History of the World: Part I
-
Showtimes
-
Movie Details
We didn't find this title in your area
Videos & Photos
- (02:53)
Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
Mel Brooks brings his one-of-a-kind comic touch to the history of mankind covering events from the Old Testament to the French Revolution in a series of episodic comedy vignettes.
Cast
- Mel Brooks
- Dom DeLuise
- Madeline Kahn
- Harvey Korman
- Cloris Leachman
- Ron Carey
- Gregory Hines
- Pamela Stephenson
- Shecky Greene
- Sid Caesar
Letterboxd User Reviews
3.3
80.7K
16.2K
16.8K
- Jul 24, 2015
looking forward to part 2
WoodMar 23, 2023Never made it more than a few minutes into this one before, and now I remember why: it's horrible. Just one terrible gag after another. Brooks is very transparently trying to be Monty Python here, but the thing is, Monty Python was six guys with very different…
Will SloanMar 5, 2023Much hornier than I was expecting, somehow the Spanish Inquisition musical number carried the whole movie.
Adam - Jan 9, 2026
When it comes to Mel Brooks movies, this one is kinda at the bottom for me. It's not terrible, but I do consider it one of his weaker movies. I remember as a kid, when I first saw it in the 90s, I went to Blockbuster to get part 2. I looked, and looked and looked 😅 I…
MizfitMathewJan 19, 2023Mel Brooks always likes doing his thing, Always ready to dance, act, or sing. From Rome, then to France, If given the chance, He'll just say that “it’s good to be king".
JBirdMay 2, 2022the spanish inquisition did WHAT with his balls
TheSinnohman - Feb 22, 2023
The Spanish Inquisition walked so La La Land could run
Shooby PooDec 13, 2024"It's good to be the King!" Narrated by Orson Welles, the movie follows human history from the stone age to modern times, showing various episodes which shaped mankind. These include events from the Old Testament, Ancient Rome, the Spanish Inquisition and the French…
DanielSep 14, 2014From a production standpoint this is one of the more impressive Mel Brooks pictures, lots of those gorgeous matte paintings that would come up later in Spaceballs, and big set-pieces like the "Spanish Inquisition" musical number. Comedically, though, this is Mel's "drunk…
Joe
Queue Community Reviews
89%
Community 1,299
Top Reviews
- Orlando Ramone lovedHistory of the World: Part I
Such a hilarious movie, The Inquisition is my favorite part!
Landon Hill dislikedHistory of the World: Part IPretty boring, jokes pretty much entirely outdated
David Hord likedHistory of the World: Part I3.5/5 Stars I rewatched this movie for the first time in almost ten years and it just didn’t hold that same slapstick Mel Brooks I remember it having. Regardless still a killer comedy, fun stories through time. “It’s Good To Be The King”
- Xavier Davis lovedHistory of the World: Part I
Absolutely hilarious. Even today where certain jokes have become irrelevant (see the roman inventing a “centrefold”) it’s still absolutely brilliant. The american python.
T lovedHistory of the World: Part II loved the Spanish Inquisition musical number that was my favorite,,, can’t wait for the first installment of Jews In Space to come out!!
Mickerdoo likedHistory of the World: Part ISome really funny bits. Pretty disjointed. Definitely would rub a lot of people the wrong way nowadays. But otherwise, classic Mel Brooks.
- Gage Birchmeier dislikedHistory of the World: Part I
Had some decent jokes, but most of the jokes are about balls or r*pe. There isn't really any substance or story, not worth the watch.
Stella Hunzeker is "meh" onHistory of the World: Part Iif you love mel brook’s work you’ll enjoy this otherwise you’ll think it’s a winding story with a couple giggles here and there
Cooper Scooper lovedHistory of the World: Part ISome of the goofiest but most clever bits I’ve seen in skit focused form, comedy classic
Atom Users Reviews
Metacritic
A rambling, undisciplined, sometimes embarrassing failure from one of the most gifted comic filmmakers around.
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
The movie is so sour that its humor is often undermined, because so many of the jokes are either mean-spirited or scatological, or both. Women are either explicitly predatory or stupidly decorative, and homosexuals are made fun of regularly. Bathroom jokes are everywhere. Flamboyantly bad taste, which Mr. Brooks raised to the level of supreme wit in his ''Springtime for Hitler'' number in ''The Producers,'' is this time just bad.
Janet Maslin
The New York Times
Frequently Asked Questions
Is History of the World: Part I (1981) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is History of the World: Part I (1981)?
The movie is 1hr 32min long.
What's History of the World: Part I (1981) about?
Mel Brooks brings his one-of-a-kind comic touch to the history of mankind covering events from the Old Testament to the French Revolution in a series of episodic comedy vignettes.
Who's the cast of History of the World: Part I (1981)?
- Mel Brooks as Moses, Comicus, Torquemada, Jacques, King Louis XVI
- Dom DeLuise as Emperor Nero
- Madeline Kahn as Empress Nympho
- Harvey Korman as Count de Monet
- Cloris Leachman as Madame Defarge
- Ron Carey as Swiftus
- Gregory Hines as Josephus
- Pamela Stephenson as Mademoiselle Rimbaud
- Shecky Greene as Marcus Vindictus
- Sid Caesar as Chief Caveman
Who's the director behind History of the World: Part I (1981)?
Mel Brooks directed History of the World: Part I (1981).
Who produced History of the World: Part I (1981)?
Mel Brooks, Stuart Cornfeld and Alan Johnson produced History of the World: Part I (1981).
Full Screen Image Viewer
Target Exclusive Showing
Don't Have The Password?