At The Movies

History of the World, Part I Runtime: 93 minutes Rating: R Release Date: June 12, 1981 Studio: 20th Century Fox Franchise: Mel Brooks Franchise Position: 7 Run time in minutes: 93 Tagline: You’ll laugh till your jaw falls off! Ratings My rating: 6.8 /10 Dove Foundation rating: N/A IMDb rating: 6.7 /10 Rotten Tomatoes rating: 64% Metacritic rating: 56% Plot Summary Sketch comedy movie parodying world history from Stone Age to French Revolution, full of absurd and often crude humor. Critics Review Mixed reviews with praise for some sketches but uneven quality; now a cult favorite. Christian Perspective Contains crude and irreverent content; mocks historical and religious figures, may offend conservative viewers. Family Friendliness Rated R for language and sexual content; adult audiences only.

Airplane II: The Sequel Runtime: 84 minutes Rating: PG Studio: Paramount Pictures Franchise: Airplane Franchise Position: 2 Tagline: “We’re still not sure what it was, but it sure scared us.” Trailer link:  Cast link:   Ratings My Rating: 7/10 IMDb Rating : 4.8/10  Rotten Tomatoes : 23%  Metacritic: N/A Plot Summary Airplane II: The Sequel continues the absurdist comedy of the original but takes the action into space. When a computer-controlled space shuttle called the Mayflower 1 malfunctions, the same reluctant hero, Ted Striker (Robert Hays), must again overcome his fears to save the day. Filled with similar parody humor, slapstick, and sight gags, the film spoofs sci-fi and disaster tropes but was generally less well received than the original. Despite mixed reviews, it offers moments of fun and extends the franchise’s quirky style into outer space. Critics Review Critics largely view Airplane II as a pale shadow of the original’s lightning-fast wit and inventive...

Airplane! Runtime: 88 minutes Rating: PG Studio: Paramount Pictures Franchise: None Franchise Position: N/A Tagline: “From the creators of The Kentucky Fried Movie.” Trailer link Cast link Ratings My Rating: 9/10 IMDb Rating : 7.7/10  Rotten Tomatoes : 97%  Metacritic : 72  Plot Summary Airplane! is a classic spoof comedy that hilariously parodies disaster films, especially those about airplane crises. When the passengers and crew of a commercial flight fall ill due to food poisoning, a traumatized ex-fighter pilot named Ted Striker (Robert Hays) must overcome his fears to land the plane safely. Filled with absurd visual gags, rapid-fire jokes, and deadpan delivery, the film lampoons everything from melodramatic dialogue to slapstick physical comedy, all while delivering a surprisingly heartfelt story about courage and redemption. Critics Review Critics universally praise Airplane! as one of the greatest comedy films ever made, applauding its sharp wit, clever parody, and...

Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult Franchise : The Naked Gun Franchise # : 3 of 4 Year : 1994 MPAA Rating : PG-13 Total Runtime : 83 minutes Tagline : “A Mad Bomber is on the Loose, and If Anyone Can Stop Him... So Can Frank Drebin.” Main Cast Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin Priscilla Presley as Jane Spencer Drebin George Kennedy as Capt. Ed Hocken O.J. Simpson as Det. Nordberg Fred Ward as Rocco Dillon Kathleen Freeman as Muriel Dillon Anna Nicole Smith as Tanya Peters Reviews Synopsis Frank Drebin’s retired… or so he thinks. He’s pulled back into action to stop a terrorist bombing plot that targets the Academy Awards. Cue a prison infiltration, a ludicrous love triangle, and a red carpet showdown like no other. If it’s absurd, Frank’s right in the middle of it. Overview This movie goes even wackier than the first two—think fart jokes, musical numbers, and a plot involving a bomb smuggled in a hearing aid. While it’s less subtle and a bit more hit-and-miss, it still brings the laughs ...

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear Franchise : The Naked Gun Franchise #: 2 of 4 Year : 1991 MPAA Rating : PG-13 Total Runtime : 85 minutes Tagline : “If you only see one movie this year... you need to get out more often.” Main Cast Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin Priscilla Presley as Jane Spencer George Kennedy as Capt. Ed Hocken O.J. Simpson as Det. Nordberg Richard Griffiths as Dr. Albert Meinheimer Robert Goulet as Quentin Hapsburg Reviews Synopsis Frank Drebin is back, and he's more clueless than ever. This time, he’s caught up in a plot to sabotage renewable energy. Naturally, his investigation involves breaking windows, crashing dinners, impersonating scientists, and trying to win Jane back. It's wall-to-wall absurdity, just like the first movie. Overview While not as fresh as the original, The Smell of Fear still delivers consistent laughs. It sticks to the franchise’s recipe of rapid-fire gags and outrageous physical comedy. Leslie Nielsen’s timing is perfect, and...

