Overview
A hilarious take on the Wild West that flips the genre on its head.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- irreverent
- raunchy
- anarchic
- comedy night
- classic film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as an exceptionally funny, influential western parody whose anarchic gag-driven structure and tasteless humor are inseparable from its appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bart’s appointment as sheriff weaponizes white prejudice against the town while the film turns racist western conventions into targets of ridicule.
The climactic action breaks beyond the western set and into an overtly artificial Hollywood production space.
The film repeatedly substitutes one-liners, obscenity, sight gags, and comic set pieces for conventional characterization and tightly plotted progression.
Hedley Lamarr uses political influence and a manufactured law-and-order crisis to make the town’s land easier to acquire for the railroad.
Films like Blazing Saddles, and why
The Paleface
shared western parody, irreverent comedy, and genre convention spoofing
The Three Amigos
shared anarchic comedy, racial satire, and revisionist western framing
Young Frankenstein
shared Mel Brooks-style parody, broad visual gags, and fourth-wall irreverence
Movie Details
- Director
- Mel Brooks
- Release Date
- 1974-02-07
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (2170)
Cast
- Cleavon Little
- Gene Wilder
- Slim Pickens
- Harvey Korman
- Madeline Kahn
- Mel Brooks
- Burton Gilliam
- Alex Karras
- David Huddleston
- Liam Dunn
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Blazing Saddles about?
- A boundary-smashing western spoof follows a Black sheriff and a disgraced gunslinger as they outwit a railroad-backed land grab with relentless irreverence.
- What is Blazing Saddles like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Blazing Saddles as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Blazing Saddles violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Blazing Saddles as moderate.
- What did critics think of Blazing Saddles?
- Critics broadly regard the film as an exceptionally funny, influential western parody whose anarchic gag-driven structure and tasteless humor are inseparable from its appeal.
- Which films are like Blazing Saddles?
- Films with a similar feel include The Paleface, The Three Amigos, and Young Frankenstein.
- How long is Blazing Saddles?
- Blazing Saddles runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Blazing Saddles?
- In United States, Blazing Saddles is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex.
