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“Yeah, to you it’s Thanksgiving; to me it’s Thursday.”

This weekend is the last bit of downtime you’ll have before the holiday season really gets into swing, so why not take some time to sit back and relax with some of our favorite Thanksgiving-themed movies? I’ve rounded up the best flicks to keep you entertained all day, before and after the kids go to bed. So after you’ve sufficiently filled up on overdone turkey, dry dinner rolls, and extra helpings of green bean casserole, nestle up on the couch with some of these Thanksgiving holiday favorites.

Our favorite Thanksgiving movies

Our all-time favorite, and probably the most recognizable, is the 1987 classic “Plains, Trains and Automobiles” starring Steve Martin and John Candy. We also are partial to 1995’s “Home for the Holidays” and 1992’s “Scent of a Woman”, which are both high on our list.

Of course,...

It’s a little shocking when Jim Gaffigan walks out on stage for his new Hularious stand-up special, The Skinny. The reason: Gaffigan is, well, skinny. Shockingly so, like down-50-pounds skinny. And the secret behind his weight loss isn’t what you’re thinking, which he says right at the top: He’s not on Ozempic. “I’m on a different one,” he clarifies. “I’m on Mounjaro, which is better because it sounds like an Italian restaurant.”

Gaffigan spends the first 10 minutes of The Skinny getting real about his weight loss, including the knowledge that it might be temporary. While his doctor recommended the appetite suppressant to prevent future health problems, Gaffigan is keeping his “fat clothes” for the inevitable slide.

He’s also aware of the drawbacks of such medications, replacing self-discipline, exercise and healthy eating with “a weekly shot that killed all the passion inside of me.

Hollywood may be known for its fleeting romances, but Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson would not pay much heed to that idea. Seriously, how do they make it look so easy? These two have been together for over three decades, and their love story feels like it’s straight out of a rom-com (only way better because it’s real).

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson at the 1989 Oscars | Credits: Alan Light, Wikimedia Commons

From their first meeting on the set of Bosom Buddies in 1981 to their 36th wedding anniversary in 2024, this power couple has gone through decades of life, love, and challenges together – all the while bringing the best out of each other.

It is 1981 and a sitcom sparks a friendship

Tom and Rita’s story begins in the early ’80s when Rita Wilson guest-starred on Tom’s sitcom Bosom Buddies. A show about two broke ad guys, desperate for a place to live,...

In 1987, comedy legend Mel Brooks released Spaceballs, a parody of Star Wars that pit space rogue Lone Star (Bill Pullman) and his furry companion Barf (John Candy) against the vile Darth Helmet (Rick Moranis). Star Wars mania had by no means abated by that point — Return of the Jedi had come out four years before — but Spaceballs didn't get its own cult of fans until it came out on home video, which is how watched it when I was a tiny baby in the 1990s. I actually think I watched Spaceballs before I watched Star Wars, and it's still probably first in my heart.

Brooks made a couple of attempts over the years to get a sequel to Spaceballs made, but nothing took; according to Forbes, Moranis once pitched him on a movie called Spaceballs III: The Search for Spaceballs II, but it never came together. And so a couple...

Josh Gad is working on a sequel to Spaceballs alongside Josh Greenbaum and Mel Brooks.

The actor will produce and star in the film for Amazon MGM Studios and recently revealed that the script’s first draft had been completed.

“Without MGM taking me into their Culver prison cells, I can tell you that the draft is done,” Gad told Forbes. “Everybody who’s read it has been blown away. The process of working on this with and alongside Mel Brooks has been one of the highlights of my career.”

Gad says the whole experience has been “sort of a fever dream” and noted that Brooks “has been so unbelievably supportive, involved, and electrified by this because it’s the one that surprisingly got away.”

“It’s a dream to be able to finally make the reality prophesied by Yogurt in the first movie happen. I can’t say more than that,...

Uncovering the Original Dark Script of ‘Ghostbusters’: How a Grimmer Vision Evolved into the Beloved Comedy Classic! ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

“Ghostbusters” went from a dark, ambitious script to a comedic classic that’s haunted our hearts since ‘84. When Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis teamed up to create this film, they tapped into Aykroyd’s deep-seated fascination with the paranormal. Growing up in a family with a history steeped in spiritualism, Aykroyd was practically destined to explore the ghostly unknown. His great-grandfather hosted séances, and his upbringing was rich with tales of the supernatural.

Originally titled Ghost Smashers, Aykroyd’s vision was wild, sprawling across multiple dimensions and brimming with supernatural phenomena. Picture this: an open portal unleashing ghosts on Earth, leading to various teams of “ghost smashers” battling for supremacy. And we’re not talking about a cozy little New York firehouse to house their captured spirits; no, these...

