Top 20 Hilarious Mel Brooks Movie Moments

Top 20 Hilarious Mel Brooks Moments

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the funniest and most memorable scenes, moments and instances in Mel Brooks creations, and including those where he was behind the camera, in front of it, or even doing both!

#20: The Campfire

“Blazing Saddles” (1974)

As a group of rough-and-tumble cowboys gather around a crackling campfire, enjoying a hearty meal of beans, the scene quickly devolves into a symphony of flatulence. What makes this so monumentally funny isn't just the fact that it happens – it's the sheer, unbridled commitment to the gag. It’s an exercise in juvenile humor elevated to high art, perfectly capturing the film’s irreverent spirit and its willingness to smash taboos. Mel Brooks knew exactly how to use gross-out humor not just for shock value, but as a genuine comedic device to shatter expectations and leave audiences roaring with laughter, setting the tone for the wild ride that was to follow.

#19: Merchandising

“Spaceballs” (1987)

As Lone Starr and Barf stand dumbfounded, Yogurt proudly displays everything from action figures that bear a suspicious resemblance to the film’s characters, to breakfast cereal, lunch boxes, and even “Spaceballs” flamethrowers. The brilliance lies in its blunt, self-aware critique of the very industry it exists within, perfectly mirroring the real-world merchandising blitz of films like “Star Wars.” Yogurt, with his wisdom and boundless greed, openly admits that this is where the real money is made, making the audience complicit in the joke. It's a meta-commentary on capitalism, Hollywood, and the insatiable appetite for "product," delivered with such a straight face that it becomes utterly hysterical, proving that even comedic masterpieces can have an ulterior motive: selling T-shirts.

#18: “Non!”

“Silent Movie” (1976)

In a film almost entirely devoid of sound, save for musical accompaniment and incidental noises, Mel Brooks’ “Silent Movie” delivers perhaps its most brilliant, audacious, and hilariously ironic punchline in the form of a single spoken word. Our protagonists, struggling to create a silent film for an industry obsessed with talkies, desperately seek a major star. Their final hope rests with the legendary mime, Marcel Marceau, who they believe will understand their vision. They pitch their film, only for Marceau, played by himself, to respond with a booming, unambiguous, and completely unexpected "Non!" The sheer shock value of hearing a word in a silent film, uttered by the world's most famous silent performer, is a chef’s kiss moment of comedic subversion.

#17: The Fourth Wall Break

“Blazing Saddles” (1974)

Just when you thought “Blazing Saddles” couldn't get any wilder, Mel Brooks takes a sledgehammer to the very fabric of cinema with a climactic sequence that completely shatters the fourth wall. The epic brawl between the townspeople and Hedley Lamarr's gang spills beyond the confines of the Western set, crashing into a lavish musical production, a pie fight on another soundstage, and eventually, the studio commissary. From Mongo riding a horse through the streets of modern-day Hollywood to the characters literally storming a movie premiere, this sequence is a testament to Brooks' audacious vision, proving that for him, no comedic boundary was off-limits, even the very screen itself.

#16: The Monster Meets Harold

“Young Frankenstein” (1974)

In “Young Frankenstein,” one of the most endearing and laugh-out-loud moments sees the newly resurrected Monster encounter a blind hermit, played by the legendary Gene Hackman in a truly inspired cameo. This scene is a brilliant parody of the classic Universal horror trope where the Monster seeks solace and understanding from an outcast. The hermit, believing he has a new friend, attempts to offer hospitality, which invariably goes wrong in the most hilarious ways. From pouring scalding hot soup into the Monster’s lap, to accidentally flicking a lit cigar into his thumb, and then breaking his only wine glass, every gesture of kindness turns into pure slapstick gold.

#15: Surrounded By…

“Spaceballs” (1987)

After yet another failed attempt to capture Princess Vespa, Dark Helmet’s patience wears thin with his bumbling troopers. He pauses, looks around at his incompetent underlings, and delivers the iconic, exasperated line: "I'm surrounded by assholes!" The line itself is perfect in its delivery and timing, a sudden, blunt eruption of pure frustration from a character who believes himself to be a formidable villain. It's a hilariously relatable moment for anyone who's ever felt weighed down by less-than-stellar colleagues, and it's delivered with such venomous comedic precision that it remains an instant classic.

#14: Abby Normal

“Young Frankenstein” (1974)

Dr. Frankenstein tasks Igor with retrieving the brain of a brilliant scientist, a crucial component for bringing his creation to life. What Igor actually delivers, however, is a brain labeled "Abby Normal." The genius of this gag lies in its subtlety at first, then its explosive reveal. The doctor initially misinterprets the name, only to have the horrifying realization dawn on him: Igor didn't fetch "Abby Normal’s" brain, but rather an "abnormal" one. Feldman’s deadpan delivery, the unassuming label on the jar, and Gene Wilder’s escalating horror as the truth clicks into place create a perfectly executed comedic payoff.

#13: Jews in Space

“History of the World, Part I” (1981)

After taking us on a riotous journey through various historical periods, Mel Brooks delivers an unforgettable post-credits surprise: a trailer for a fictional sequel, “History of the World, Part II” (although a miniseries of the same name would eventually air in 2023). The highlight of this faux preview is the segment for "Jews in Space." The very title itself is a stroke of comedic genius, combining an ancient cultural identity with the futuristic absurdity of space opera. It’s a perfect example of Brooks’ sense of humor, teasing a sequel that everyone instantly wished was real, if only for the sheer audacity of the concept.

