In honour of Mel Brooks' 100th birthday

The American Film Institute has given Mel Brooks a 100th birthday gift – by declaring Blazing Saddles the funniest film of all time.

It had been No 6 on the body’s list of the funniest films in a century of cinema, but has been promoted in what the institute calls an ‘honorary reorganisation’.

Brooks has long complained, semi-jokingly, that his film is far funnier than Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot, which has long held the No1 slot.

‘He’s right!' said AFI president  Bob Gazzale. ‘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. Happy birthday, Mel!’

Brooks is the only filmmaker with three films in the top 15, with The Producers at No 11 and Young Frankenstein at No 13.

Previously Tootsie, Dr. Strangelove, Annie Hall and the Marx Brothers film Duck Soup were all ahead of Blazing Saddles, too.

The reorganisation was announced yesterday, Brook’s birthday.  He famously created a series of '2,000-year-old man' sketches with Carl Reiner.

» Watch Blazing Saddles on Amazon Prime Video.

Published: 29 Jun 2026