Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
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Source: JustWatch
The actors were dressed in shorts and t-shirts and It rained almost every day of the shoot. When a scene needed sunshine, the crew held tarps over everyone and bounced the lights off the underside.
WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER (2001) was shot in 28 days at a real camp in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, standing in for Maine. The cast slept in the infirmary and sent whoever wasn't working into town for beer.
Director and co-writer David Wain drew on his own camp experience in Maine, co-writer Michael Showalter on his in the Berkshires. The counselors included Bradley Cooper, in his first film appearance, and Amy Poehler, in her first credited film appearance.
It premiered at Sundance in January 2001. Despite screening four times to enthusiastic, sold-out crowds, the movie left the festival without a distribution deal. Months passed. USA Films eventually bought it for $100,000.
Wet Hot American Summer opened in two theaters in New York and grossed $295,206 in total. Roger Ebert gave it one star.
Paul Rudd has said he isn't sure he was ever paid, that because the production staff was so small, they may have just overlooked making out a check for his salary.
Physical Media
Blu-rayUniversal StudiosUPC 0025192231575
a member added 9/25/2026 · Adam edited 10/1/2026
About the Film
High times. Hard bodies. Soft rock.
- Directed By
- David Wain
- Runtime
- 97 minutes
- Released
- July 27, 2001
- Certification
- R
- Country
- United States of America
- Starring
- Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Michael Showalter, Marguerite Moreau, Paul Rudd
More Credits
- Genres
- Comedy
- Language
- English
- Origin
- US
- Studios
- Eureka Pictures, North Coast Group
- Written By
- Michael Showalter, David Wain
- Produced By
- Howard Bernstein, Michael Showalter, David Wain
- Cinematography
- Ben Weinstein
- Music
- Theodore Shapiro, Craig Wedren
- Also Starring
- Zak Orth, Christopher Meloni, A.D. Miles, Molly Shannon, Gideon Jacobs
- Budget
- $5,000,000
- Box Office
- $295,206
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One of my favourite all time movies. I hardly go a day without a quote coming out of my mouth.
We named our son Cooper because of this movie. Coop…. goat shit.
Probably my favorite comedy ever. David Wain is severely underrated. He does a perfect combination of incredibly stupid jokes and really dirty jokes.
The sequel was god awful
Yeah they definitely caught lightning in a bottle with the original, the sequel, not so much…
Beth Landers I enjoy the sequel and pre sequel series as much as the movie
The sequel series was just golden!
Arts and Farts and Crafts!
I’ve been to Honesdale dozens of times and never knew this: I can’t believe that town has done nothing to capitalize on it’s fame.
Duke Robert Cyril Willoughby Not only that, but apparently Hank Azaria went to the real camp as a kid. This is why Janeane Garofalo ad-libbed the name “Azaria” in one of the scenes.
https://www.facebook.com/HankAzaria/photos/fun-fact-i-went-to-the-camp-where-wet-hot-american-summer-was-filmed/167827093366237/
Anywhere But Hollywood that’s wild. Camp Towanda is a little north of town and I’ve seen signs for it.