I remember the day — March 4, 1994 — when I learned that John Candy, big of heart and large of funny bone, had died from an apparent heart attack at age 43. I was a movie critic and a film writer in the Life section of USA Today, distracted by the Winter Olympics TV coverage of Nancy Kerrigan’s silver medal comeback. But the minute I heard that one of the warmest and funniest actors around had passed away, I poured myself immediately into writing his appreciation.

As someone who grew up in Buffalo, I was lucky to have early access to “Sctv,” the Canadian sketch-comedy counterpart to “Saturday Night Live,” long before the series was picked up by NBC. I was cued into the genius of Candy and his clowning cohorts Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Joe Flaherty, Andrea Martin, Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas as they inhabited sundry out-sized characters who worked at a fictitious television station.

For a good while, it seemed as though everything Steven Spielberg touched turned to gold. Having established the very concept of the blockbuster with "Jaws" in 1975, the director went on to make hit after hit with "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977), "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981), and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982). Even 1984's "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" was a box office success, despite shocking some viewers who weren't used to such a dark and oddly violent effort from the director. Critical response to the movie was also more mixed than it had been for its predecessor. Of course, anyone following Spielberg's career closely would have known that "Temple of Doom" was not the first time the seemingly infallible director had fallen afoul of the critics.

Sandwiched between "Close Encounters" and "Raiders" in Spielberg's filmography is "1941." Made in 1979, this war comedy featured an ensemble cast that included Dan Aykroyd,...

Lydia Deetz, her stepmother Delia Deetz, and her daughter Astrid stand over a casket, the burial services in progress. We can barely make out who the funeral is for but there he is on the headstone: Charles Deetz. While Charles was once part of the Beetlejuice sequel when the ghost with the most was to “go Hawaiian”, he was written entirely out of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice…for reasons that will soon be obvious.

Despite the original’s and sequel’s dalliances with the afterlife, Jeffrey Jones will not be in the Beetlejuice sequel– or pretty much any other legitimate movie – following his disgraceful tumble from his small but reliable spotlight. Perfectly fitting into prestigious period pieces and goofball funny flicks. Jones is a Golden Globe nominee with consistent work – a mix of villain, comedic and at times patriarchal roles, Jeffrey Jones went from Ferris Bueller baddie to Who’s Your Caddy?...

In what seems almost like a cleansing ritual after wrestling with studio horror franchises, David Gordon Green’s Nutcrackers sees the director return closer to his indie roots, observing characters that sprout organically from their rural or small-town environments. This cute fish-out-of-water comedy about the unexpected rewards of a found family tries to approximate the naturalism, lyricism and raw emotion of Green’s early works George Washington and All the Real Girls, but it’s too predictably sentimental to have a comparable effect.

The idea came from Green meeting the four spirited young sons of an old friend, and Leland Douglas’ screenplay appears to allow latitude for semi-improvisation from those boys, playing versions of themselves. That gives the film a disarming sincerity that dovetails with Ben Stiller’s sensitive, understated performance as an uptight Chicagoan thrust into the inconvenient role of parent. But the abundance of montages and exuberant slo-mo...

How does one become one of the most celebrated and commercially successful comedy multi-hyphenates of all time? Surely not by dropping out of college before receiving their bachelor’s degree and joining an improv comedy group, right?

Wrong. Thus was the journey for Adam McKay, the immensely talented and successful director, writer, and producer behind such classics as ‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,’ ‘Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,’ ‘Step Brothers,’ ‘The Other Guys,’ ‘The Big Short,’ and ‘Vice.’ McKay has had a fascinating and very versatile career, going from directing Will Ferrell at his absolute best, making people’s stomachs hurt from laughing too hard, to tackling academy-award nominated films revolving around climate change, corrupt politicians, and the recession of 2008. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to read...

One of the buzziest films of the 2024 Telluride Film Festival has been the upcoming Sony feature based on the first ever live performance of the pop culture staple “Saturday Night Live.” What no one saw coming was that one of the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players, Bill Murray, would introduce the film alongside director Jason Reitman, who were both welcomed with a standing ovation of massively supportive fans and industry insiders.

At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television and pop culture forever. “Saturday Night” is based on the true story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of what was originally called “NBC’s Saturday Night” (because a competing show with Howard Cosell had the “Saturday Night Live” title). Full of humor, chaos, and the magic of a revolution that almost wasn’t,...

