Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! | Official Trailer | HBO — A Century of Comedy, Courage, and Cultural Impact

Some legends fade with time.

Mel Brooks just keeps getting sharper.

Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man! is HBO’s upcoming two-part documentary event that celebrates nearly a century of laughter, rebellion, and fearless satire from one of the most influential comedic minds in entertainment history. Directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, the documentary premieres January 22 and January 23 on HBO and streams on HBO Max.

The Official Trailer doesn’t just tease a retrospective—it promises an emotional, hilarious, and deeply human portrait of a man who turned pain into punchlines and satire into survival.

Who Is Mel Brooks — And Why He Still Matters

Mel Brooks isn’t just a comedian. He’s a cultural force.

From early television sketch comedy to boundary-pushing films and Broadway domination, Brooks reshaped American humor by daring to mock power, prejudice, and even history itself—long before it was considered safe.

This documentary asks a simple but powerful question: How does someone stay creatively fearless for nearly 100 years?

Official Trailer Breakdown: Laughs, Legacy, and Truth

The Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! Official Trailer balances reverence with irreverence—just like Brooks himself.

It highlights:

• Candid, present-day conversations between Brooks and Judd Apatow

• Rare archival footage spanning decades of television, film, and stage

• Moments of loss, resilience, and creative rebirth

• The personal cost behind the laughter

The trailer makes it clear this isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a full-life portrait, unfiltered and unapologetically honest.

Part One: Brooklyn, War, and the Birth of a Satirist

Part 1 (January 22) traces the roots of Brooks’ comedic voice:

• Growing up in Brooklyn

• Serving in World War II

• Cutting his teeth in the Borscht Belt

• Helping shape modern sketch comedy alongside Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, and others

It explores how Brooks transformed fear of failure, Jewish identity, and postwar trauma into comedy that punched up, never down—culminating in revolutionary films like The Producers and Blazing Saddles.

This is where Brooks becomes dangerous—in the best possible way.

Part Two: Stardom, Love, and Immortality

Part 2 (January 23) focuses on Brooks’ creative peak and lasting influence:

• His legendary friendship with Carl Reiner

• Creative partnerships with Gene Wilder

• His 41-year marriage to Anne Bancroft

• Film classics like Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights

The documentary also dives into his Broadway triumph with The Producers, which shattered records with 12 Tony Awards, proving Brooks could dominate yet another medium—decades into his career.

Voices of a Comedy Legacy

One of the documentary’s strongest elements is the sheer range of artists influenced by Brooks.

Featured voices include:

• Jerry Seinfeld

• Adam Sandler

• Dave Chappelle

• Conan O'Brien

• Sarah Silverman

• Ben Stiller

Their presence reinforces a simple truth: modern comedy doesn’t exist without Mel Brooks.

Why This HBO Documentary Feels Essential

HBO has a strong track record with legacy documentaries—but Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! feels especially timely.

In an era where comedy is often policed by fear, Brooks’ career stands as proof that:

• Satire can be moral

• Laughter can be defiant

• Humor can be an act of courage

The documentary doesn’t sanitize his work—it contextualizes it. And that honesty is what gives it weight.

Release Dates & Viewing Info

• Title: Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!

• Format: Two-part documentary

• Part 1: January 22, 2026

• Part 2: January 23, 2026

• Network: HBO

• Streaming: HBO Max

Both parts will be available to stream starting January 22.

Final Verdict: A Masterclass in Turning Laughter Into Legacy

Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! isn’t just about celebrating jokes—it’s about understanding why those jokes mattered, and still do.

It’s funny, yes. It’s emotional, often.

But most importantly, it’s honest.

This documentary doesn’t just remind you why Mel Brooks is legendary—it shows you why his work continues to give people permission to laugh in the face of fear.

Meet the man behind the laughs.

Meet the courage behind the comedy.

Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! premieres January 22 on HBO.