SPACEBALLS (1987) | We're in "Now" Now | MGM

A star-pilot for hire and his trusty sidekick must come to the rescue of a princess and save Planet Druidia from the clutches of the evil Spaceballs.
Spaceballs (1987)
Directed by Mel Brooks
Written by Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan & Ronny Graham
Cast: Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, Dick Van Patten, George Wyner, and Joan Rivers as the voice of Dot Matrix
Rated PG
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms.
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Spaceballs (1987)
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#MGM #Spaceballs

[@aquilliussericus7017]

Finally, the entire hilarious scene, and from the studio itself, no less! Indisputably one of the best instances of breaking the fourth wall ever.

[@GothGF-ArcaneBunny]

the best one

[@alekesam]

Easily.

[@malahammer]

they didn't just break it....they smashed it

[@austinhanvey4288]

I had to briefly break myself from work to find this part lol

[@Nephalem2002]

I think this is the last scene they shot xD

[@jeffy210]

Such a simple idea of switching it to a live feed and they played it masterfully. Mel Brooks is a genius for coming up with that. It's one of my favorite scenes.

[@dplouro]

No, no, no. Instant cassette, remember? 😂😂

[@atasker7432]

Mel Brooks is a MAD genius!

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

Forget my children, this scene will be the last thing I ever think of when I die 😂

[@Elfo_Scuro]

One of the greatest parody movie of all time. Mel Brooks genius of comedy and cinema.

[@tenderprecious]

Absolutely The Best 🤗🙌

[@azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401]

Inspired from Science Fictions like Star Wars, Allien & Predator

[@002o]

@@azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401 Allien & Predator..really?

[@drewski1535]

I still refer to this as the Star Wars movie 🤣🤣🤣

[@joshuaingram571]

In Heaven there will be an entire building complex of Mel's films with countless actors.

[@evanf1293]

One of the best fourth wall breaks from a movie in general.

[@charlespetersonjr1994]

It's not one of the best, it IS the best

[@MickeyMousePark]

CORRECTION One of the best fourth wall breaks from a movie in -general- Colonel (Sanders)

[@williamsmith4414]

I like how we're seeing Dark Helmet's regret on Ludicrus Speed

[@pennyrobinson4266]

Right after we saw this in the theatre, I was pregnant and tired and jokingly asked my husband to do the dishes as he was on his way out the door to golf. We didn’t have a dishwasher. He turned around, walked over to the microwave, beeped a couple buttons and said, “Setting it to Ludicrous Wash…Now.” Still makes me laugh all these years later!

[@williamsmith4414]

@@pennyrobinson4266 Very funny indeed

[@sha11235]

Wouldn't you love to see them looking at what happens to Skroob when he tried beaming?

[@williamsmith4414]

@@sha11235 haha, that would be good

[@bezoticallyyours83]

​@@pennyrobinson4266 😂

[@newstartyt3700]

Helmet: "When does this happen in the movie?" Sanders: "Now, you're looking at now sir, everything that happens now is happening now" Helmet: "What happened to then?" Sanders: "Passed it" Helmet: "When?" Sanders: "Just now. We're in now now" Helmet: "Go back to then." Sanders: "When?" Helmet: "Now!" Sanders: "No, I can't!" Helmet: "Why?" Sanders: "We missed it!" Helmet: "When?" Sanders: "Just now!" Helmet: "When will there be now?" Sanders: "Soon!" best part of the movie

[@ThatOneMusicianFromGnB]

Helmet: "How soon?"

[@woodysmith2681]

And all the while, Who's on first?

[@Coco_1958]

@@ThatOneMusicianFromGnB soon they will be be our prisoners.

[@rouvendaniel9121]

The german Synchro is funny. Back to then is translatet with back to the future. Zurück in die Zukunft! But for me it is one of the bester Moviedialouges ever.

[@victorhernandez8723]

Classic writing!

[@tubes-lut]

Prepare to fast forward Preparing to fast forward. Such good writing.

[@theunknowncommenter725]

What are you preparing? You're always preparing. Just fast forward.

[@marioiacolucci]

Too funny

[@Coco_1958]

@@theunknowncommenter725 no, you fool, they told us to fast forward the movie, so we’re fast forwarding it.

[@frederickdefeo3768]

Anyone else find this to be a little slice of Nostradamus? Movies out before they’re finished. Think about it: Trailers these days basically give you most of the movie, and then they’re on streaming even before they’re in the theater.

