🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: John Landis
- Genre: Comedy, Sketch Comedy, Parody, Satire
- Release year: 1977
- Runtime (length): 1h 23min
- IMDb rating: 6.4/10 (23k votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A bunch of TV skits so offensive they make South Park look like a PBS documentary.
🍿 The Kentucky Fried Movie: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Opening Segments and News Parodies
The film begins by mimicking the format of a local television broadcast, launching into absurd and irreverent sketches. These segments often include parodies of commercials, news broadcasts, and public service announcements, setting the tone for the film’s rapid-fire comedic style. The sketches are designed to be provocative and often satirical, poking fun at various aspects of American culture and media.

A Fistful of Yen: The Kung Fu Spoof
“A Fistful of Yen” stands as the centerpiece of The Kentucky Fried Movie, offering an extended parody of martial arts films, particularly those starring Bruce Lee. This segment follows the character Loo as he infiltrates the fortress of the villainous Dr. Klahn. The sequence is filled with exaggerated fight scenes, nonsensical dialogue, and comedic takes on the tropes common in Kung Fu cinema. The humor in “A Fistful of Yen” relies on over-the-top action, cultural stereotypes, and absurd plot developments. The segment showcases the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker team’s penchant for taking familiar genres and twisting them into something wholly ridiculous and entertaining. It ends with a surprise twist that further amplifies its comedic impact.

Exploitation Film Trailers and Raunchy Humor
The Kentucky Fried Movie features several mock trailers for exploitation films, such as “Catholic High School Girls in Trouble” and “Cleopatra Schwartz.” These trailers play with the conventions of exploitation cinema, promising outrageous scenarios, excessive nudity, and over-the-top drama. These elements contribute to the film’s overall sense of irreverence and its willingness to push boundaries. Beyond the trailers, the film incorporates a variety of raunchy and sexually suggestive skits. These segments often target societal norms and expectations surrounding sex and relationships. This approach contributes to the movie’s shock value and its reputation for being deliberately tasteless.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Loo (Evan C. Kim): A Bruce Lee-esque martial artist who combats Dr. Klahn in a parody of kung fu films.
- Dr. Klahn (Bong Soo Han): The villainous, one-armed mastermind with world domination aspirations, spoofing martial arts movie antagonists.
- Cleopatra Schwartz (Marilyn Joi): The titular character of a blaxploitation film parody, embodying the genre’s over-the-top style.
- Bill Bixby (Bill Bixby): Appearing as himself, he participates in a comedic sketch, contributing to the film’s self-referential humor.
- The Waiter (Donald Sutherland): A clumsy waiter in a disaster movie parody, highlighting the film’s spoofing of cinematic tropes.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Dr. Klahn: “We’re building a fighting force of extraordinary magnitude!” – Dr. Klahn declares his evil plan to Loo during ‘A Fistful of Yen’ segment.
- Loo: “What was that?! This is not a ‘chawade.’ We need total concen-TWAY-tion!” – Loo yells to his student during training in the segment ‘A Fistful of Yen’.
- Narrator: “More shocking than ‘Behind the Green Door’… Never before has the beauty of the sexual act been so crassly exploited!” – The narrator introduces the fictional movie ‘Catholic High School Girls in Trouble’.
- Henry Gibson: “In the past year, over 800,000 Americans have died. Despite millions of dollars of research, death continues to be our nation’s number one killer.” – This quote is from the ‘United Appeal for the Dead’ PSA, a dark and satirical take on public service announcements.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $600,000
- Domestic Gross: $18,750,000
- Worldwide Gross: $18,750,000
💥 The Kentucky Fried Movie Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, so I watched Kentucky Fried Movie expecting something totally insane, and boy, did it deliver! The ‘A Fistful of Yen’ bit had me in stitches, even though I’m not a huge kung-fu movie fan. Some of the jokes are super dated and wouldn’t fly today, but that’s part of the charm. It’s like a time capsule of 70s comedy at its most ridiculous. The ‘Catholic School Girls in Trouble’ is over the top. If you need something totally silly to turn your brain off, this is it.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of Zucker Abrahams Zucker comedies”
- “Viewers who enjoy sketch comedy and parody”
- “Those interested in 1970s humor and satire”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Nudity”
- “Sexual content”
- “Raunchy humor”
- “Potentially offensive racial and cultural stereotypes”
Professional Reviews
- The New Yorker: “Kentucky Fried Movie is a chaotic collection of sketches that pushes boundaries with its irreverent humor. While not every joke lands, its relentless energy and willingness to offend make it a memorable, if uneven, comedic experience. This is comedy that swings for the fences, sometimes wildly.
