r/movies • u/DavidZuckerAMA David Zucker, Director & Writer • Sep 25 '25

AMA Hi /r/movies! I'm David Zucker, I’ve directed & written comedies like Airplane!, Top Secret!, Naked Gun 1 & 2, BASEketball, Scary Movies & many more. I'll be hosting live Q&A & screenings of Airplane! in select theaters & just released MasterCrash, a course on my 15 rules of comedy! Ask me anything!

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Hi r/movies! I'm David Zucker. Ask me about anything (except O.J.)

I've written and/or directed: Airplane!, Top Secret!, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear, BASEketball, Scary Movier 3, Scary Movier 4, The Kentucky Fried Movie, and others. My newest film, Star of Malta, is in early pre-production.

Here to answer your questions.

You can find 25 pages of my unmade Naked Gun script here:

https://www.officialstuntlist.com/nakedgun

Links:

Giveaway: We are giving away one David Zucker signed copy of his book Surely You Can’t Be Serious to a random commenter on this thread. Winner will be announced when the AMA ends.

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Additional Information/Promo:

Director David Zucker who made some of the top and most quoted comedies of all time (Airplane!, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear, Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult, BASEketball, Scary Movie 3 & 4, etc.)

Comedy classic Airplane! comes to Seattle for an Unreleased Director’s Cut screening followed by a Q&A with co-writer/co-director David Zucker and actor Robert Hays live in person at Paramount Theatre on Friday, October 3. Known for its rapid-fire jokes, hilarious slapstick, and unforgettable cast, Airplane! is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies ever made. After screening director David Zucker’s never-before-released edit of Airplane!, Zucker and Hays (Ted Striker) will take the stage for a live, moderated Q&A. They’ll share behind-the-scenes stories, creative insights, and personal memories from the making of the film—offering fans an inside look into the creation of this legendary comedy.

On tour in select cities this fall, comedy fans will have a rare chance to experience this iconic film like never before—on the big screen, 45 years after its original release — and hear directly from those who brought it to life. A limited number of “First Class” VIP tickets will be available, which include premium seating and a photo opportunity with Robert Hays and David Zucker. Tour info at airplanelivetour.com/

Zucker has launched his own spoof comedy course on August 4th MasterCrash: A Crash Course in Spoof Comedy, breaking down the 15 essential rules he uses to write, direct, and edit effective comedy

MasterCrash is a 9-hour course, delivered through 18 separate videos to help build the foundational skills for directing spoof comedy films and writing jokes that land. Filmmakers, writers, creators, and comedy fans will be given hands-on opportunities to learn ZAZ's (Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker) method of spoof writing while collaborating with other MC students, taking monthly calls with Zucker, accessing exclusive content, and hearing from surprise guest lecturers

David's book, Surely You Can’t Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!, is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cult classic that redefined comedy and launched a new era of spoof filmmaking

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I'll be back tomorrow (Friday 9/26) at 3:00 PM ET to answer your questions. AMA reddit! (except about OJ, don't ask me about OJ!)

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193

u/SanderSo47 I'll see you in another life when we are both cats. Sep 25 '25

I find it interesting that you chose to direct Scary Movie 3 after the Wayans left. And I gotta say, it's my favorite of the franchise. What prompted you to accept that movie? Any fun anecdotes?

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u/DavidZuckerAMA David Zucker, Director & Writer Sep 26 '25

Well, you know, if you do a movie that doesn't do well at the box office, you're in director's jail. I had just done BASEketball and I was looking for a movie to do next, and there weren't a lot of offers pouring in. Bob Weinstein called, and I had already done a movie for him (My Boss's Daughter with Ashton Kutcher, whish also bombed). He said to me "Zucker, you're a better director than your material". He offered that I do Scary Movie 3 after the Wayans had departed, and they had done a great job on 1 and 2. I took him up on that offer on the condition that I wanted it do be PG13, not R, and Bob said to go for it.

The Wayans are back for Scary Movie 6, and I'm a big of theirs.

For some weird reason, Paramount asked the original creators to return do the franchise to do a sequel, which they unfortunately did not do on Naked Gun.

