‘Spaceballs 2’ Reveals Official Title

It finally happened – Mel Brooks, at 99 years old, has made a sequel to Spaceballs! Though his character, Yogurt, once predicted all the original characters would reunite in Spaceballs 2: The Search For More Money, that isn’t the actual title of the new movie.

Mel Brooks announced at CinemaCon in Las Vegas that the next Spaceballs movie won’t be called Spaceballs 2: The Search For More Money!

And why not?

He announced with a grin, “I finally found the money, after all this time! It was right here in my basement.” The camera then showed a large bag of cash labeled “Spaceballs: The Money.”

Brooks explained that they were inspired by the fans, who have repeatedly asked for a new Spaceballs movie over the years, constantly asking, “Mel! Mel! When will there be a sequel?”

And this it is… Spaceballs: The New One.

(“It’s just like the old one, but it’s newer,” Brooks added.)

The movie’s cast, including a special appearance by Rick Moranis, was at CinemaCon to help share the news.

The new film isn’t a complete recreation of the original, but thankfully, Mel Brooks returns as both Yogurt and President Skroob. However, Brooks didn’t direct this sequel – that job went to Josh Greenbaum, known for Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Brooks did collaborate on the screenplay with Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez, and Josh Gad, who also appears in the movie.

Amazon hasn’t shared details about the movie’s plot yet. Instead, they’ve been focusing on announcing who’s returning from the original cast and welcoming the new people joining the filmmaking team.

The new movie brings back beloved actors from the original film, including Rick Moranis, George Wyner, Daphne Zuniga, Bill Pullman, and Mel Brooks. Joining them are fresh faces like Josh Gad, Keke Palmer, Lewis Pullman, and Anthony Carrigan, who will play entirely new characters – details about whom are currently being kept under wraps.

The new Spaceballs movie, officially titled Spaceballs: The New One, is set to release in theaters on April 23, 2027. Honestly, after all the joke products like Spaceballs: The T-Shirt and Spaceballs: The Breakfast Cereal, I expected them to simply call it Spaceballs: The Sequel. If they weren’t aiming for a title about maximizing profits, that would have been the most straightforward option.

The Best Comedy Movie Every Year of the 1990s

1990: Gremlins 2: The New Batch

The original Gremlins movie was surprisingly intense for a kids’ film, and it actually led to the creation of the PG-13 rating. The sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, didn’t cause any controversy. Director Joe Dante intentionally changed the tone, aiming for the chaotic energy of a Looney Tunes cartoon—he even brought in legendary animator Chuck Jones to create new Looney Tunes segments for the film! The Gremlins in the second movie were less scary and much sillier—one even parodies the movie Marathon Man. The film’s wild and unpredictable spirit included self-aware cameos from Hulk Hogan and film critic Leonard Maltin. That Gremlin asking ‘Is it safe?’ still gets a laugh out of me.

Also worth mentioning are Home Alone and Quick Change.

1991: The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear

The first Naked Gun movie received reasonably good reviews for a silly comedy – critics often underestimate those types of films. However, the sequels received mixed to negative reactions (and critics seem to especially dislike sequels to silly comedies!). While The Smell of Fear isn’t as hilarious as the original Naked Gun, it’s still an enjoyable film. In fact, the Naked Gun series might be one of the most consistently funny comedy franchises ever made. It seems movie comedies and critics just don’t always see eye-to-eye – it’s like a painful experience that leaves you feeling empty.

Also worth mentioning: The Addams Family and Hot Shots!

1992: Wayne’s World

I have a funny story! When I first saw Wayne’s World in 1992, I laughed so hard—especially at the scene where Wayne and Garth jokingly criticize product placement in movies—that I actually fell out of my chair at the theater. That’s only happened to me once other time, during The Naked Gun 1. While Wayne’s World definitely captures the feel of the early 90s—think cable access TV and Aerosmith—the movie’s charming and honest portrayal of that era still delivers big laughs.

1993: Groundhog Day

Few comedies are as insightful as Groundhog Day. Bill Murray delivers a standout performance as Phil Connors, a self-centered TV weatherman who initially acts like he’s controlling the weather itself. He finds himself stuck in a small Pennsylvania town covering the Groundhog Day celebration, and the movie follows his journey from believing he’s all-powerful to ultimately learning what it means to be human.

