Spaceballs
Spaceballs

Movie spotlight

Spaceballs

1987
Movie
96 min
English

When the nefarious Dark Helmet hatches a plan to snatch Princess Vespa and steal her planet's air, space-bum-for-hire Lone Starr and his clueless sidekick fly to the rescue. Along the way, they meet Yogurt, who puts Lone Starr wise to the power of "The Schwartz." Can he master it in time to save the day?

Insights

IMDb7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes55%
Metacritic54/100
Google Users84%
Director: Mel BrooksGenres: Comedy, Science Fiction, Parody

Plot Summary

In a galaxy not so far away, the evil Dark Helmet and his sidekick Colonel Sandurz plot to steal the planet Druidia's valuable air supply. They enlist the help of Lone Starr, a rogue space rogue, and his half-man, half-dog sidekick Barf, to capture Princess Vespa and force her father to reveal the secret of infinite space - essentially, unlimited air. Lone Starr finds himself in a race against time, not only to save Druidia but also to rescue the princess from the clutches of the Spaceballs.

Critical Reception

Spaceballs was met with mixed reviews from critics but has since gained a cult following and is widely regarded as a classic comedy film. While some critics found its humor juvenile and derivative of Star Wars, many praised Mel Brooks's signature comedic style, the witty parodies, and the memorable performances of its cast, particularly Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet.

What Reviewers Say

  • A relentlessly silly and often hilarious parody of Star Wars and science fiction tropes.

  • Features strong comedic performances, especially from Rick Moranis and John Candy.

  • While not Brooks's most sophisticated work, it offers consistent laughs for fans of the genre and his previous films.

Google audience: Google users generally praise Spaceballs for its humor, quotable lines, and nostalgic appeal, with many appreciating its clever spoofs of popular sci-fi elements. Some found the humor a bit dated or too silly, but overall it's considered a fun and rewatchable comedy.

Fun Fact

The film's merchandising was heavily promoted within the movie itself, a meta-joke that reflected the commercial nature of the Star Wars franchise it was parodying. For instance, the Spaceballs action figures were advertised as being available for purchase, though they did not actually exist at the time.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

Community Critic Reviews

No critic reviews have been posted yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.

My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

***Silly satire based on Star Wars*** Released in 1987, Mel Brooks’ “Spaceballs” parodies the Star Wars flicks and includes jokes based on Star Trek, “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Alien” and “Planet of the Apes.” Some people hate this film, ...

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this title yet.