Blazing Saddles
By Elliot Panek,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Kids may not get all of Brooks' classic Old West parody.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Blazing Saddles
Community Reviews
Based on 14 parent reviews
Talk to your kids about the N word and Satire before pressing play. The opening scene shows blatant racism.
Report this review
One of the funniest and greatest movies ever made
Report this review
What's the Story?
Mel Brooks' BLAZING SADDLES lampoons the Westerns of the 40's and 50's, mocking the conventions of the genre as well as its racist undertones. Greedy magnate Headley Lamarr (Harvey Korman) is planning to steal a plot of land away from the kindly townsfolk of Rockridge. He appoints a black sheriff named Bart (Cleavon Little), relying on the intolerance of the community to spark a mass exodus out of town. Things don't go quite as planned, as Bart teams up a washed-up gunslinger (Gene Wilder), wins the citizens' respect, and enlists his old co-workers from the railroad line to help foil Lamarr's scheme.
Is It Any Good?
As frenzied and eager to please as any Mel Brooks comedy, Blazing Saddles' defining characteristic is its willingness to poke fun at the normally taboo subject of racism. The film hasn't aged perfectly; the gags that amused in the 1970s by virtue of their sheer outrageousness might just seem like bad taste now. But, wo-written by Richard Pryor in the prime of his career, the movie has enough funny moments to outweigh theones that fall flat. The action, meanwhile, possesses the unmistakably silly tone of Brooks' comedies, including frenetic pacing and a few snappy song numbers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes something a satire. What or who in particular does the movie intend to mock?
How does the film's humor address racial stereotypes present in society as well as in movies about the Old West?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 7, 1974
- On DVD or streaming: June 29, 2004
- Cast: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn
- Director: Mel Brooks
- Studio: Warner Bros.
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 93 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- Last updated: May 25, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate