A conniving Broadway producer and his meek accountant plan to profit from charming wealthy old biddies to invest in an overbudget production, and then put on a sure-fire disaster, so nobody will ask for their money back — and what's more disastrous than a tasteless musical celebrating Adolf Hitler.
Acting
Nathan Lane devours scenery; Will Ferrell's unhinged playwright is unhinged perfection.
Production
Susan Stroman transfers her Tony-winning staging with gleeful, unapologetic theatrical excess.
Writing
Mel Brooks' 40-year-old jokes still land because the targets never stopped being ridiculous.
Director
Susan Stroman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Most of the Broadway cast reprised their roles, but Matthew Broderick replaced Matthew Broderick—who originated Leo in the 1967 film but aged out of the stage revival.
Mel Brooks has called this his favorite of his own films because it weaponizes bad taste against fascism itself—proving laughter can disarm evil better than ignoring it.
US
