National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Released in 1987, Spaceballs was Mel Brooks's affectionate send-up of the science-fiction blockbusters that had come to dominate the decade, most obviously the space epics that filled theaters. Brooks brought his trademark rapid-fire parody and gleeful silliness to a genre that often took itself very seriously, and the result has endured as a cult favorite. Generations of fans continue to quote its jokes, a testament to comedy that has aged remarkably well.

This cell comes from a moment associated with Charlene and Marlene, part of the film's playful design. Holding an actual frame that passed through a projector connects you directly to how audiences first experienced the movie, a small, tangible piece of its original 35mm life.