THE APEX TIMES
AFI honors Mel Brooks’ 100th birthday by reordering its “100 Years, 100 Laughs” list, moving “Blazing Saddles” up the rankings
The American Film Institute says it has made an “honorary” adjustment to its signature comedy list for the centennial of Mel Brooks, with the 1974 western spoof “Blazing Saddles” changing positions.
The American Film Institute on June 28 announced a change to its widely cited AFI’s 100 Years…100 Laughs list to coincide with Mel Brooks’ 100th birthday, repositioning “Blazing Saddles” among the ranking of comedies AFI selected in the decades-long project. In reporting on the update, Deadline said AFI described the move as an “honorary” reorganization of the list rather than a full replacement of the original sequence.
According to Deadline’s report, Brooks’ centennial prompted AFI to officially alter the order of the “100 Years…100 Laughs” entries. AFI moved “Blazing Saddles,” a 1974 film directed by Brooks, from its earlier placement at No. 6 to a higher spot within the list that AFI presented after its centennial adjustment.
Deadline framed the update as part of AFI’s centennial-style honors connected to Brooks’ birthday, emphasizing that AFI presented the new ordering as a special recognition. The report did not describe the methodology as a fresh public survey, but instead as an AFI-run “honorary” reorganization tied to a milestone event for the filmmaker.
The change matters for audiences because AFI’s list has long served as a cultural touchstone, referenced by educators, critics, and programmers and frequently used as a shorthand for “essential” screen comedy. Reordering a high-profile title can shift how film libraries, broadcasters, and streaming catalogs market or prioritize the work when audiences look for acclaimed films associated with AFI’s selections.
It also matters for distributors and rights holders because list placement can affect which films regain short-term visibility during anniversaries and award-season cycles. While Deadline’s report focuses on AFI’s decision and the resulting change to the list’s order, the practical effect is that “Blazing Saddles” will likely be highlighted in connection with the new AFI ranking as people revisit Brooks’ body of work.
AFI’s centennial-style timing places the announcement in a moment when audiences are primed to pay attention to legacy comedies, and when cultural institutions often prepare screenings or curated programming around major anniversaries. With the update explicitly tied to Brooks’ 100th birthday, the reordering functions as a focal point for those events, even if AFI is not treating it as a comprehensive re-election of the entire list.
The next step for viewers is to compare the updated ordering to AFI’s prior “100 Years…100 Laughs” presentation and note where “Blazing Saddles” now appears after the centennial adjustment. For film institutions, the change adds another data point for how AFI, as an established organizing body in film culture, chooses to publicly revise a ranking in recognition of a single creator’s milestone.
Deadline’s report also reflects a broader reality of list-based cultural rankings: even when the entries remain the same, AFI and other institutions sometimes adjust ordering to mark commemorations. In this case, AFI’s stated approach, as described by Deadline, was to treat the revision as honorary and connected to Brooks’ centennial, with “Blazing Saddles” explicitly moved from its earlier placement.
Why It Matters
- AFI’s list is frequently cited by institutions and media outlets, so changing a high-profile ranking can affect how programs and collections highlight comedy classics.
- A centennial tie-in can increase short-term attention to a creator’s catalog, which in turn can influence what viewers choose to watch around the birthday date.
- By describing the revision as “honorary,” AFI indicates it may treat list ordering as flexible for major cultural milestones, not only as a fixed historical snapshot.
- List reordering can have downstream commercial effects for rights holders and distributors through renewed visibility during anniversaries.
Key Facts
- The American Film Institute announced an update to its AFI’s 100 Years…100 Laughs list on June 28.
- The change was made in honor of Mel Brooks’ 100th birthday.
- Deadline reports AFI described the adjustment as an “honorary” reorganization of the list.
- Deadline reports that AFI moved Brooks’ 1974 film “Blazing Saddles” from No. 6 to a higher position on the list.
- Deadline’s reporting centers on AFI’s centennial-linked decision rather than a new public voting process.