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There's fine spoofery and amusing characters in Spaceballs, though it's a far cry from Mel Brooks' peak era. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

In a distant galaxy, planet Spaceball has depleted its air supply, leaving its citizens reliant on a product called "Perri-Air." In desperation, Spaceball's leader President Skroob (Mel Brooks) orders the evil Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) to kidnap Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) of oxygen-rich Druidia and hold her hostage in exchange for air. But help arrives for the Princess in the form of renegade space pilot Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) and his half-man, half-dog partner, Barf (John Candy).
  • Rating:
    PG
  • Genre:
    comedy
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Mel Brooks
  • Producer:
    Mel Brooks
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $36.7M
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Metro Goldwyn Mayer
  • Sound Mix:
    Surround

Cast & Crew

Mel Brooks
President Skroob, Yogurt
John Candy
Barfolemew "Barf"
Rick Moranis
Lord Dark Helmet
Bill Pullman
Captain Lone Starr
Daphne Zuniga
Princess Vespa
Dick Van Patten
King Roland
George Wyner
Colonel Sandurz
Michael Winslow
Radar Technician
Lorene Yarnell
Dot Matrix
John Hurt
Kane
Mel Brooks
Director
Mel Brooks
Producer
Ezra Swerdlow
Co-Producer
Dick Bauerle
Original Music
Jon Bon Jovi
Original Music
Mel Brooks
Original Music
Clyde Lieberman
Original Music
John Morris
Original Music
Jeffrey Pescetto
Original Music
Nick McLean
Cinematographer
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Critic Reviews for Spaceballs

All Critics (43) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (19)

View All Critic Reviews (43)

Audience Reviews for Spaceballs

  • Jul 29, 2017
    It easily gets lost in its own sarcasm, but Spaceballs has its share of parodies and laughs to make for a decent film. Mel Brooks, Rick Moranis and the rest of the cast are able to make humorous performances even if its attempt at spoofing its intergalactic saga seems to feel stale. 3/5
    Eugene B Super Reviewer
  • May 23, 2013
    Moments of real humor, but it relies to heavily on the cornball schtick.
    Christian C Super Reviewer
  • Mar 11, 2013
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] Spaceballs is downright bad filmmaking, but it's OK because it's a parody, right? Well, it's certainly not as funny as the Mel Brooks classic range which includes films as witty and downright hilarious as "Blazing Saddles". Therefore, I sadly noticed the flaws with the direction, writing, acting and production values of this nostalgic parody following the eye rolling mishaps going on in a galaxy far far away. What really depresses me about Spaceballs is how desperate it is, there are many jokes in the film that are repeated supposedly because Brooks ran out of ideas. The talented comedian Rick Moranis plays a knock off of Darth Vader with an unnaturally enormous helmet, named Dark Helmet. The central gag with the parody of Vader is that he struggles to maneuver with the helmet on. Funny the first time, yes, funny any other time, not really. Also if this is parodying "Star Wars", why wasn't their much parody? I think it's down to the fact it just wishes to be a delightfully goofy slapstick comedy and nothing more, that just happens to have an all star cast and a massive budget. Which brings me to the most mind boggling aspect of watching this film, all the way through I thought to myself why the film looked so cheap. After all, it was made 10 years after the original "Star Wars" film, and also had 3 times the budget. Why the special effects were worse and the set designs more cardboard, i'll never know. Perhaps because the money went into the writing and convincing John Candy to get in a fur-suit. I personally find that hilarious, and especially the opening, but as a whole it could have been funnier, and should have been another Mel Brooks classic. I am sad to report that it isn't, but it's undeniably fun, if quite tiresome. Only by the inch of it's life does it carry just about enough material for a generic parody. However a cast this talented should have been able to pull off something a little better than this.
    Directors C Super Reviewer
  • Dec 01, 2012
    Abit of a guilty pleasure, Some funny moments, A great spoof film, Does go abit over the top and silly but what spoof film doesn't.
    Jamie C Super Reviewer
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