The movie is called Spaceballs because the creator, Mel Brooks, decided to add the word “Balls” to the title after spillign a drink and shouting it. 35 Classic Lines From “Spaceballs” 35 Classic Lines From "Spaceballs"
Is Spaceballs a Star Wars parody?
Spaceballs is a 1987 American space opera parody film co-written, produced and directed by Mel Brooks. It is primarily a parody of the original Star Wars trilogy, but also parodies other sci-fi films and popular franchises including Star Trek, Alien, The Wizard of Oz, 2001, and the Planet of the Apes.
How did the movie Spaceballs get its name?
Mel Brooks spilled a drink and shouted, "Balls!" and Ronnie Graham said, "Spaceballs!", which became the movie's new and final title, and they came up with the idea that the villains, the Spaceballs, would wear ball-shaped helmets.
Why is Spaceballs so popular?
Spaceballs celebrated its 30-year anniversary in 2017, solidifying its role as a cult-classic parody for the ages. It’s not by chance that this Mel Brooks comedy spoof of a movie was a blockbuster hit, as he took the production seriously due to his love for the Star Wars original trilogy.
Why are there no Spaceballs action figures?
When Brooks developed Spaceballs, he wanted his parody to be as close to the original as possible. Even though the Yogurt character (Mel Brooks) mentions merchandising in the film, Brooks's deal with George Lucas on parodying Star Wars was that no Spaceballs action figures be made.
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Did George Lucas like Spaceballs?
Luckily, the viewing went off without a hitch, with Brooks saying, "He wrote me a lovely note telling me how much he loved the picture. He said it's a dangerous comedy. He said, 'I was afraid I would bust something from laughing.
What is the message of Spaceballs?
By the end of the film, the Spaceball leaders get blown up trying to steal Druidia's supply of clean air, and Pizza the Hut eats himself to death after getting trapped in his car. The moral of the story: consumption will destroy us all.
Why did Mel Brooks make Spaceballs?
Brooks sent the script of Spaceballs to George Lucas as a courtesy measure, “if not to get his blessing, then certainly to give him a heads-up.” Lucas, a Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein fan, gave Brooks one demand: no toys.
Is Spaceballs a copy of Star Wars?
Brooks envisioned Spaceballs as an intergalactic version of Frank Capra's 1934 classic It Happened One Night. He recognized Star Wars for its similar historical cinematic impact. As art, they were ripe for picking. As commerce, they had thorns because they needed protection, and Brooks took Lucas' counsel respectfully.
Is Spaceballs a satire or parody?
Spaceballs is a 1987 American space opera parody film co-written, produced and directed by Mel Brooks. It is primarily a parody of the original Star Wars trilogy, but also parodies other sci-fi films and popular franchises including Star Trek, Alien, The Wizard of Oz, 2001, and the Planet of the Apes.
Can my 11 year old watch Spaceballs?
This movie, while absolutely brilliant, is not for kids. There are plenty of innuendos. The Schwartz, for example, comes from their testicles. This is obviously a parody of Star Wars, but a very good one.
What is the dink dink song from Spaceballs?
Colonel Bogey MarchThe song that the Dinks sing in the desert is the "Colonel Bogey March", which has been used in countless movies and television series, most famously The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957).
Did Harrison Ford have a cameo in Spaceballs?
Harrison Ford is one of the fan-favorite characters in the Star Wars franchise. It surely came as a surprise to the fans when his character, Han Solo, was killed off in The Force Awakens.
Did George Lucas sue Mel Brooks?
Brooks told "Entertainment Weekly" "I was afraid to get sued by Lucas. I sent him the script and he said, 'it's fine." Brooks did reveal that there was one condition to doing SPACEBALLS and that had to do with merchandising: "I wasn't allowed to do any merchandising… I wasn't allowed to do that.
Who is Darth Vader in Spaceballs?
Rick MoranisRick Moranis played Dark Helmet -- a parody of Darth Vader -- in the '80s Star Wars spoof, Spaceballs.
What does George Lucas think of the new Star Wars?
During a lifetime achievement ceremony at the Kennedy Center Honors, he stated that he thought "the fans will love it... It's very much the kind of movie they've been looking for." It's an unsurprising thought for him to have, given the mixed reception that his prequel trilogy got.
Did Lucasfilm Sue Spaceballs?
Brooks was worried Lucas might sue him over the movie even though parody is protected by copyright law. He told Entertainment Weekly “I was afraid to get sued by Lucas. I sent him the script and he said, 'It's fine.
What is Kafka in Spaceballs?
When initiating the metamorphosis of Spaceball One into the giant maid, Dark Helmet leans towards Colonel Sandurz and asks "Ready, Kafka?" This is a reference to the novella "Die Verwandlung" by Austrian-Hungarian author Franz Kafka, a story about a man who transforms into a giant insect.
