the name would imply, Silent Movie is Mel Brooks' take on the Silent Movie era while also being a silent movie. I thought the gimmick of making a "modern-day" silent movie was quite clever. Normally, these types of gimmicks get old partway through the movie, but I thought the silent movie thing worked for the entire run time. The movie has to rely a lot on physical comedy, which is partially where Mel Brooks shines. I also thought it was to have a plot point of the movie be recruiting these famous at the time actors to be in the movie, such as James Caan, Liza Minnelli, Anne Bancroft, Paul Newman, and Burt Reynolds. It makes the movie feel a little choppy and segmented, but it works a little better here than in History of the World. I did feel that the movie meandered a bit in the third act after Mel gets his heart broken, but that did not last super long. Overall, this was a clever move that, while a bit choppy in parts, is very effective in what it is going for.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

5. The Producers

The Producers is the first film from Mel Brooks. The movie showcases Mel Brooks' talent for more edgy humor as well as Gene Wilder's ability to be this unstable weirdo. The movie really shines as it gets going during its Springtime for Hitler elements. I just thought that aspect of the film was hilarious as they try to get everything together for this play. I also thought the whole aspect where they try to make a terrible musical and somehow fail at it is genius writing. Once this film gets going, it really shines until the end. With that said, the film does struggle to get its footing at the beginning. I didn't really like how things were going at the beginning between the plot and the performances. However, once the Springtime for Hitler kicks in, I changed my tune. Overall, this is a great first film for Mel Brooks and introduces his edgy style of humor.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

4.Robin Hood: Men in Tights

Robin Hood: Men in Tights is Mel Brooks' take on the adventure genre. From this point on, the list forward, these are all peak Mel Brooks films. I like how the movie is one part love letter to classic Robin Hood and one part musical. So many of the songs are just so hilarious, with the Men in Tights song being a favorite of mine. This movie reminds me a lot of The Princess Bride, as they both are high fantasy movies with lots of comedy and the same lead actors. I thought the jokes in the movie were great; most of them landed and made me laugh a lot. There are a lot of self-aware jokes, such as when the characters just randomly pull out the script in the movies. There was also a joke that only makes sense if you've seen History of the World, which I thought was pretty clever. I don't have much wrong with this movie; I'm just not as high on it as I am the other films on this list. In the end, this is a solid fantasy comedy that is Mel Brooks at his best.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

3. Spaceballs

Spaceballs is probably the most iconic of Mel Brooks' movies. I am a huge Star Wars fan, so that alone helps make this film a little higher for me. This movie has so many quotable lines and rewatchable moments for me. I like how the movie spoofs Star Wars while also making fun of sequels and endless merchandising. Dark Helmet is my favorite antagonist in Mel Brooks' films, as he is just so goofy as he attempts to copy Darth Vader. I also like all the self-aware humor in the movie, such as the part where they rewatch Spaceballs in the movie. I also find this movie to be incredibly rewatchable, as every aspect is just so funny. I wish the movie had been a little longer so they could have gone bigger with what they were trying to do. They were trying to make fun of stuff from both the original Star Wars film and The Empire Strikes Back, and I just wish they had had longer than 90 minutes to do so. Overall, this movie is a lot of fun and left me wanting more. I just wish it were a bit longer so it could live up to its full potential.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

2. Blazing Saddles

Blazing Saddles is Mel Brooks' take on the Western genre and probably the film with the most noticeable social commentary. This movie is great at making fun of tropes of the western genre while also paying tribute to the classic western. The movie tackles ideas about Black actors in film, as it is very rare up to this point to have a black man lead a western. The movie takes on a lot about racism in the West while showing Bart's struggles while trying to be the sheriff. The movie has a lot of funny moments coming from the incompetence of different characters, while also having a lot of subtle jokes that make fun of the western genre. I wasn't the biggest fan of how the movie ended with the final battle breaking the 4th wall. I was hoping for more of a traditional Western ending with goofy undertones. In the end, this is one of Mel Brooks' best films and is cited as one of the best comedies and best westerns of all time.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

1. Young Frankenstein

Young Frankenstein is easily my favorite Mel Brooks film. Everything from the writing to the comedy and to the performances is executed to perfection. This movie exemplifies everything that Mel Brooks is good at. I love that this movie is basically a love letter to classic monster films with a great comedic retelling of Frankenstein. Gene Wilder is great as Dr. Frankenstein and plays this unhinged doctor so well while still bringing the comedy. Peter Boyle is hilarious as the monster. He brings great physical comedy and does a voice that you just don’t expect, but is perfect nonetheless. Pretty much all of the jokes in this film land as Mel Brooks cut a ton of jokes out of the film, leaving the best ones. There are some great recurring bits that showcase the talented writing. I also like how the movie is consistently funny. A lot of comedies lose steam in the third act, but this film maintains its humor all the way through. Overall, this is a great film from Mel Brooks that really shows his talent for spoofing other genres. Not only is this the best Mel Brooks film, but it is also one of the best comedies of all time.

Score: 9/10 Grade: A