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! Franchise : The Naked Gun Franchise #: 1 of 4 Year : 1988 MPAA Rating : PG-13 Total Runtime : 85 minutes Tagline : “You've read the ad, now see the movie!” Main Cast Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin Priscilla Presley as Jane Spencer Ricardo Montalbán as Vincent Ludwig George Kennedy as Capt. Ed Hocken O.J. Simpson as Det. Nordberg Nancy Marchand, John Houseman, Reggie Jackson (cameos) Reviews Synopsis This movie throws you headfirst into the ridiculous world of Lt. Frank Drebin, a police detective who’s more accident-prone than helpful. He bumbles his way through a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II, complete with exploding devices, mistaken identities, and baseball stadium antics—all while trying to win the girl. It’s fast, funny, and doesn’t let up. Overview If you love sight gags, ridiculous one-liners, and deadpan delivery, this movie’s a must. Directed by David Zucker, this is a prime example of 1980s spoof comedy at its fi...

The Naked Gun (2025) Release Year : 2025 Franchise : The Naked Gun Franchise # : 4 (Fourth installment; legacy sequel/“requel” to the original Police Squad! films)  Total Runtime : 85 minutes  MPAA Rating : PG‑13 (for violence/bloody images, crude/sexual material, brief partial nudity)  Tagline  “One man has the particular set of skills... to lead Police Squad and save the world!” (Unofficial but reflective of film tone)  Main Cast Liam Neeson – Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (son of the original Sgt. Drebin)   Pamela Anderson – Beth Davenport Paul Walter Hauser – Capt. Ed Hocken Jr. CCH Pounder – Chief Davis Kevin Durand – Sig Gustafson Danny Huston – Richard Cane Liza Koshy, Cody Rhodes, Busta Rhymes, Eddy Yu – assorted supporting roles   Reviews Synopsis Liam Neeson stars as Frank Drebin Jr., stepping into his father’s crime‑parody shoes to lead Police Squad once again. When a tech mogul unleashes a mass‑mind control device, Drebin pairs up with Ed ...

Batman & Robin Year : 1997 Franchise : Batman Franchise #: 5 (Fourth and final installment of the original film series that began with Burton’s 1989 Batman) Total Runtime : 125 minutes MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for strong stylized action and some innuendo) Tagline  “Strength. Courage. Honor. And loyalty.” Main Cast George Clooney – Bruce Wayne / Batman Chris O’Donnell – Dick Grayson / Robin Arnold Schwarzenegger – Dr. Victor Fries / Mr. Freeze Uma Thurman – Dr. Pamela Isley / Poison Ivy Alicia Silverstone – Barbara Wilson / Batgirl Michael Gough – Alfred Pennyworth Jeep Swenson – Bane John Glover – Dr. Jason Woodrue Reviews Synopsis Batman and Robin are back—but this time they’ve got some help. When Mr. Freeze threatens Gotham with a plan to cover the city in ice, and Poison Ivy wants to destroy humanity to save plants, it’s up to the Dynamic Duo (and now Batgirl) to stop them. The movie is famous—or infamous—for its campy tone, bat-nipples, ice puns, and over-the-top visuals. Over...

Critical Overview Jaws: The Revenge is the weakest entry in the beloved Jaws series. The plot stretches all credibility—featuring a shark that swims over 1,900 miles in just a few days to stalk Ellen Brody (Lorraine Gary) in the Bahamas. The shark exhibits impossible behavior, including roaring and targeting a family thanks to some supernatural vendetta, which turns what was suspense into unintentional farce. Roger Ebert famously called it "not simply a bad movie, but also a stupid and incompetent one." Even the special effects, including a shark that explodes at the end, parody the film's own absurdity. Critics agree it killed the franchise with embarrassment rather than suspense.  Despite Lorraine Gary’s earnest efforts and Michael Caine in a paycheck role, the implausible premise, sloppy pacing, and inert suspense make this a low point in franchise history. It's tough to watch—even ironically. Bottom Line Jaws: The Revenge feels more like a parody of itself than a...