#12: Dark Helmet’s Dolls

“Spaceballs” (1987)

In a moment of classic Brooks-brand meta-comedy, we find the diminutive antagonist not plotting galactic domination, but rather playing with action figures of the very characters he’s supposed to be menacing. This scene brilliantly highlights Dark Helmet’s immaturity and almost childlike obsession with his foes. It’s a direct wink to the audience, acknowledging the pervasive nature of movie merchandising, which Brooks lampoons so effectively throughout the film. The image of the galaxy's most feared villain engaging in imaginative play is a masterclass in undermining a character's menace for maximum comedic effect.

#11: Paying the Toll

“Blazing Saddles” (1974)

With the town of Rock Ridge under constant threat from Hedley Lamarr's raiders, Sheriff Bart, Waco Kid Jim, and Mongo devise an ingenious and utterly absurd plan to buy themselves some precious time. They construct a makeshift tollbooth right in the path of the incoming raiders. The brilliance of this moment lies in the sheer chutzpah of demanding payment from a gang of bloodthirsty outlaws. The sight of hardened villains being forced to pause their attack to send a messenger all the way back to their camp for change is pure gold. It showcases Bart's quick thinking and the ridiculousness that often underpins even the most serious conflicts in a Mel Brooks film.

#10: A Bloody Mess“Dracula: Dead and Loving It” (1995)We all know that desperate measures must be taken to stop the undead wherever they appear.  But this mid-‘90s satirical comedy horror, which stars Steven Weber as Jonathan Harker and Mel Brooks himself as vampire hunter Van Helsing, proves that it’s not always a clean process. The resulting scene is one of the standout moments of the film because the filmmakers didn’t tell Weber how much blood he would be covered in during the shoot, which makes his reaction appear all the more natural and convincing.

#9: Fight with Little John“Robin Hood: Men in Tights” (1993)This scene from “Men in Tights,” where a man ironically named Little John takes on Robin Hood in a staff match, spoofs a similar scene in the many Robin Hood tales that have come before it. As per usual for a Brooks movie, however, this version plays it for laughs. To be sure, this isn’t the most dignified way to start a friendship, but Robin doesn’t dwell on it after and allows the event to pass like water under the bridge.

#8: Alien: One Froggy Evening“Spaceballs” (1987)While the characters in this late ‘80s Mel Brooks-directed parody take a brief break from the events of the film, they find out that space can be both weird and dangerous in a crossover between “Alien” and the cartoon “One Froggy Evening.” In a neat shout-out, they even get John Hurt to make a cameo as the original victim of the chestburster. Naturally, this proves too much for our actors, leading them to make a quick exit with a time-honored punchline. 

#7: Prince John’s Face“Robin Hood: Men in Tights” (1993)Here’s another “Men in Tights” entry on our list. In this scene, Prince John, played by Richard Lewis as a chat show host, is having an intimate conference with his second in command. When the Sheriff of Rottingham asks him about the side-switching mole on his face, his oblivious response is priceless. More so when you consider that they actually had mirrors in ye olden days…!

#6: ‘Springtime for Hitler’“The Producers” (1968; 2005)There are many fantastic moments in both versions of “The Producers,” but the high point of both movies is easily the big musical number that forms the climax of the god-awful play. The title of the song was initially going to be the title of the movie, but sadly that didn’t come to pass. However, this doesn’t prevent the scene from having the effect that it does and being the highlight of each version, both of which Brooks produced. Really, it’s something that has to be seen to be believed.

#5: Combing the Desert“Spaceballs” (1987)Mel Brooks has always been a filmmaker who plays around with words and twists dialogue. Bearing that in mind, it's not surprising that when Dark Helmet tells his army to comb the desert, they take his orders literally. This moment raises a whole bunch of questions though, like why they have those massive combs in the first place, but “Spaceballs” is not the kind of movie where not knowing that little fact will bug you. 

#4: Hostage Taking“Blazing Saddles” (1974)Anyone with the slightest grasp of American history will realize that the 19th century was not a good time to be a Black person, and Mel Brooks uses this fact to great advantage to create the hilarious character of Sheriff Bart in this satirical western comedy. His arrival into the town of Rock Ridge doesn't go entirely as planned and forces Bart to use an unusual method of making his escape. The fact that the townspeople fall for this just helps to make clear exactly how stupid they are. 

#3: ‘Puttin’ On the Ritz’“Young Frankenstein” (1974)This scene, from Brooks’ take on the Frankenstein story, lands on our list because of just how out of place it is in the movie. If you tell your friends you're showing them a film about Frankenstein, they won't expect the big man to be poorly strutting his stuff upon a stage. The sequence even manages to pay tribute to both the classic musical number and King Kong in Wilder's comments to the audience as the monster is performing. All of this makes for an unforgettable scene.

#2: The Fifteen Commandments“History of the World, Part I” (1981)Film fans waited for years to see Brooks take on the Bible. When he did so in “History of the World,” he nailed it. What looks like a typical parody of Moses' descent from Mount Sinai goes to the next level when he comes down with three stone tablets and fifteen commandments written on them. This scene shows what happens to history when human clumsiness gets in the way... and it’s unforgettably hilarious.