AFI Just Named Mel Brooks&x27; &x27;Blazing Saddles&x27; the Funniest Film of All Time Andrea ReiherSun, June 28, 2026 at 3:17 AM UTC 0 As Mel Brooks prepares to celebrate his 100th birthday on Sunday, June 28, one of his most beloved films has received a remarkable new honor from one of the country&x27;s most respected film organizations. The American Film Institute announced Friday that it has elevated Blazing Saddles to the No. 1 spot on its iconic AFI&x27;s 100 Years…100 Laughs list, officially naming the 1974 comedy the funniest American film of all time.
AFI Just Named Mel Brooks' 'Blazing Saddles' the Funniest Film of All Time
Andrea ReiherSun, June 28, 2026 at 3:17 AM UTC
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As Mel Brooks prepares to celebrate his 100th birthday on Sunday, June 28, one of his most beloved films has received a remarkable new honor from one of the country's most respected film organizations.
The American Film Institute announced Friday that it has elevated Blazing Saddles to the No. 1 spot on its iconic AFI's 100 Years…100 Laughs list, officially naming the 1974 comedy the funniest American film of all time. The move comes as a special honorary reorganization of the Institute's landmark ranking, advancing the film from its longtime position at No. 6.
The decision replaces Billy Wilder'sSome Like It Hot, which had occupied the top spot since AFI first unveiled the list in 2000. AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale acknowledged Brooks' longtime claim that Blazing Saddles was the funnier movie.
"He's right!" Gazzale said in a statement. "We're happy to right this wrong as Mel celebrates his centennial. It's good to be the king, and may he live to be a 2,000 year old man."
A Second Major Honor for 'Blazing Saddles'
AFI's announcement follows another significant recognition for Blazing Saddles. Earlier this week, Consequence ranked the film as Mel Brooks' greatest movie, placing it ahead of classics including Young Frankenstein, The Producers and Spaceballs.
The publication called the Western parody Brooks' greatest achievement, praising both its rapid-fire jokes and its enduring social satire. Released in 1974, Blazing Saddles was directed, co-written and produced by Brooks, who also appeared in the film. The satirical Western starred Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Slim Pickens and Harvey Korman, earning three Academy Award nominations while becoming one of the most influential comedies ever made.
Little starred as Bart, a Black railroad worker who unexpectedly becomes sheriff of an all-white frontier town. Co-written in part by Richard Pryor, the film used absurd comedy to tackle racism, prejudice, and the conventions of classic Hollywood Westerns.
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Consequence argued that the movie's ambition remains remarkable more than 50 years after its release, noting that Brooks managed to parody an entire genre while also delivering pointed commentary about American culture. The publication ultimately concluded that the film's combination of satire, memorable performances, and relentless humor helped secure its place at the top of Brooks' filmography.
Together, the two honors underscore the enduring legacy of a comedy that has remained one of Brooks' defining achievements more than 50 years after its release.
The new AFI ranking also highlights Brooks' remarkable place in film history. He is the only filmmaker with three movies in the organization's Top 15 comedy rankings, with Blazing Saddles now at No. 1, The Producers at No. 11 and Young Frankenstein at No. 13.
The AFI recognition comes just days after Brooks announced he was donating his career archives to the National Comedy Center, where the collection will eventually become part of the museum's permanent exhibits.
Over a career spanning more than seven decades, Brooks has earned the rare EGOT distinction, winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards, in addition to receiving the AFI Life Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors and an Academy Honorary Award.
Related: 1975 Classic Ranked Among the Greatest Films Ever Made Just Inspired an Unusual New Project
This story was originally published by Parade on Jun 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Published: June 28, 2026 at 09:37AM on Source: RON MAG
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