A little while back, we ran a special Wtf episode about the 1979 Disney movie, The Black Hole, an uncommonly adult film for the family-friendly studio. It kicked off an experiment for the studio to move into adult fare, eventually spawning no less than three subsidiaries that produced some of the most influential movies of the 80s, 90s and 2000s. These off-shoots paved the way for Disney’s place as the most powerful motion picture studio in the world, with them owning Lucasfilm, Pixar and the MCU. This summer, the Mouse House released an uncommonly bold MCU movie, Deadpool & Wolverine, which sported an R-rating, and has done blockbuster business. Many are wondering if perhaps this could have the way for Disney to tackle some adult fare, but it wouldn’t be the first time, and maybe now is the time to bring back Touchstone Pictures.

So, what’s Touchstone Pictures...

In his recent book Number One Is Walking, Steve Martin wraps up a section of anecdotes from his film career by alluding to the difficulty of making movies. He’s not describing the physical or logistical challenges, but the part that’s supposed to make it all worthwhile: the result.

One of John Candy’s 80s classics from director Carl Reiner, Summer Rental, was pretty elusive on physical media. Fans of this comedy don’t have to wait any longer as the boutique label Kino Lorber will now be releasing a new Blu-ray transfer of the film sometime this year. Blu-ray.com is reporting that Summer Rental will be hitting retailers in late 2024.

The 1985 comedy stars John Candy, Karen Austin, Kerri Green, Joey Lawrence, and Aubrey Jene. The plot description reads, “After air traffic controller Jack Chester loses a plane (it’s covered on his screen by a fly), he’s told to take a break. Jack books his family into a plush resort, but it turns out that their lodgings are in a hut by the beach, and that’s as good as the vacation gets.” Reiner would direct another summer-themed comedy with Mark Harmon, Summer School, just a couple years later.

A filmmaker’s versatility is proved by the fact that he or she can never be boxed into any specific genre. In this regard, Steven Spielberg is the pioneer. From war dramas to sci-fi thrillers to intense biopics, the prolific director has shown that he is adept at creating magic and bringing any type of narrative to life.

Hollywood filmmaker Steven Spielberg

Despite a decent box office collection, 1941 did not quite excite fans and critics across the country. The film’s screenwriter Bob Gale spoke to Yahoo Entertainment back in 2014 and elaborated on the reasons why the comedy failed to land with audiences. One of the key factors involved the paucity of time for the director to create a perfect final product.

It had been promoted and advertized to come out at Christmas 1979. I think if Steven had had another three or four more weeks in the editing room to work with the film,...

This article contains extremely light spoilers for "Deadpool & Wolverine."

Like any human being with good taste, Ryan Reynolds loves John Candy. The star of the "Deadpool" movies has shared his appreciation for the late actor/comedian, who died at age 43 in 1994, multiple times on social media over the years, including when he shared this touching video tribute to Candy:

(I'd never seen that before, and was on the verge of tears when I watched it this morning.)

In 2020, Reynolds wrote on Instagram, "John Candy passed away 26 years ago today. He always walked that tightrope between hilarious and heartbreaking. His movies mean so much to me. If you haven't seen his work, check it out. He's absolutely beautiful." In 2023, word came out that he's even producing a documentary about Candy that's being directed by Colin Hanks. And as recently as last month, Reynolds randomly shared a meme about Candy in his Instagram stories.

In the 1990s, Hollywood found both success and failure by digging deep into the back catalog of horror master Stephen King. The decade saw some of the best adaptations of his work and some of the worst (we don't need to talk about "The Lawnmower Man"), but its high and low points alike notably drew from lesser-known King works, as many of his major hits were already adapted in the decades prior. "Thinner" falls into this category: Released in 1984, the novel that inspired the movie was well-regarded upon release, but is mostly known now as the book that helped readers identify King as the writer behind pseudonym Richard Bachman.

Plenty of King fans love "Thinner," but the novel about an overweight man who is cursed to lose weight rapidly to the point of emaciation isn't exactly as high profile as the novelist's more zeitgeist-defining works. The Tom Holland-directed film...

Robin Williams, who would have turned 73 over the weekend, loved making “strange films.” Out-of-the-box early choices like The World According to Garp and Moscow on the Hudson let Williams stretch his acting wings. But did their middling box-office success lower his status in the comedy hierarchy?

He was especially freaked out by the success of Trading Places, according to Dave Itzkoff’s biography, Robin. The odd couple/buddy comedy starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy went gangbusters in the summer of 1983, and by Williams’ math, that was a problem. In his eyes, one comedian coming up meant another had to come down.

While Williams had a hard time translating his Mork & Mindy TV success into a film career, at least at first, Murphy was making the SNL-to-the-movies transition look easy. “Eddie is ideal. He knows exactly what he does and how to get it out on film perfectly,” Robin said.

