(released in English as Spaceballs ) is the ultimate love letter to—and demolition of—the sci-fi genre. Directed by the legendary Mel Brooks , this 1987 cult classic remains the gold standard for movie parodies. 1. The Premise: High Stakes, Low Maturity

If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out on the funniest 90 minutes in the galaxy. It’s a reminder that even in the vastness of space, humans (and Mawgs) will always be delightfully ridiculous.

Rick Moranis delivers one of the funniest performances in comedy history. Between his oversized helmet and his "playing with dolls" scene, he turned the menacing Darth Vader archetype into a relatable, neurotic mess.

The plot is a beat-for-beat mockery of Star Wars . The evil leaders of Planet Spaceball, led by the incompetent President Skroob (Brooks) and the vertically challenged Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis), have squandered their own atmosphere. Their solution? Kidnap Princess Vespa of Druidia and literally vacuum the air off her planet.