Also worth checking out: Dave and Hot Shots! Part Deux.

1994: Ed Wood

Tim Burton made a surprisingly touching and funny movie about the life of Edward D. Wood Jr., the director of the famously bad film Plan 9 From Outer Space. It could have easily been a silly parody, but Burton captured the joy and heartbreak of filmmaking, showing how creative vision often clashes with the demands of studio executives and financial concerns. While Ed Wood (played by Johnny Depp) wasn’t a filmmaking genius like his idol, Orson Welles, he wasn’t incompetent either. He was a hopeful person struggling within Hollywood’s strict system, where money mattered more than artistic expression. In many ways, he’s a classic Tim Burton character.

Also worth noting are the films Clerks and Dumb and Dumber.

1995: Clueless

If you were a teenager in the 90s, watching Clueless is like stepping back in time. While the movie’s depiction of high school—rich girls in Beverly Hills—wasn’t everyone’s reality, it perfectly captures the feeling of being a teen back then. It’s packed with 90s pop culture and fashion, making it a hilarious and incredibly quotable time capsule. Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd are fantastic in standout roles, and Amy Heckerling’s writing is brilliant.

Also worth checking out: Get Shorty, Tommy Boy.

1996: Happy Gilmore

It’s rare for a movie to stay popular enough to warrant a sequel three decades later, but Happy Gilmore has definitely earned one. The original film is still hilarious, thanks to Adam Sandler’s energetic performance as a hockey player who unexpectedly becomes a golf star. It’s also full of wonderfully weird moments – like Ben Stiller’s brief appearance, Richard Kiel’s memorable role as a strange golf fan, and the constant presence of golf legend Lee Trevino reacting to Happy’s antics. And who could forget the surprisingly long fight with Bob Barker from The Price Is Right? Unlike many comedies from the 90s that haven’t aged well, Happy Gilmore remains funny and enjoyable today.

1997: MouseHunt

By the 2010s, director Gore Verbinski had gained a devoted following among film enthusiasts who appreciated his unique and popular blockbusters like The Ring, Rango, and the Pirates of the Caribbean films. However, his first film, MouseHunt, hasn’t received the same recognition – perhaps because it’s a very silly, slapstick comedy like The Naked Gun. The movie follows two brothers (Nathan Lane and Lee Evans) as they desperately try to catch a mouse that’s causing chaos in their inherited mansion. It’s filled with hilarious physical comedy and surprisingly good special effects, making it feel like a cartoon come to life. Verbinski brings his usual technical skill to the project, and it’s well worth checking out if you haven’t seen it.

Also worth noting: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, My Best Friend’s Wedding.

1998: Dirty Work

It’s a real shame Norm Macdonald didn’t get the recognition he deserved while he was alive. He was famously fired from SNL – seemingly for just being too funny – and kept working steadily until his passing in 2021, even though a lot of his stuff got unfairly panned. Take Dirty Work, for example. It currently sits at a measly 14% on Rotten Tomatoes, but honestly? It’s a riot. Norm plays a guy who starts a business getting revenge for people, alongside Artie Lange, and the whole thing is directed by the equally underrated Bob Saget. The plot isn’t much, and yeah, some of the humor is definitely…out there. But it’s consistently funnier than a lot of the comedies that did get praised back then, and Norm is fantastic in it. (Seriously, though, what was up with those oversized shirts?) I’m definitely adding Dirty Work to my rewatch list for this weekend. And while we’re talking about comedies, There’s Something About Mary and The Wedding Singer are always solid choices too.

1999: Galaxy’s Quest

Often topping lists of great movies that deserved sequels but never got them, Galaxy’s Quest is a brilliant parody of the Star Trek universe – even though it’s not officially part of it. Anyone familiar with Star Trek will immediately recognize the clever spoof. The film centers around the former cast of a canceled sci-fi TV show, Galaxy Quest, who are mistaken for real space heroes by aliens. The aliens bring them on a mission to save their planet from an invasion. With fantastic comedic acting and a smart script by David Howard and Robert Gordon, Galaxy Quest playfully honors and satirizes Star Trek and its fans, making it one of the best sci-fi comedies ever made.

Also worth noting: Election and Office Space.

2026-04-16 17:57