Steven Spielberg, the master auteur, had somewhat of a crash course in the interdependent working relationship between a director and the studio quite early on in his career. Despite his natural expertise and ingrained talent for producing cinematic masterpieces, Spielberg is not entirely immune to box office failures.

Steven Spielberg on the sets of 1941 [Credit: Amblin]

The director of the aquatic thriller, Jaws, and sci-fi alien film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, had ridden the wave of success and glory for far too long to realize that without studio interference, a project can sometimes go downhill too. And Spielberg was quick to learn that on the evening of the premiere of 1941.

Steven Spielberg and His Radical New Hollywood Era

No studio production enters the final theatrical lineup without the absolute say-so of the higher-up execs. The Hollywood of today is entirely guided by the principle of equal collaboration between the suits and the creatives.

Rich Eisen recently asked Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F star Judge Reinhold to verify an urban legend. Did John Candy keep a bathtub full of beer in his hotel room during the filming of the 1981 comedy Stripes because the movie was being made in a dry county in Kentucky?

“Correct,” Reinhold responded. “Very correct.”

Reinhold had to explain to Candy, “who was like the king of Molson,” what a dry county was. Apparently, there’s no such thing in Candy’s native Canada. “So when I first told him, ‘No, a dry county is a place in the United States where you can’t buy alcohol,’” Reinhold explained. “He was like, ‘Yeah, right.’”

Candy couldn’t wrap his Canuck brain around the concept. “What do you mean, the weather is dry? What are you talking about?’”

“I said, ‘You can’t buy alcohol in this county.’”

Candy was still baffled.

When writer/director Mel Brooks' "Spaceballs" comedy spoof of "Star Wars" was first released in 1987, fans of the 'space opera' genre were delighted with the film, but most reviewers dismissed the feature as lame 'shtick', thinking the whole "Star Wars" 'thing' had run its course and best left forgotten. But the fans were right, the film was successful and now producer Brooks with backing from Amazon MGM is finally moving forward at ‘ludicrous speed’, to prep a sequel, to be directed by Josh Greenbaum:

The original "Spaceballs", currently streaming on Max, sees many of the main cast pass away, including John Candy as 'Barf'...

... Joan Rivers as 'Dot Matrix', Dom DeLuise as 'Pizza The Hut'...

...and Phil Hartman as 'Dink'.

But Bill Pullman as 'Lone Star' and Daphne Zuniga as 'Princess Vespa' are still working.

As for Rick Moranis, who reprised his role as ‘Dark Helmet’, for...

“May The Schwartz Be With You.”

We've been hearing rumors of a potential Spaceballs sequel for many years, and it's now been confirmed that a follow-up to Mel Brooks' '80s Star Wars spoof is officially in the works.

The movie is in development at Amazon MGM Studios, with Josh Gad set to star and produce alongside Brooks. Josh Greenbaum will direct the film from a screenplay by Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez, and Gad.

Plot details are still under wraps, but the original movie was a full-on farce, following the general plot of Star Wars: A New Hope while also making fun of other space-set or sci-fi properties such as Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes and Alien.

Spaceballs starred Bill Pullman as Lone Star, the late John Candy as Barf, Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa, Rick Moranis as Lord Dark Helmet, and Brooks in a...

Steven Spielberg, the maestro behind some of Tinseltown’s greatest spectacles, embraced the pandemonium in his 1979 war comedy odyssey, 1941. This film is often cited as Spielberg’s out-of-control gamble, but what many don’t realize is the unique space it occupies in the director’s illustrious career.

Following the colossal success of Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Spielberg went where few dared, proving that even legends can afford a playful detour. Having said that, critics & audiences were initially mixed, and the actor John Wayne himself bristled at its irreverence toward the film’s plot circling “World War II”.

Steven Spielberg’s 1941 | Universal Pictures

But Spielberg never harbored “embarrassment” for this quirky war comedy. In fact, statistics show that 1941 was not the flop it’s reputed to be; it earned more than its production costs at the box office.

1941: Revisiting the War Comedy That Holds a...

Josh Gad and Mel Brooks are coming together to make Spaceballs 2 a thing: and it sounds like the project is quite far advanced.

In the back catalogue of Mel Brooks comedies, Spaceballs isn’t amongst the top tier stuff I’d argue, but his spoof of Star Wars returns a hefty laugh count. Particularly if you’re a fan of George Lucas’ original trilogy, there’s much to be gleamed from the likes of Rick Moranis and the late John Candy having clear fun with the project.

Out of the blue, we now learn that the 1987 original appears to be getting a sequel. Josh Gad is reportedly attached to produce and star in the new film, that Mel Brooks is involved with, and is producing.

Further personnel are already in place as well. Josh Greenbaum is set to direct the film, his latest feature following recent projects such as the fun,...