- Variety: “A wild and often hilarious ride, Kentucky Fried Movie throws everything at the wall to see what sticks. The sketch format allows for a rapid-fire delivery of jokes, though the hit-or-miss nature may not appeal to all tastes. Still, the film’s boldness and willingness to lampoon everything in sight are admirable.
Audience Reactions
The ‘A Fistful of Yen’ parody is a timeless comedic masterpiece.: Viewers consistently praise the film’s absurdity and unapologetic humor.
The rapid-fire sketch format keeps the energy high, even if not every joke hits.: Many appreciate the film’s willingness to push boundaries and challenge conventions.
Overall Consensus: Kentucky Fried Movie is a polarizing sketch comedy film celebrated for its audacity and willingness to offend, though its unevenness and dated humor may not appeal to all modern audiences.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The film was written by the comedy trio of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker, who later went on to create ‘Airplane!’ and ‘The Naked Gun’ series.”
- “John Landis, known for directing ‘Animal House’ and ‘The Blues Brothers’, directed the film, bringing his signature comedic style to the project.”
- “The movie is a series of unconnected skits and parodies designed to mimic the randomness of television programming.”
- “The low-budget production allowed for creative freedom and a willingness to push boundaries, resulting in some of the film’s most outrageous moments.”
- “The ‘A Fistful of Yen’ segment is a loving parody of Bruce Lee’s ‘Enter the Dragon’ and other martial arts films, featuring over-the-top fight choreography and exaggerated dialogue.”
🖥️ How to Watch The Kentucky Fried Movie?
The Kentucky Fried Movie is available for streaming on various platforms, including services like Prime Video and potentially Apple TV, depending on your region. You can also find it for rent or purchase on digital stores like Amazon and iTunes. Check your local listings for availability and streaming options. Availability may change over time, so it’s best to verify on the platform of your choice.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed The Kentucky Fried Movie, you might like these similar films:
- The Groove Tube (1974): Similar sketch comedy format satirizing television and popular culture, predating ‘Kentucky Fried Movie’.
- Amazon Women on the Moon (1987): Another anthology film with similar comedic style, featuring various sketch segments and celebrity cameos.
- Airplane! (1980): Created by the same ZAZ team, ‘Airplane!’ features similar rapid-fire joke style and absurd humor.
- Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969-1974): Known for its groundbreaking sketch comedy, surreal humor, and subversive style, it shares a spirit of comedic experimentation.
- This Is Spinal Tap (1984): Its mockumentary style and satirical take on rock music share a similar comedic sensibility and willingness to push boundaries.
🛒 The Kentucky Fried Movie Related Products
- Kentucky Fried Movie [Blu-ray]: Own the cult classic on Blu-ray, featuring bonus content and a remastered picture for the ultimate viewing experience. Great for comedy collectors.
- Airplane!: The ultimate Parody Collection: From the creators of the Kentucky Fried Movie comes a comedy of extraordinary magnitude!! A string of politically incorrect segments.
- Kentucky Fried Movie Movie Poster: Decorate your room with a vintage-style poster featuring the iconic imagery from ‘The Kentucky Fried Movie’. A conversation starter for any comedy fan.
- Blazing Saddles [Blu-ray]: If you thought that ‘The Kentucky Fried Movie’ was pushing the envelope, wait until you see Blazing Saddles. A Western comedy masterpiece.
🎧 Soundtrack
The Kentucky Fried Movie features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
The Kentucky Fried Movie is available on various streaming platforms like Prime Video and may be available for rent or purchase on digital stores such as Amazon and iTunes. Check local listings for specific availability in your region.
The Kentucky Fried Movie was directed by John Landis and written by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker, who later gained fame for “Airplane!” and other comedy classics.
The Kentucky Fried Movie contains raunchy humor, nudity, and satire that some viewers may find offensive. It reflects the comedic sensibilities of the 1970s, which differed from contemporary standards of political correctness.
🔥 Bonus Content
A Fistful of Yen part 3
Remember ‘A Fistful of Yen’? This is part 3 and it’s hilarious! Definitely a must-watch if you’re a fan of classic spoofs.
kentucky fried movie take him to detroit unedited
The unedited “Take Him to Detroit” scene is even funnier than the original! You have to see this uncut version; it’s pure gold!
Best of Johnny by Actor Stephen Stucker in movie Airplane! (1980) in HD
Ever wondered about the actor who played Johnny? This mini-bio of Stephen Stucker is fascinating, especially knowing he was also in ‘Airplane!’
The Kentucky Fried Movie (2/4) The Guard Game Show! (1977)
Ever wanted to play for your life? This game show sketch will make you smile at its utter foolishness!
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