Ranking All 11 Mel Brooks Films

      In celebration of the legendary Mel Brooks reaching his 100th birthday, we present a ranking of every Mel Brooks film from the least amusing to the most hilarious — featuring classics like Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, Young Frankenstein, and all his works.

      From The Producers to Spaceballs, Brooks has produced some of the most comedic films spanning several generations.

      Do you disagree with any of our selections? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

      Mel Brooks Background

      Credit: Warner Bros.

      Before crafting timeless films such as Blazing Saddles (shown above), Brooks was a key comedy writer in the early television landscape, notably penning material for the iconic Sid Caesar. He collaborated with lifelong friend Carl Reiner to create brilliant works such as The 2,000 Year Old Man and co-created the spy spoof sitcom Get Smart.

      However, Mel Brooks, who recently turned 98, is most cherished for his films — almost all of which are parodies of beloved film genres, spanning from silent films to monster flicks to Westerns. Additionally, we are only including films he directed, excluding those he made cameo appearances in.

      Here are all 11 Mel Brooks films, ranked from entertaining to side-splitting.

      11 — Life Stinks (1991)

      MGM

      Notably, Life Stinks is not a parody. While Mel Brooks directed and starred in this film, it lacks the fourth wall breaks or classic spoof humor he's known for. The movie performed poorly, despite Brooks' attempt at social commentary — something he executed more effectively in Blazing Saddles.

      Brooks plays a greedy businessman who wagers with a colleague that he can survive without money on the streets for 30 days. If he succeeds, he gets to demolish a neighborhood in Los Angeles.

      It bears a slight resemblance to Trading Places, but lacks Eddie Murphy's vibrant presence. To Brooks' credit, crafting a humorous film about homelessness is a significant challenge.

      10 — Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)

      20th Century Fox

      While Life Stinks has few defenders, Robin Hood: Men in Tights definitely has its fans. Still, it falls into the category of unpredictable Brooks comedies, where he indulges in silliness even beyond his usual standards.

      There are some amusing jokes, particularly aimed at Kevin Costner’s portrayal of Robin Hood. However, for each successful joke, several fall flat.

      Men in Tights is also known for being Dave Chappelle's first film appearance, where he plays Ahchoo, one of Robin’s Merry Men. And we always enjoy Cary Elwes.

      9 — Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)

      Columbia

      Dracula: Dead and Loving It marks Brooks’ most recent film, bringing together two icons of parody — Leslie Nielsen, known from the Zucker-Abrams-Zucker classics like Airplane! and Naked Gun, joins Brooks as Dracula. The combination of these two is a significant draw.

      Do they overact? Absolutely, with their performances overflowing with energy. While it doesn't quite hit the mark, there are still some redeeming moments.

      This is also a good opportunity to clarify that we’re ranking only the films directed by Brooks, excluding 1983’s To Be Or Not to Be, in which he produced and starred alongside his beloved Anne Bancroft.

      8 — The Twelve Chairs (1970)

      UMC Pictures

      Brooks is personally very fond of The Twelve Chairs. Following his directorial debut, he took a risk by adapting a Russian satirical novel. Though The Twelve Chairs is well-known in Russia, it didn’t quite garner attention in America, possibly explaining its quick exit from theaters.

      The film features performances by legends like Dom DeLuise and Frank Langella, with Brooks also making a brief appearance. He tailored the book’s darker narrative to ensure audiences left feeling uplifted.

      We haven't read the original text for comparison, but we must commend Brooks for attempting to parody material that was likely unfamiliar to many viewers.

      7 — Silent Movie (1976)

      20th Century Fox

      Remember when The Artist won Best Picture? That film is a comedy set in the silent film era, transitioning to “talkies,” and mirrors the style of those older films.

      Silent Movie did it first, and Brooks took it a step further by closely emulating 1920s cinema. Naturally, he infused it with his signature humor, which sometimes detracts from the authenticity.

      The film revolves around a director in the 1970s aspiring to make a silent film. He's poking fun at the film industry, sometimes in not-so-subtle ways. Brooks portrays “Mel Funn,” with Marty Feldman as “Marty Eggs,” among others. Brooks’ wife Anne Bancroft even makes a cameo, while Burt Reynolds amusingly appears as himself, notably in a shower scene.

      Marcel Marceau, a classic Mel Brooks joke, also has a speaking role.

      6 — History of the World,