The Schwartz awakens! That's right folks, 80s Star Wars satirical spoof Spaceballs is getting a sequel at long last. And before you say "Oh no, not again," John Hurt style, per Deadline's reporting, a veritable galaxy of talent are working to take us back to that galaxy very, very, very, very far away. Frozen's Josh Gad — who not-so-subtly teased the project on Instagram last week (see below) — is attached to produce and star the Amazon bound project, Og Spaceballs writer-director Mel Brooks is also aboard as a producer, and Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar director Josh Greenbaum is set to direct from a script by Gad and Detective Pikachu duo Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez.

Mel Brooks' original 1987 Spaceballs followed Luke Skywalker-esque hero Lone Starr (Bill Pullman), his Mog sidekick Barf (John Candy), and Druish princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) as the trio worked together to...

In an age when multiple classic movies that don’t need sequels are getting sequels, the latest film to get this treatment is the 1987 Star Wars parody Spaceballs. The original film was directed, produced, and co-written by comedy legend Mel Brooks (who also acted in it). Brooks will once again act as producer, with actor/comedian Josh Gad set to star and co-produce, and co-write the film for Amazon/MGM.

While the film is in early development and the plot is being kept under wraps, we can only imagine what we might see. The first Spaceballs film primarily parodied the original Star Wars trilogy with a few references to Alien, Star Trek, and Planet of the Apes. But with multiple new sci-fi franchises like Avatar becoming popular, you never know what they might do next. Not to mention all the new Star Wars movies since then.

Unfortunately, a decent amount...

“Listen, we’re not just doing this for money. We’re doing it for a shitload of money!” – Lone Starr

“Spaceballs” the t-shirt! “Spaceballs” the coloring book! “Spaceballs” the….sequel?

Yup. A source told IndieWire that Amazon MGM Studios is currently in early development on a sequel to “Spaceballs.” Mel Brooks is returning to produce the feature, a direct follow-up to his 1987 “Star Wars” spoof. Josh Gad is also on board to star in and also produce what we’ll call “Spaceballs 2.”

Amazon declined to comment.

Josh Greenbaum, who directed “Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar” and this year’s documentary “Will & Harper,” is attached to direct the sequel. He’s working from a script by Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez, and Josh Gad. Samit and Hernandez are known for working on “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” “Pokemon Detective Pikachu,” and the upcoming “Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy.

A sequel to the beloved 1987 space opera parody Spaceballs is in the works with Mel Brooks producing, reports Variety.

Starring Josh Gad, the Amazon MGM Studios film will be directed by Josh Greenbaum from a screenplay penned by Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez, and Gad. Plot details are currently being kept under wraps.

The original film was co-written, produced, and directed by Brooks, who also starred. A spoof of popular sci-fi franchises like Star Wars, Star Trek, and Aliens, it starred Bill Pullman as Luke Skywalker/Hans Solo parody Lone Starr, John Candy as Chewbacca parody Barf, and Rick Moranis as Darth Vader parody Lord Dark Helmet.

The Spaceballs sequel will be the second time Brooks has revisited a classic work in recent years. In 2023, he wrote and produced History of the World, Part II .

Gad is best known for starring in Broadway’s The Book of Mormon and voicing Olaf in the Frozen franchise,...

The Schwartz is with Amazon MGM Studios, where a sequel to the 1980s parody film Spaceballs is in early development, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Josh Gad and Mel Brooks are producing the project that has Gad attached to star. Josh Greenbaum is helming the comedy from a script by Gad, Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez.

Plot details for the sequel to the Star Wars-spoofing comedy feature have not yet been shared. Kevin Salter will serve as executive producer on the new one.

Writing partners Samit and Hernandez are known for their work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle: Mutant Mayhem, Pokemon Detective Pikachu, Addams Family 2 and the forthcoming Disney+/Lucasfilm special Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy.

Originally released by MGM in 1987 — a decade after George Lucas’ sci-fi classic Star Wars debuted to become a culture-defining smash — Spaceballs starred Bill Pullman, John Candy, Rick Moranis and Daphne Zuniga, as...

At long last, Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money might finally become a reality. According to Jeff Sneider, Josh Gad is set to star in a Spaceballs sequel directed by Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) for Amazon MGM Studios. Gad also co-wrote the script with Benji Samit (Detective Pikachu) and Dan Hernandez (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem) and will produce the project alongside Mel Brooks.

Plot details for Spaceballs 2 are being kept under wraps at this time, but the original 1987 movie starred Bill Pullman as Lone Star, John Candy as Barg, Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa, Rick Moranis as Lord Dark Helmet, and Mel Brooks as President Skroob and Yogurt. Although the film was primarily a parody of Star Wars, it also included some humourous nods to Alien (with John Hurt reprising his famous role) and Star Trek.