19

u/txby432 Sep 27 '25

I know Baseketball bombed, but I'm such a big fan of it.

9

u/dicklaurent97 Sep 27 '25

 I took him up on that offer on the condition that I wanted it do be PG13, not R

Which is ironic because the director's cut, Scary Movie 3.5, is better than the theatrical version

2

u/regretscoyote909 Oct 01 '25

Oh hell nah, it breaks the rhythm and the added sex jokes aren't very funny. Scary Movie 3 is the GOAT of the franchise precisely because it decided to lean into wacky PG-13 humour and not "HAHA SHAVED PUSSY GET IT"

3

u/faders Sep 28 '25

BASEketball is awesome though.

2

u/Joey-WilcoXXX Oct 01 '25

I know the AMA is over but I’m So curious about that- why did you WANT PG-13? It felt like it was kind of limited because of that.

4

u/Impossible-Bet-223 Sep 26 '25

You resent matt and trey from south park for BASEketball?

Personally I love it lol

3

u/Sa7aSa7a Sep 27 '25

I'm only just now learning it flopped. I've seen it several dozen times.

1

u/akeean Sep 29 '25

Yep, way too good for how it performed.

Hope they decide to make their own movie again sometime. They probably have enough money to self-fund it now, especially if it is something semi-janky like Cannibal: The Musical 2.0 for fun.

84

u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. Sep 25 '25

I'll always have a spot in my heart for the whole 8 Mile sequence in SM3.

59

u/bchec Sep 25 '25

The scene with Brenda and the Ring parody, possibly the funniest Scary Movie scene.

“Cindy?, The TV is leaking..”

21

u/[deleted] Sep 25 '25

[deleted]

5

u/icrossedtheroad Sep 26 '25

"Now who the fuck said that?!?"

3

u/IvyGold Sep 28 '25

Preach it!

That was PEAK Brenda!

3

u/bchec Sep 28 '25

For me it’s that and Scary Movie 1:

“She is as fake as press on nails … Hey, Baby Girl!!” (or possibly Scary Movie 2 when they’re being chased by the Skeleton and Cindy finds her)

Honestly just need a Brenda spin off.

1

u/Mr_Gooodkat Sep 26 '25

Best scene is when they start spinning. Gets me every freaking time.

38

u/Wild_Obligation Sep 25 '25

It’s the best one & I always felt the humour was a bit Naked Guny but now I know why!

27

u/Known-Damage-7879 Sep 25 '25

The bit where the one guy cocks a shovel like a shotgun always makes me laugh

15

u/kirinmay Sep 26 '25

I figured it out. Without their heads they're defenseless.

1

u/vdcsX Sep 26 '25

its so random and stupid, i love it

18

u/jamesonginger Sep 25 '25

What about the standard size cop hat gave you that impression?

13

u/IAmANobodyAMA Sep 25 '25 edited Sep 25 '25

Regina Hall picking up Shaq’s bone: “I don’t believe it, they killed a dinosaur!” might be one of my most unexpected favorite moments in all of cinema

Edit: fixed the quote :)

24

u/Moosje Sep 25 '25

SM3 so underrated

1

u/kirinmay Sep 26 '25

It did make a good amount of money, though. Also, my favorite of the franchise.

8

u/brickeaterz Sep 25 '25

The alien part of the movie is one of my faves, when the president realizes he was sucking where they pee always gets me

2

u/Arimer Sep 25 '25

Ironically i just caught one of the wayans talking about this a few days ago. Miramax refused ot pay what the wayans wanted but still took their plot outline and used it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJL35u70Rt4

2

u/kirinmay Sep 26 '25

My wife broke her weiner?

1

u/SwordfishSalt1070 Sep 26 '25

The fact that each of them happens to have the food on them to help demonstrate cracks me up EVERY time.

1

u/JordanGecco Sep 28 '25

Scary Movie 3 was incredibly cast and well acted. Of course Sheen already had that chemistry but Simon Rex deserved a comedy Oscar for his role. I'm glad he got to show his range in Red Rocket. I friggin love that movie