How does George Lucas feel about the sequel trilogy?
It's very much the kind of movie they've been looking for." It's an unsurprising thought for him to have, given the mixed reception that his prequel trilogy got. It's likely he set his feelings aside after a while and thought this was the chance for all fans to unanimously love his creation once more.
What movies are referenced in Spaceballs?
Thor Love and Thunder - The LoopThe Schwartz is a parody of the Force.Lone Starr parodies both Luke Skywalker and Han Solo.Princess Vespa is a parody of Princess Leia.Dark Helmet is a parody of Darth Vader.Barf is a parody of Chewbacca.Yogurt is a parody of Yoda.Dot Matrix is a parody of C-3PO.More items...
What did George Lucas think of the rise of Skywalker?
While Lucas has never commented on the flick publicly, multiple outlets reported after The Last Jedi's release that the creator had spoken with Johnson. According to one of Lucas' representatives, Lucas was "complimentary," and told Johnson that he thought the film was "beautifully made."
15 Third Degree Burns Were Experienced By The Actor Playing Pizza The Hut
Mel Brooks wanted the Pizza the Hut suit to look as realistic as possible. In order for this to happen, hot artificial melted cheese was used for the costume. The plus side to this was that it looked extremely realistic, as well as slightly disturbing.
14 It Was The Most Expensive Movie That Mel Brooks Ever Produced
Despite the hilarious stories concerning how Brooks cut corners on set to make his movie a reality, it was still the most expensive movie he has ever made to date. A large part of the budget went to post-productions costs, which allegedly costed approximately 5 million dollars.
13 Approval For Spaceballs Was Given By A Star Wars Master
Mel Brooks is a comedian who loves to make fun of the world, but he’s also a fan of Star Wars. Because of this, he sought after the approval of George Lucas himself before he he began producing Spaceballs.
12 Various A-List Actors Turned Down The Role Of Lonestar
Going after the biggest names in Hollywood won’t always guarantee the making of a blockbuster. However, the practice of doing so has been around for decades and doesn’t seem to be dying down anytime soon. Mel Brooks originally asked Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks to play the role of Lonestar. However, both immediately turned him down.
11 It was supposed to be called Planet Moron
Mel Brooks loves to title his movies in a simplistic manner. An example of this is his latest spoof, as well as Blazing Saddles and History of the World Part 1. Thankfully, his original title idea for the movie, which was Planet Moron, for this classic Star Wars spoof was spoiled from the very beginning.
10 Star Wars Prequels Inspire Spaceballs: The Animated Series
When George Lucas digitally re-mastered the original trilogy and released the Star Wars prequels, a revival of all things Star Wars related took place. This included a whole new generation discovering Spaceballs. Brooks wanted to make another movie, but questioned whether or not he could pull it off with a “screwball” movie budget.
9 A Novelization Was Written By A Goosebumps Author
Every great movie gets a book adaptation, but Brooks wasn’t willing to settle for just any author. R. L. Stine wasn’t a household name yet since his Goosebumps books wouldn’t be released until 1995. However, his ghost writing name Jovial Bob Stine had just released a novelization to the first Ghostbusters movie.
Who wrote Spaceballs the book?
To accompany the release of the film, a pre- Goosebumps R.L. Stine wrote Spaceballs: The Book, a young adult version of the story that substituted some of the stronger language and bits for child-friendly content. It remains the only exclusion to Lucasfilm’s “no tie-in” mandate. 13.
Where was Spaceballs filmed?
Michael Winslow, best known as the “sound effects guy” from the Police Academy series, said in 2012 that Spaceballs was shot on the MGM lot in Culver City , California. In the heyday of movies focused on swimmers like Esther Williams, the studio had constructed a giant pool that could be covered with retractable flooring. Spaceballs also used the same sound stage as 1939’s The Wizard of Oz; the crew would occasionally see stray pieces of the Yellow Brick Road when milling around.
Who played Dark Helmet in Spaceballs?
RICK MORANIS WAS OFFERED A SEQUEL. Rick Moranis, who played Dark Helmet, retired from acting in the 1990s to focus on his family and his musical career. In 2013, he told Heeb magazine that Brooks was interested in a sequel, which Moranis suggested could be titled Spaceballs III: The Search for Spaceballs II.
Did Mel Brooks direct Spaceballs?
All Rights Reserved. Mel Brooks hadn’t directed a movie in six years when he committed to 1987’s Spaceballs, a joke-saturated spoof of Star Wars and other popular genre films of the era. Critics speculated he was a little too late ( Return of the Jedi had been released four years prior) and box office at the time was modest, ...
Is Spaceballs a green screen?
Spaceballs took its effects seriously, and the cast and crew needed to spend a lot of time in front of a green screen. At the time, the process was still relatively new, and the production had a suspicion that the environment might be damaging to a person’s eyesight.