Related Rick Moranis punched in...

Josh Gad is attached to produce and star in a Spaceballs sequel in early development at Amazon MGM Studios, which Mel Brooks will also produce, Deadline can confirm.

Amazon declined to comment.

Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) will direct from Gad’s script written with Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez (Detective Pikachu). Details as to the plot are under wraps. Kevin Salter will serve as executive producer on the project.

Directed by Brooks, the original Spaceballs was a send-up of the sci-fi genre released by MGM in 1987. The film’s plot revolves around the evil Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) and President Skroob (Brooks), who attempt to steal the atmosphere of the peaceful planet Druidia, only to be thwarted by the hero Lone Starr (Bill Pullman), his sidekick Barf (John Candy), and the Druish princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga).

Others in the cast included Joan Rivers and Dick Van Patten.

A “Spaceballs” sequel is in development at Amazon MGM Studios. Josh Gad is set to star, and will produce alongside Mel Brooks.

Josh Greenbaum will direct the film from a screenplay by Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez, and Gad, while Kevin Salter will executive produce. The project is in early stages, and plot details are being kept under wraps. Amazon declined to comment.

Writing duo Samit and Hernandez are best known for their work as screenwriters for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” “Pokemon Detective Pikachu,” “Addams Family 2,” and the upcoming Disney+/Lucasfilm special “Lego Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy.”

The original 1987 MGM film “Spaceballs” starred Bill Pullman as Lone Star, John Candy as Barf, Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa, Rick Moranis as Lord Dark Helmet and Brooks as President Skroob and Yogurt. The space opera is a parody of both the “Star Wars” franchise and other popular sci-fi franchises like “Star Trek” and “Alien.

When spoof-master Mel Brooks delivered his classic "Star Wars" parody "Spaceballs" back in 1987, his Schwartz-wielding character Yogurt (a riff on Frank Oz's beloved Yoda) made a meta joke that put forth the hope of one day seeing a sequel, "Spaceballs II: The Search for More Money." Sadly, in the decades since "Spaceballs" was released, the line has proven to be nothing more than a punchline. Despite the fact that George Lucas returned to "Star Wars" with a prequel trilogy, Mel Brooks never came back to his sci-fi lampoon, even though the lambasted saga of Anakin Skywalker would have been ripe for parody. However, it seems that the chance of a "Spaceballs" sequel coming together has increased.

"Frozen" and live-action "Beauty and the Beast" co-star Josh Gad made a not-so-cryptic post to social media about the completion of a script that he was very excited about, saying it "may be...

Explore the Cast of Uncle Buck John Candy (Buck Russell) – 6ft 2 in. (188 cm) Did John Candy Improvise in Home Alone? Who Played Uncle Buck’s Girlfriend? Jean Louisa Kelly (Tia Russell) – 5ft 3 in. (160 cm) Who Played Tia’s Boyfriend in Uncle Buck? Gaby Hoffmann (Maizy Russell) – 5ft 7 in. (170.2 cm) Macaulay Culkin (Miles Russell) – 5ft 6 in. (167.6 cm) Elaine Bromka (Cindy Russell) – 5 ft 4¼ in. (164.5 cm) Garrett M. Brown (Bob Russell) – 6ft 3 in. (191 cm) Who Played the Drunk Clown in Uncle Buck? Was Uncle Buck Filmed in the Same House as Home Alone?

Are you a fan of John Hughes’ 1989 classic Uncle Buck? If so, you might be curious to know what the cast of this hilarious comedy is up to now.

Starring John Candy, Uncle Buck tells the story of a bachelor who unexpectedly becomes the caretaker of his brother’s teenage daughter and her siblings.

Despite mixed reviews upon its release,...

For this month’s installment of “TV Terrors” we revisit the short-lived animated series “Gravedale High” (aka “Rick Moranis in Gravedale High“), which aired on NBC in 1990.

During the era of Saturday Morning Cartoons, there was always this idea by studios to build on a big star’s name by giving them an animated vehicle. We saw it with Mr. T, Chuck Norris, Macaulay Culkin, and Gary Coleman, as well as comedians like Louie Anderson and Howie Mandel. John Candy got (the still celebrated) “Camp Candy,” while his Sctv colleague Rick Moranis headlined his own animated horror comedy series for kids: “Gravedale High.”

Rick Moranis garnered immense fame and cult status in the eighties and nineties with an iconic comedy career that carried over into big films like Ghostbusters and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. As a means of marketing off his momentum, an animated series was developed by NBC...

Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard is just back from the Cannes Film Festival, where he premiered his latest film, Jim Henson Idea Man. Ahead of the documentary’s launch Friday on Disney+, the director stops by Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast to share insights into his exploration of the Muppets creator, filmmaker and creative genius.

Howard tells us how his film went over in Cannes and what got the biggest laughs at a screening just a few days ago in Los Angeles.

Related: ‘Jim Henson Idea Man’ Review: Ron Howard Paints Moving Portrait Of Muppets Creator As Restless Innovator – Cannes Film Festival

He also recalls the unusual circumstances of his one face-to-face encounter with Henson decades ago, and he shares what George Lucas thought of the groundbreaking puppet master (Henson helped design...

Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds has shared a touching tribute in memory of the late comedian and Home Alone star, John Candy. Known for his memorable roles in iconic films such as Splash, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Uncle Buck, the actor was celebrated for his impeccable timing, versatility, and ability to bring warmth and humor to every character he portrayed.

John Candy in Uncle Buck | Credit: Universal Pictures

His untimely death in 1994 at the age of 43 was met with an outpouring of grief from fans around the world, who fondly remember the comedic genius. Reynolds, among those who admired Candy, recently took to Instagram to share how much he misses the late actor.

Ryan Reynolds’ Heartfelt Tribute to Late Comedian John Candy

Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds is deeply remembering the late actor-comedian John Candy, as he expressed recently on his Instagram. The actor shared an Instagram post by @retrorewind80s honoring the late Hollywood icon.

Cannes is not lacking for glamor this year, even in the documentary lineup.

Among the films premiering at the festival is Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes, an HBO feature documentary directed by Nanette Burstein and produced by J.J. Abrams, Glen Zipper, Sean M. Stuart, and Bill Gerber. The documentary draws on conversations with the star recorded decades ago for an autobiography.

“Entirely through the efforts of the [Taylor] estate, they were able to track those tapes down and reclaim them,” Zipper explained in an interview just before he flew to Cannes. “I remember getting an email from one of the trustees of the estate of a picture of the tapes in a box on a private jet on their way back to Los Angeles, strapped in with a seatbelt.”

Director Nanette Burstein

Zipper tells Deadline his production company, Zipper Bros Films, brought Burstein onto the project, a filmmaker known for Hulu’s 2020 docuseries about Hillary Clinton,...

Steven Spielberg is undoubtedly one of the greatest voices in filmmaking today. Since the ’70s, he has proven himself to be a very competent director who can dabble in any filmmaking genre with ease. Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of The Lost Ark, Saving Private Ryan, Jurassic Park, The Color Purple, etc. are examples of his complete mastery over varied genres.

Melinda Dillon and Cary Guffey in Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Spielberg tasted success early in his career with Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. When he decided to put a comedic spin on the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, many, including John Wayne, warned him that it would backfire on him. The underwhelming reception of the film led to a big realization of the mistakes that he made.

John Wayne’s Warning About 1941 Was The First Sign of the Film...

When Steven Spielberg set out to helm "1941" (a film John Wayne tried to stop him from making), he was seemingly unbeatable. Here was the man who invented the summer blockbuster with "Jaws," then followed it up with the big hit "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." He was on top of the world, and it felt like anything he put his name on was going to be a success. Then "1941" crashed and burned. 

Sort of. 

Here's the thing: in the grand scheme of things, "1941" was not relly a flop. However, because critics were mixed on the flick and it wasn't as big of a hit as Spielberg's previous two movies, it was seen as a failure. Spielberg the wunderkind was showing signs of fatigue. And to be fair, "1941" is definitely one of Spielberg's weaker efforts. Based very loosely on true events, the film follows several...

"The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour" is likely not remembered by many people, except for Billy Crystal himself. The variety/talk show ran from January 30 through February 27 in 1982, lasting a grand total of five episodes. Crystal was already a successful comedian and beloved figure in the industry thanks to the popularity of his 1970s stand-up work and his role in the 1977 sitcom "Soap," so he had connections. He was able to secure guest appearances from many of his famous comedian friends, including Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, Robin Williams, and John Candy for the debut episode. Subsequent guests included Morgan Fairchild, the Manhattan Transfer, Nell Carter, Shelley Duvall, Cindy Williams, Al Jarreau, and Smokey Robinson. 

"The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour" fell right in between "Soap" and "Saturday Night Live" on Crystal's professional timeline, and it might be considered something of a dip in his career. The show was canceled after only two episodes aired,...

Have you ever been curious about what it would look like if silver screen charisma had a face-off? This is going to be an exciting one because the upcoming Deadpool 3 flick promises a feast of fandom greatness. How? Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman seem to be paying homage to Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man in the highly anticipated Deadpool vs. Wolverine fight scene.

