As part of an honorary reorganization of its “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Laughs” list, the organization moved Brooks’ 1974 comedy “Blazing Saddles” from sixth place to first, officially recognizing it as the funniest film of all time and replacing Billy Wilder’s “Some Like It Hot.”
AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale celebrated the decision by joking that the organization was finally correcting a long-standing injustice, referencing Brooks’ own playful insistence over the years that “Blazing Saddles” deserved the top spot.
Why ‘Blazing Saddles’ Still Holds a Unique Place in Film History
Released in 1974, “Blazing Saddles” became one of Mel Brooks’ defining achievements by combining Western conventions with sharp satire aimed at racism, politics, and Hollywood itself. The picture starred Cleavon Little as Bart, an unexpectedly appointed Black sheriff who faces prejudice while protecting a frontier town, alongside Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn, Slim Pickens, and Brooks himself in multiple roles.
The comedy was both a critical and commercial success, earning three Academy Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Kahn. More than three decades later, the Library of Congress selected the title for preservation in the National Film Registry, recognizing its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
The movie’s legacy has continued well beyond its original theatrical run. It inspired the 1975 television pilot “Black Bart,” later received a loose animated remake in 2022 with “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank,” and has frequently been cited as an influence on later productions that embrace self-aware humor and fourth-wall breaking.
Brooks has also expressed interest in adapting “Blazing Saddles” for the stage, demonstrating that the picture’s impact continues to extend across generations and formats.
