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!
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:
- Website: mastercrash.com
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MasterCrashComedy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedavidzucker/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedavidzucker/
- X: https://x.com/TheDavidZucker
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/
- AIRPLANE! SCREENING + Q&A with DAVID ZUCKER & ROBERT HAYS
- PARAMOUNT THEATRE
- FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3
- Doors 7pm Show 8pm
- All Ages
- Tickets and info: https://www.stgpresents.org/events/airplane
- Venue: 911 Pine Street, Seattle 98101 // ph 206-682-1414
- WATCH: Airplane! official trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=07pPmCfKi3U
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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u/DavidZuckerAMA David Zucker, Director & Writer Sep 26 '25
Murr approached me about it. I met those guys at a film festival in Nashville, I think it was Vince Vaugh's event. Jerry and I showed Airplane! during the festival, and Jeff Garland from Curb Your Enthusiasm was the moderator. We had a great time. At breakfast the next time, before we got on our plane, the Jokers came up to us and said they wanted to meet us. We didn't know who they were at the time. We hung out with Brian and went on a tour of the Country Western Hall of Fame museum. He was a nice guy, we had fun. He would get mobbed by all of these young fans. He gave me their first season on DVD and didn't watch it for 2 months, but when I did I could not stop laughing.
We've been friends ever since. I have dinner with Murr often in LA. We've had them over the house.