The nature of a cult classic means it initially misses with audiences upon release, building a loyal fan base over time, like The Big Lebowski (1998) or Heathers (1988). The upside is that such films gain their place in history with cult status, and if you’re lucky, studios may see viability in reviving the property. That’s exactly what happened to Wet Hot American Summer in 2001.
David Wain directed Wet Hot American Summer and co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Showalter. Both were members of two beloved comedy groups, Stella and The State, bringing their unique humor to their first movie. They filled the ensemble cast with a long list of hilarious talent, friends, and new faces, including Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni, Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, Janeane Garofalo, Michael Showalter, David Hyde Pierce, Molly Shannon, Ken Marino, Joe Lo Truglio, Elizabeth Banks, and H. Jon Benjamin. The plot follows numerous camp counselors in 1981 as they experience the cinematic tropes of the locale and era through brilliant satire. Even with many names unknown at the time, it seemed like a surefire crowd-pleaser. So how could it miss at the box office?
‘Wet Hot American Summer’ Is a Masterpiece That Deserved a Bigger Theatrical Release
It speaks volumes that Wet Hot American Summer is getting a theatrical re-release on Friday, Aug. 14, for its 25th anniversary. When it premiered in 2001, critics weren’t amused, and it still holds a 40% Rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score is much higher at 75%, showing a vast difference in opinion. Fans had little chance to see the movie in theaters, as it debuted in just two New York City theaters, with minimal expansion. The movie had a $1.8 million budget, modest compared to many ensemble comedies, yet it made only $295,206 during its theatrical run.
The movie’s production faced arduous conditions, being shot at a real summer camp where it rained on 25 of 28 shooting days. While speaking with MovieWeb‘s Robert Sperduto, Wain opened up about Wet Hot American Summer‘s struggles, noting it was all “part of the fun.”
“There were the stresses of the constant rain, and how hard it is to make a movie, and no time and no money, and one obstacle after another. And yet that was part of the fun. That’s the puzzle solving, which I love.”
Thankfully, Wet Hot American Summer found success with a DVD release, positive word of mouth, and repeated airings on TV. Audiences fell in love with the eclectic cast of unique personalities on their own distinct journeys. The movie jumps between characters, peppering every scene with endless jokes. It’s the type of comedy that will have you laughing so hard you have to watch it again to catch the jokes you missed the first time. The humor can be absurd, with a talking can of vegetables, but it perfectly lampoons 1980s camp movies, ensuring no trope is left unscathed, be it summer romances or arts and crafts.
Audiences responded to Wet Hot American Summer so well that two follow-up shows were released. Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015) was a prequel series on Netflix where the cast returned, hilariously playing younger versions of themselves without any attempt to de-age them. Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (2017) was a sequel series that showed where the characters ended up after their formative summer. Despite the franchise’s humorous timeline, Wain feels watching them in release order is the best way for each joke to have the desired impact.
“I would certainly recommend that you watch it in production order, because that’s how they were made. A lot of the jokes in the prequel will ring better if you’re familiar with the original film. That said, there’s no rules to what you like.”
There’s Still Hope for a Fourth Installment of ‘Wet Hot American Summer’
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Netflix -
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John Slattery and Amy Poehler in a scene from Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp Netflix
There may yet be a fourth entry into the Wet Hot American Summer franchise. Wain seems keen and noted that Netflix’s CEO may be interested in more.
“I mean, never say never, for sure. And I did hear from Ted Sarandos just the other day being like, “Hey, it’s been 10 years.” But, you know, who knows? Wet Hot American Summer is a two-way creation of me and Michael Showalter, and he’s very busy making his own big movies and stuff all the time. So, we’ll see.”
While there are no concrete plans, audiences would surely welcome another story involving the personalities in Wet Hot American Summer. Still, the movie persisted far beyond what its box office may suggest, with a loyal cult fan base giving it a second life and lasting legacy that may see the theatrical re-release outgross its original run.
- Release Date
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July 27, 2001
- Runtime
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97 minutes
- Writers
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David Wain, Michael Showalter
- Producers
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Howard Bernstein