14 LANGUAGE
One of the many ways "Spaceballs" improved upon the original was its use of language. First and foremost, there's only one. No Wookies yawning, no droids beeping and no Jabba's...
13 PIZZA THE HUTT
Don't get it twisted. If we were faced with the prospect of becoming slaves subject to the whims of an IRL poop emoji, we wouldn't be pleased. Jabba the Hutt is no joke. He damn near deprived the world of Han Solo, and that, friends, is no easy feat (unless you're his kid of course).
12 THE SPECIAL EFFECTS
Upon a rewatch of both films, this one is kind of surprising. If you're a "Star Wars" person, odds are you did your dork diligence last year and rewatched Episodes 4-6 before seeing "The Force Awakens." For someone not watching with the rose-colored glasses sentiment often provides, it's hard to ignore what are now bush-league-at-best effects.
10 PRESIDENT SKROOB
Okay, Emperor Palpatine doesn't actually appear in "A New Hope," but since Skroob is clearly based upon him, we'll draw on his appearances in the original trilogy. While both villains are two-dimensional, the Emperor is literally that for a goodly amount of his screentime as a hologram.
9 DIRER CONSEQUENCES
It never ceases to amaze how quickly Leia bounces back after the destruction of her homeworld and the annihilation of her people. The total. Annihilation. Of. Her. People. This includes her adoptive parents, remember.
8 SPACEBALLS IS MORE RELEVANT
"Star Wars" is an effective Nazi metaphor to say the least, but Nazis are so WWII. The same goes for any communist subtext, as well (depending on your interpretation). We don't understand why Lucas placed his story so far away from his own reality -- it doesn't make sense from a marketing standpoint.
7 DARK HELMET'S COSTUME
Eternal slow clap to Donfeld, the single-monikered costume designer responsible for Dark Helmet's outfit. The oversized head, the silk boxer/diapers, the exaggerated tie -- they all serve to gloriously highlight the overcompensation inherent in all insecure middle-management trolls. Middle-management is the key word, there.
Overview
In other media
• A novelization for the film was released on June 1, 1987.
• Spaceballs was developed into an animated television show which debuted in September 2008 as Spaceballs: The Animated Series on G4 (US) and Super Channel (Canada).
• Moranis claimed in a 2013 interview that he and Brooks had discussed a potential sequel, with Moranis pitching the title Spaceballs III: The Search for Spaceballs II. However, he and Brooks were unable to structure a deal that would allow the proje…
Plot
Planet Spaceball, led by the incompetent President Skroob, has squandered all of its fresh air. Skroob schemes to force King Roland of the neighboring planet Druidia to give them the code to the shield that protects Druidia, allowing them to steal all their air, by kidnapping his daughter Princess Vespa on the day of her arranged marriage to the narcoleptic Prince Valium. Skroob sends the villainous Dark Helmet to complete this task with Spaceball One, an impossibly huge ship co…
Cast
• Bill Pullman as Lone Starr, mercenary who travels the galaxy in his flying 1986 Winnebago Chieftain 33, Eagle 5. He is a parody of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo.
• John Candy as Barf, Lone Starr's "mawg" (half-man, half-dog) sidekick. He is a parody of Chewbacca.
• Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa, the spoiled princess of Planet Druidia. She is a parody of Princess Leia.
Production
When Brooks developed Spaceballs, he wanted his parody to be as close to the original as possible. Even though the Yogurt character (Mel Brooks) mentions merchandising in the film, Brooks's deal with George Lucas on parodying Star Wars was that no Spaceballs action figures be made. According to Brooks, "[Lucas] said, 'Your [action figures] are going to look like mine.' I said OK." However, this agreement inspired Mel Brooks to write Yogurt's "Merchandising" scene.
Music
An official soundtrack was released on Atlantic Records on LP, CD, and cassette, featuring many of the songs heard in the film, as well as three score cues by frequent Brooks collaborator John Morris. The track list is as follows:
1. "Spaceballs Main Title Theme" – John Morris
2. "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" – Jeffrey Osborne and Kim Carnes; the song was made into a hit in 1990 by Sally Moore (U.S. AC #42).
Release
The film had an estimated $22.7 million budget, and ultimately grossed $38,119,483 during its run in the United States, taking in $6,613,837 on its opening weekend, finishing behind Dragnet.
The film has received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes reports that, as of 2022, 56% of critics have given positive reviews based on 45 reviews wit…
Impact
Spaceballs has made an impact on popular culture and been used as a referent and inspiration in other properties.
Tesla Motors has used Spaceballs' starship speeds (Light Speed, Ridiculous Speed, Ludicrous Speed, Plaid Speed) as inspiration for naming their acceleration modes. In homage to Spaceballs, Tesla has Ludicrous Mode for acceleration beyond its Insane Mode, and Plaid Mode, overtop Lu…