Spaceballs contains numerous parodies:
- The scene at the diner where an alien bursts from a patron's chest is a parody of Alien. John Hurt plays the role in both films.
- Numerous parodies of Star Wars exist in the film:
- The Schwartz is a parody of the Force
- Lone Starr parodies both Luke Skywalker and Han Solo.
- Princess Vespa is a parody of Princess Leia.
- Dark Helmet is a parody of Darth Vader.
- Barf is a parody of Chewbacca.
- Yogurt is a parody of Yoda.
- Dot Matrix is a parody of C-3PO
- Mega Maid is a parody of the Death Star.
- The scene where Lone and Barf steal uniforms from the enemy troops parodies the scene where Luke and Han steal Stormtrooper uniforms.
- Planet of the Apes is parodied when Skroob, Dark Helmet, and Colonel Sandurz crash land in the remains of Mega Maid.
- The Wizard of Oz is parodied in the scene where Lone Starr, Barf, Vespa, and Dot meet Yogurt. Princess Vespa is Dorothy, Dot Matrix the Tin Woodsman, Barf the Cowardly Lion and Lone Star the Scarecrow.
- Krull
- The Bridge on the River Kwai
- Prince Valium is a parody of Prince Valiant
- The Transformers is parodied when Spaceball 1 is revealed to be a Transformer, like Unicron.
- Star Trek is parodied when President Skroob uses the teleporter. Furthermore, Snotty is an obvious parody of Scotty.