The nostalgic nod to our beloved web-slinger is not only a treat for eagle-eyed viewers, but also a masterstroke of intertextual brilliance that unites strands from our favorite superhero universes. Marvel’s squabbling pair is back at it: The trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine was just released, and it features Jackman’s Wolverine and Reynolds’ Deadpool acting out their respective roles.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in Deadpool & Wolverine

If you are not familiar with comic books, Spider-Man and Deadpool have one of the most intriguing...

From left: Dev Patel, Vipin Sharma in Monkey Man Photo: Universal Studios Overlook the training montage sequence in Monkey Man at your own pop culture and movie peril. Kid (Dev Patel) aims to avenge his mother’s death by vanquishing the police chief (Sikander Kher as Rana Singh) who raped...

From left: Dev Patel, Vipin Sharma in Monkey ManPhoto: Universal Studios

Overlook the training montage sequence in Monkey Man at your own pop culture and movie peril. Kid (Dev Patel) aims to avenge his mother’s death by vanquishing the police chief (Sikander Kher as Rana Singh) who raped and...

The year was 1985 when Super Mario Bros. took the Nintendo Entertainment System by storm; Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes debuted in newspapers, and two unlikely friends named Marty McFly and Emmett Lathrop Brown piloted cinema’s most iconic time machine to a year when Panama hats and kitten heels were all the rage, 1955.

Fiercely protected at a level akin to Ghostbusters and Star Wars by millennials worldwide, Robert Zemeckis’s Back to the Future sits enthroned at Nostalgia Mountain’s top. The original film has spawned two sequels, a cartoon series, video game adaptations, a Broadway musical, and more. But how does it hold up by today’s standards? Strap on your seatbelt, and prepare yourselves to see some serious shit because this is Back to the Future Revisited.

In 1977, Robert Zemeckis did the unthinkable. He bulldozed into Amblin Entertainment without an appointment, heading straight for Steven Spielberg’s office.

Beloved actor, writer, and comedian Joe Flaherty, known for his memorable roles in iconic sketch comedy series such as Second City Television (Sctv) and Freaks and Geeks, has passed away at 82.

The sad news was confirmed by Flaherty’s daughter, Gudrun, through a statement to Variety, expressing the family’s grief over the loss of a remarkable talent.

“After a brief illness, he left us yesterday, and since then, I’ve been struggling to come to terms with this immense loss,” Gudrun said.

She continued, “Dad was an extraordinary man, known for his boundless heart and an unwavering passion for movies from the ’40s and ’50s. His insights into the golden age of cinema didn’t just shape his professional life; they were also a source of endless fascination for me.”

“In these last few months, as he faced his health challenges, we had the precious opportunity to watch many...

Joe Flaherty, an original cast member of Canadian sketch comedy series Sctv who will also be remembered for roles in Freaks and Geeks and Happy Gilmore, has died at the age of 82.

The actor and comedian died on Monday, April 1st, after a brief illness, his daughter told The Toronto Star.

Flaherty got his start with the Chicago comedy troupe Second City before relocating to Toronto in 1973. Alongside Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, John Candy, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, and Harold Ramis, Flaherty starred as an original cast member of Sctv, the influential Canadian sketch comedy series that ran for six seasons through 1984. For his efforts, Flaherty won Emmy Awards for outstanding writing in 1982 and 1983.

Flaherty later starred on Eugene Levy’s early ’90s sitcom Manic Mansion, based on the 1987 video game of the same name. He also had a role on Freaks and Geeks, playing A-1 Sporting Goods owner...

Joe Flaherty, a constant comic presence in film and TV, best known for his work on the sketch show Sctv and Freaks and Geeks, has died. He was 82.

Flaherty’s daughter, Gudrun, confirmed his death in a statement shared with the New York Times. No exact cause was given, but Gudrun said her father died on Monday, April 1, after “a brief illness.”

She continued: “Since then, I’ve been struggling to come to terms with this immense loss. Dad was an extraordinary man, known for his boundless heart and an...

Joe Flaherty, a writer and performer on the influential and beloved sketch comedy series Sctv and a series regular on Freaks and Geeks, died Monday following a brief illness. He was 82.

His death was announced by his daughter Gudrun Flaherty, who said in a press statement, “After a brief illness, he left us yesterday, and since then, I’ve been struggling to come to terms with this immense loss. Dad was an extraordinary man, known for his boundless heart and an unwavering passion for movies from the ’40s and ’50s. His insights into the golden age of cinema didn’t just shape his professional life; they were also a source of endless fascination for me. In these last few months, as he faced his health challenges, we had the precious opportunity to watch many of those classic movies together — moments I will forever hold dear.”

Last month, Flaherty’s former...