[@tubes-lut]

@@frederickdefeo3768 in the theatre now?

[@stravinsky1300]

Best fourth wall break ever! And it even advances the story!

[@moffant4916]

SpaceBalls the flamethrower, the kids love these. Was good too. I love this movie

[@maryjane-ez8db]

what about cutting the camera guy with lighsaber later in the movie? or catching the stunt-dublers?

[@danielwilliamson6180]

1:21 The look on Rick Moranis's face kills.

[@maxp3141]

I feel like Rick Moranis just always kills. “When will then be now? - Soon!” Is probably my all time favorite exchange in movie history.

[@AtlasBlizzard]

This scene was meta even for Mel Brooks.

[@JohnCine]

Mel Brooks no limits to comedy. This include spoilers in his own movie.

[@battlecourtstudio1299]

Probably one of the most creative live action movie 4th wall breaks ever

[@AustinLCampbell]

I love how all of the VHS tapes that are facing out are all Mel Brooks films!!!! There's a whole shelf of Rocky films too - 1 through 14! 🤣🤣🤣

[@davoise]

There's a gag later on where they announce a review of Rocky 5000. Maybe Dark Helmet was just a fan of the classics?

[@Coco_1958]

There’s also Friday the 13th on that shelf.

[@AustinLCampbell]

@@Coco_1958 Good catch! I didn't even pick up on that until you picked it out!

[@sha11235]

That was the joke.

[@SansoHumar]

But there’s 5000 of them now??!!!

[@paulrandig]

I love how the villain is portrayed here: Small man who tries to compensate with a much too big piece of clothing equipment. Always nervous and worried that someone may find out that he is actually mildly dumb. Not up to date with current developments and dependent on others to explain things and make suggestions without rubbing that in...

[@itsnelson123]

I miss these kind of movies.

[@gregmeyer1805]

To this day whenever my family and I want to fast forward through commercials one of us always belts out, "prepare to fast forward!"

[@emirlsanchos6302]

Sanders: Instant cassettes. They're out in stores before the movie is finished. Sanders predicting bootlegging before it became mainstream.

[@Drakesonone]

Now it instantly blue ray….. wait instantly stream movies. Hmmm

[@mattbartley2843]

Moichandising, where the really money is made!

[@justineld4905]

One of the greatest gags of all time. Note how he's always got his coffee when watching radar. Everybody knows that! I also love the "who, what, where, when" reference. So many subtle things beyond the obvious 4th wall break!

[@sha11235]

The coffee this time wasn't too hot.

[@RRaptor86]

Come on! Everyone knows Lord Helmet has his Mr. Coffee while he’s watching the Mr. Radar… right to the Mr. Rental.

[@skunkman9815]

If you notice the video cassettes are for other Mel Brookes movies

[@malahammer]

Apart from Rocky 1 to Rocky 14

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

How wild would it have been if Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Dracula Dead & Loving It were on that shelf?

[@ffreed]

@@Stand_By_For_Mind_ControlSoon.

[@sha11235]

I knew this long ago. Probably a way to introduce new audiences to his work up till then.

[@sha11235]

@@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control Watching those films and Life Stinks I did think of this scene.

[@huckxblueberryfan]

0:53 I have cover of the VHS on my 4K Blu ray copy of Spaceballs! I love that movie!

[@kenstrauss5841]

That dialog is the Mel brooks version of Who’s on first !! Brilliant !!!

[@Smoove_J]

Yes indeed. He must’ve heard that bit a million times.

[@thecunninlynguist]

CLASSIC. The Spinners song, Spaceballs that they play during the countdown is classic too. This is prob one of my fave scenes.

[@gregmeyer1805]

Spaceballs! Watch out! I had no idea it was The Spinners that sang the theme song. Glorious.

[@MegaPhilX]

WHOOOOOOO!? **helmet shuts**

[@carlos-fv1rc]

One of my favorite movie scenes of all time; a brilliant, funny, self-promoting, post-modernist idea. I'm a writer, and often when I'm in the midst of creative blues, I wish to myself I could fast-forward to get to the finished piece right away :)

[@mymumbakescakes]

The Power of NOW so well explained in this short.

[@easyreader8859]

I'm fan of Starwars, but I love the movie. I think "The Last Jedi" made "an easter egg" for this movie in the scene where the shield is shut down during a few seconds.

[@jonathanmyers2867]

Dark Helmet: Before you die there is something you should know about us, Lone Starr. Lone Starr: What? Dark Helmet: I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate. Lone Starr: What's that make us? Dark Helmet: Absolutely nothing! Which is what you are about to become. Prepare to die!

