I’d like to take a moment in this weekly Star Wars meme list to honor the parody film that has stolen the hearts of Star Wars fans across generations: Spaceballs. My dad showed it to me when I was a kid, and it blew my mind, as it was the first parody film I’d ever seen. I mean, Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet, iconic. John Candy as Barf? Will stay with me forever. Spaceballs is the kind of parody film that could have only been made with a deep love for its source material. Or else, why spend so much time sending it up in a ridiculous fashion? Surely there are better uses for a major motion picture budget. 

Wait, brain blast… was Spaceballs the original Star Wars meme? I think it was! Long before Reddit, the only way to make fun of a beloved franchise was through a parody film. Well, it’s not 1987 before, so enjoy our generation’s equivalent below.