[@wmucher]

A master example of the philosophical concept of 'Now"

[@Legoflymaster89]

One of my favorite scenes

[@ryanschwartz1593]

As a philosophy phd studying the concept of time I think back on watching this scene often. I was thinking about it way longer than anyone else I was watching the movie with at like age 10. I guess I never stopped thinking about it. When is now? I still cannot say.

[@OldieWan]

Now is now. Your now was 2 months ago, which is then. When is now? I can not say until the next person comes along.

[@MajorNutsack]

Welcome to Now Gentlemen. Oops, you just missed it. Sorry.

[@BURGERLAND369]

@@MajorNutsack If now is then, which then am I now?

[@Coco_1958]

These replies are making my brain hurt, it’s funny, keep it going.

[@queterian1526]

@@BURGERLAND369 due to enthropy there must be a tiny lag between the material base of consciousness entering now and sending the information about that to recollection. Therefore although you definitly was in the now, you cannot truly fully realize it due to ping issues.

[@Gabriel_Drake]

A full masterclass for screenwriters wrapped up in just two minutes.

[@airplaneB3N]

"Instant games. They're out in stores BEFORE the game is finished!"

[@bobsnob9246]

bro predicted early access

[@viperdemonz-jenkins]

Mel Brooks movies are the greatest.

[@poodledreams]

George Wyner is killing it with his dialogue.

[@katie2893]

honestly the best part about this part is colonel sandurz thought process at 0:11

[@GR8Trollio]

One of the greatest comedies of all time! So many legends, including the great Rick Moranis, one of the classiest Hollywood actors ever.

[@cristinagutierrez2780]

I absolutely love this scene, it's hilarious. 😂

[@sirbacon761]

My four favorite Mel Brooks movies, in no particular order: Silent Movie (probably my favorite, criminally underrated) Blazing Saddles Spaceballs History of the World Part One

[@dinoduelist2219]

I love that you can see the corporal smiling as lord helmet has his little freak out

[@anton1990]

0:27 Ah, so ”To be or not to be” is indeed part of the series, even though Mel Brooks didn’t direct it. Nice!

[@davidnetterwald1846]

This scene is absolutely brilliant and my favorite scene in the movie.

[@philipchiu9835]

When will then be now? Soon! Gotta love it 😂😅

[@ReallyBadDriving]

I am today years old when I realized all the Rocky sequels on the bottom shelf.

[@kakhak]

An incredible. comedy parody movie. Love it from my childhood. Oh, and this episode in an absolute brilliance. The episode that I remembered most brightly.

[@JessicaKasumi1990]

This is my favorite movie of all time. Ive probably watched it over 200 times.

[@TomFooleryTheAustere]

It was the only movie I had on tape as a kid, so it was lucky that I had a copy of my favourite movie and like you, have watched it a hundred times. Dialogue almost fully memorized haha.

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

Still, I think, one of the funniest bits ever.

[@deadwalking100]

May the fourth wall be with you! Great scene.

[@pennyrobinson4266]

I laugh even knowing each scene of this movie! One of the best! Robin Hood Men in Tights is another Favorite.

[@brandonjohnston5541]

I have been collecting the VHS versions of the Mel Brooks films with the cases matching the ones in this scene. I found all except Blazing Saddles. I think they made up a sleeve box for it in this movie. I can only find it looking like that in a black clamshell case.

[@christinae30]

A noble quest! 👏

[@maximumstef1039]

“Go back to then” -underrated line. 😆

[@sha11235]

My favorite scene.

[@Nabraska49]

They nailed the reality of time in that one ..

[@lordblu4316]

This movie is a true classic, plain and simple.

[@troophq]

Can we all go back to Then not very happy with Now

[@foca2002]

I love this movie.

[@mikeymike3240]

Freaking love this movie 🍿, sooooooo funny 😁

[@righthandstep5]

Me too

[@williampaz2092]

The entire Theater was rolling on the floor - laughing. 😂🤣

[@ThatSlowTypingGuy]

I still laugh at the FBI warning.

[@jond1965]

This movie is a timeless classic.

[@ericdunn7352]

And then Sandurz added Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Dracula: Dead and loving it to his collection.

[@sha11235]

And Life Stinks.

[@Swiftbow]

I always wondered how they managed to film this in 1987. Some kind of superimposing? It's impressive.

[@user-kc2fu8iw3v]

probably just connected the camera output to a tv while also recording it.

[@Swiftbow]

@@user-kc2fu8iw3v Ah, yeah. I feel dumb that I never thought of that.

[@bigboi6022]

@@user-kc2fu8iw3v a 2nd camera. its 1987 so this was shot on film. If you look close you can tell the perspective is a little different. On the TV, the gap between Rick Moranis and Michael Winslow is larger than the film cameras perspective and on the other side the gap between George Wymer and Winslow is smaller suggesting the television camera is just off to the right of the film camera (from our perspective as viewers).

[@memerminecraft585]

@@bigboi6022 Oh yeah, never would've noticed that

[@AradSP]

​@@bigboi6022 Also note the coffee cup. On the TV he has it, but not in "now"

[@stephenzerbel]

Great movie. I know more about space balls than I do star wars.

[@rappar9673]

One of the best movies, ever.

[@rambojohn272727]

Such a good "who's on first" joke but with time travel instead of bases. Genius.

[@RA7581]

Мел Брукс снимал шикарные комедии.🤣👍

[@Rockhound6165]

Mel Brooks was a master of breaking the 4th wall.

[@johncmeyer5832]

My favorite scene in the movie.

[@HappyHeart35242]

"No no no, go past this. Past this part... In fact, never play this again."

[@RenegadePawn]

This scene was one of my first exposures to meta humor. It couldn't have been a better one. Extra props to Mel Brooks for the Abbot & Costello humor :)

[@ShelLuser]

Seriously.. those toilet noises at 0:15 never stop to bother me :P *SO* darn awesome. Sorry, no Mr. Radar comments here :P

[@hyunchulshim3195]

This is pure genius

[@WeepingWidowSueAna]

My boyfriend and I used to quote this ALL the time back in the day. LOL.

[@marclobato9690]

Greatest movie line ever... When will then be now? Soon.... Well maybe... What's your vector Victor, Roger Over, over Done....

[@makkito2678]

So much better then Star Wars today.

[@spudnickuk]

and were still at now, meaning why are we still watching them, Now! cus we love erm all still now

[@MarkSkater]

this was just brillant writing

[@Valenfield5]

Where!?, WHEN!?, WHOOOO!?

[@Captain_Dante]

I love this movie!!

[@CyberJoeyO]

Filming this part must have been so much fun. 😂

[@wernerclarssen2939]

Oh boy - sometimes I really miss this kind of innocent and silly humor so mich nowerdays...

[@GudieveNing]

Can't believe I missed the Colonel Sandurz joke all this time. Or I forgot. Lol.

[@_Tree]

I watched this movie last night!! Its as funny as it was the first time I saw it in 1987 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gomongio]

This was literally me as a kid trying to follow on with the X-Men story arcs

[@bezoticallyyours83]

😂😂😂

[@bezoticallyyours83]

Or worse, Kingdom Hearts

[@mariochartrand3308]

I watch this scene at least once a year since the 90s and laugh to tears every single time 😂

[@humantacos9800]

This is the most Mel Brooks joke a Mel Brookes joke could be.

[@drumbum3.142]

This One right here is My Favourite Mel Brooks Film 😊😂🤣😂😂😂

[@azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401]

I wish Spaceballs goes air to TCM this month about a Spoof Movies

[@FfblastBlogspot]

Sequel? Yess

[@goth_fraggle]

This and the Hulk Hogan scene from Gremlins 2 are the best fourth wall breaks ever

[@laserowy_general]

Camela harris speaks like lord helmet. Epic

[@maxisenberg9093]

Legit best scene

[@erishchiong6641]

These are the classics. 😂

[@JordanBeagle]

1:05 Back in the good ol days when you could skip those warnings haha

[@NorthernWisconsinandStuff]

Rivals Who’s on First. Excellent!!!!

[@charlieretro]

Anyone notice how the VHS Holder to The Space Balls movie is off a Blank VHS Tape you but to Record things on?

[@vcarcuro]

How on earth could they keep a straight face during the making of this scene 🤣

[@nerdboy4555]

Sir we’ve identified their location!!

[@francis-kp9cw]

0:05 I love that movie. 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@templargfx]

Prepare to fast forward!

[@AndreasW-p4r]

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL 😸🤘OF A CLASSIC

[@WhiteCamry]

Mel Brooks totally called it. This was a joke in 1987; it's everyday life in 2024.

[@TL-sn7ne]

It’s an infinite loop of them viewing the screen.